Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the HKeToll, a free-flow tolling service, at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel on July 23 (Sunday).

A. Road closure
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     Slow lane of westbound Cheong Wan Road Flyover between Hung Hom Station Podium and Science Museum Road will be closed from 00.30am to 5.30am.

    The following roads will be closed from 1am to 4am:

– Slow lane from the exit of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (Kowloon bound) to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza; and
– Some of the toll booth lanes of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza (Kowloon bound).

     The bus-only lane at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza (Kowloon bound) will be rescinded from 1am to 4am. Vehicles using AutoToll from the tunnel tube of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (Kowloon bound) to Tsim Sha Tsui and Kwai Chung will be diverted to use the above rescinded section of bus-only lane and AutoToll lane.

    The following roads will be closed from 2am to 4am:

– Some of the traffic lanes of Hong Chong Road near the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza (Hong Kong bound); and
– Some of the toll booth lanes of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza (Hong Kong bound).

     Some of the traffic lanes of eastbound Gloucester Road near Wan Chai Sports Ground will be closed from 3am to 4am.

     The Cross-Harbour Tunnel and all slip roads leading to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel will be closed from 4am to 5am.

B. Traffic diversions
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     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from 4am to 5am:

– Traffic along southbound Princess Margaret Road heading for Hong Kong are advised to divert via southbound Chatham Road South, eastbound Cheong Wan Road, northbound Hong Chong Road, eastbound Chatham Road North, eastbound East Kowloon Corridor, eastbound Kai Tak Tunnel and eastbound Kwun Tong Bypass to use the Eastern Harbour Crossing; or divert via southbound Chatham Road South, westbound Austin Road, Lin Cheung Road and southbound West Kowloon Highway to use the Western Harbour Crossing; or divert via southbound Hung Hom Bypass, westbound Salisbury Road, northbound Kowloon Park Drive, westbound Austin Road West, Lin Cheung Road and southbound West Kowloon Highway to use the Western Harbour Crossing;
– Traffic along westbound Chatham Road North heading for Hong Kong are advised to divert via Chatham Road South, westbound Gascoigne Road, westbound West Kowloon Corridor, Ferry Street, westbound Cherry Street, Lin Cheung Road and southbound West Kowloon Highway to use the Western Harbour Crossing;
– Traffic along eastbound Chatham Road South heading for Hong Kong are advised to divert via eastbound Chatham Road North, eastbound East Kowloon Corridor, eastbound Kai Tak Tunnel and eastbound Kwun Tong Bypass to use the Eastern Harbour Crossing;
– Traffic along northbound Hong Chong Road heading for Hong Kong are advised to divert via eastbound Chatham Road North, eastbound East Kowloon Corridor, eastbound Kai Tak Tunnel and eastbound Kwun Tong Bypass to use the Eastern Harbour Crossing; or divert via Chatham Road South, westbound Gascoigne Road, westbound West Kowloon Corridor, Ferry Street, westbound Cherry Street, Lin Cheung Road and southbound West Kowloon Highway to use the Western Harbour Crossing;
– Traffic along eastbound Gloucester Road heading for Kowloon are advised to divert via northbound Marsh Road, Hung Hing Road Flyover, eastbound Victoria Park Road and eastbound Island Eastern Corridor to use the Eastern Harbour Crossing; or divert via northbound Marsh Road, westbound Hung Hing Road, westbound Lung Wo Road, westbound Man Cheung Street and westbound Connaught Road Central Flyover to the Western Harbour Crossing;
– Traffic along northbound Canal Road Flyover heading for Kowloon are advised to divert via Wan Chai Interchange, Hung Hing Road Flyover, eastbound Victoria Park Road and eastbound Island Eastern Corridor to the Eastern Harbour Crossing; or divert via Wan Chai Interchange, westbound Gloucester Road, westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central Flyover to the Western Harbour Crossing;
– Traffic along westbound Gloucester Road heading for Kowloon are advised to divert via Tonnochy Road Flyover, northbound Tonnochy Road, eastbound Hung Hing Road, eastbound Hung Hing Road Flyover, eastbound Victoria Park Road and eastbound Island Eastern Corridor to the Eastern Harbour Crossing; or divert via westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central Flyover to the Western Harbour Crossing; and
– Traffic along southbound Hung Hing Road heading for Kowloon via bus-only lane are advised to divert via Wan Shing Street, Hung Hing Road Flyover, eastbound Victoria Park Road and eastbound Island Eastern Corridor to the Eastern Harbour Crossing; or divert via Wan Shing Street, westbound Hung Hing Road, westbound Lung Wo Road, westbound Man Cheung Street and westbound Connaught Road Central Flyover to the Western Harbour Crossing.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic conditions in the area. Members of the public are urged to take heed of instructions of police at scene.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, July 20, 2023 is 103.8 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 20) announced the performance ratings of the registered lift and escalator contractors for the past 12 months (from July 2022 to June 2023) for public reference.
 
     According to the rating results, 30 registered lift contractors and 23 registered escalator contractors were awarded the Safety Star. Among these contractors, 13 registered lift contractors and 15 registered escalator contractors had not been found non-compliant with the safety and maintenance requirements as reported in the last two consecutive announcements of performance results, and were therefore given the highest rating of five Quality Stars. The EMSD conducted 31 206 inspections of lifts and escalators during the period.
 
     The rating results, conviction records, summaries of the warning letters and equipment failure records are available on the EMSD's website (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/le_pub_mpr.shtml).

     â€‹The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, continued his visit to Shenzhen today (July 20). He took test rides on the autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the Futian and Nanshan Districts to gain a better understanding of the operation and development of AVs in Shenzhen.
      
     In the morning, he visited the headquarters of DeepRoute.ai in Shenzhen to learn more about the company's developments and services in AV technology. DeepRoute.ai is a technology company that develops and applies advanced AV technologies. The Shenzhen Municipal Futian District People's Government and the company have co-operated in the road testing and trial operation of autonomous taxis (Robotaxis) in 2021, with about 100 Robotaxis made available to the public for free reservations for trial rides. The company is also the first enterprise to start demonstration operations of autonomous driving in Shenzhen's central business district.
      
     After that, Mr Lam went to Baidu's headquarters in Shenzhen, where he was briefed by company representatives on the Baidu's autonomous driving travel service platform, Apollo Go, and its intelligent operation monitoring system. Apollo Go is the world's largest automated driving travel service provider, with a 188 square kilometre designated area in Shenzhen for its autonomous taxis. A commercial operation of unmanned autonomous taxis has even been launched in Pingshan District.
      
     "In terms of AVs, Mainland China is more advanced in areas such as infrastructure, technological development, pilot testing and application deployment of AV technology. Meanwhile, we have put in place a regulatory framework to accommodate the trial or use of AVs in Hong Kong. Today, I have seen for myself and tested the operation of commercialised autonomous taxi services. I have also gauged the views of the relevant service providers on the promotion of AV services in Hong Kong. It will be conducive to promoting the development of AV technology in Hong Kong and aligning Hong Kong's autonomous driving development with that of other major cities on the Mainland and around the world," Mr Lam said.
      
     Mr Lam returned to Hong Kong this afternoon after concluding his visit to Shenzhen at midday.

            

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, will depart for Guangzhou tomorrow (July 21) to attend an event organised by the Ministry of Education, meet education officials and visit a local activity base for students' comprehensive practice.
 
     Dr Choi will return to Hong Kong on Saturday afternoon (July 22). During her absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.