The Transport Department (TD) today (August 25) said that major public transport operators have been reminded to provide adequate public transport services to cater for the transport demand on the first school day (September 1).
      
     In addition to providing adequate public transport services, the TD also reminded major public transport operators to review the transport services in the vicinity of new schools, and prepare spare trains, vehicles, or vessels to strengthen services when necessary to meet transport demand. Franchised bus operators providing services to boundary control points and cross-boundary coach operators have been reminded to provide adequate services for cross-boundary students. Separately, relevant departments were requested to review their road works, being or to be carried out, on major roads to minimise the traffic impact when the new school term commences.

     "The operation of the TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) will be escalated to the highest tier, Joint Steering Mode, to closely monitor the traffic situation and public transport services on September 1. The TD will also maintain close liaison with major public transport operators and relevant government departments. Staff will be deployed at various major locations throughout the territory, including the school areas in Kowloon Tong, Po Kong Village Road, Kwai Shing Circuit and Braemar Hill etc, major public transport interchanges, boundary control points and tunnels, to observe the traffic conditions and report the latest on-site situations to the ETCC for arranging public transport service enhancements or informing the Police regarding traffic regulation when necessary," a TD spokesman said.

     Students, especially those attending a new school in this school term, are reminded to familiarise themselves with the public transport routes to be taken to schools and allow adequate travelling time on the first school day. Students who need to take ferries should check the ferry schedules, the vessel types to be used and the journey time of their intended ferry trips beforehand. Students are also reminded to pay attention to road safety when attending school.

     More information may be obtained through the following hotlines and websites of major public transport operators:
 

     Motorists are advised not to drive to school areas if at all possible. Drivers of nanny vans and school buses should drive carefully, especially on steep roads, narrow lanes or at locations where driving in reverse is necessary. They are not allowed to leave students unattended in vehicles and speeding and overloading are prohibited. Nanny van operators should obtain prior approval from the TD for each school served by a nanny van. An escort should be provided on board when serving kindergarten or primary school students. Drivers and escorts should ensure that all students have properly worn their seat belts (if provided) before the vehicles move off. Parents should agree well in advance with schools and operators of nanny vans or school buses on the locations of picking up and dropping off their children.

     Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the latest transport and traffic news on radio and television before leaving home. For enquiries, please call the TD's hotline on 2804 2600 or the 1823 Call Centre.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 25) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From August 18 to yesterday (August 24), the CHP recorded two imported DF cases. The patients had been to the Philippines and India respectively during the incubation periods.

     As of yesterday, 30 imported cases of DF had been recorded in 2023. In 2022, 26 imported cases of DF were recorded.

     The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some places in Asia (such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand) compared to the same period last year, and the trend is rising. Members of the public, while travelling abroad, should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

     "Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     â€‹DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     â€‹â€‹The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant's tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level.

     The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, continued her visit to Singapore today (August 25). 

     Ms Ho met with the Group Director of Policy, Statistics & Research of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board, Mr Gregory Chia, this morning to learn about the policy of allowing citizens to use their CPF contributions to fund home ownership, healthcare and retirement. 

     Yesterday morning (August 24), Ms Ho and members of the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Singapore, Mr Zhu Jing, to introduce the work on housing policies in Hong Kong, and to learn about the latest development in co-operation between China and Singapore.

     During the meeting, Ms Ho said that she has updated housing, relevant construction departments and sectors in Singapore about the application of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) in different construction projects in Hong Kong, including public housing, transitional housing and Light Public Housing. Ms Ho also shared her experience of inspecting building technologies and construction robotics technologies during her earlier visit to the Mainland. She learnt that Singapore would like to deepen its understanding about the related development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, in particular different construction projects involving the use of MiC. In response to their interest in visiting factories on the Mainland to learn more about the technologies, Ms Ho said she was delighted to help facilitate technological exchanges between the two places.

     In addition, the delegation visited a project site of a construction company in Singapore to inspect the application of MiC (known as Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) in Singapore) in the project. 

     Ms Ho had a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Building and Construction Authority, Mr Kelvin Wong, in the afternoon to learn about how the Singapore Government promotes green buildings and green technologies in the country. Ms Ho also shared relevant concepts of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has been actively promoting the use of MiC in suitable projects. For public housing projects to be completed in 2028-29 to 2032-33, no less than half of them should adopt the MiC approach, so as to enhance the construction efficiency, quality and site safety.

     Ms Ho said that this visit has deepened the exchanges between the two places in areas such as housing, construction technologies, green building and age-friendly home. She expected the two places to maintain liaison and continue sharing experience in housing and construction for the betterment of livelihood of the residents. When meeting with local political and business communities as well as construction professionals, the delegation also told the good stories of Hong Kong by introducing Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. 

     Members of the delegation included members of the HA Strategic Planning Committee, as well as representatives of the Hong Kong Housing Society, the Housing Bureau and the Housing Department.

     Ms Ho will return to Hong Kong today after the visit.

                  

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 25) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
      
     Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 14 as Fair (Grade 2) and three as Poor (Grade 3).
      
 Grade 1 beaches are:          

 
Grade 2 beaches are:    

 
Grade 3 beaches are:   

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Approach Beach and Lo So Shing Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Big Wave Bay Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 2 to 3.
      
     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
      
     In line with the vision to develop Hong Kong into a smart city, the EPD launched the Beach Water Quality Forecast System on August 15 to provide daily water quality forecasts for all gazetted beaches in Hong Kong that are open for swimming to supplement the existing beach water quality monitoring programme and further enhance services to the public (see Note 3). From now on, members of the public can obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information of all beaches through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.
      
Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from May 1.
      
Note 2: This refers to the non-gazetted beach in Discovery Bay which has no lifeguard service.
      
Note 3: The EPD launched the Beach Water Quality Forecast System on August 15, 2023. For the press release, please visit www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202308/15/P2023081400345.htm.