Transport Department issues pilot licence for autonomous vehicle

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (November 29) that the first pilot licence for autonomous vehicle (AV) has been issued in accordance with section 4(1) of the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 374AA).

     The applicant of this pilot licence is approved to conduct trial for 10 AVs in North Lantau. In its first phrase, only one autonomous private car will operate in each road test at a specified time on specified road sections between Hong Kong International Airport Car Park 4 and Chek Lap Kok South Road, via Cheong Tat Road, Airport North Interchange, Sky City Road, Third Sky Street, First Sky Street, Sky City Road East, Sky City Interchange, East Coast Road and Scenic Road. During the trial, the backup operator stationed on board shall take over control of the vehicle if necessary. Details of the pilot licence have been uploaded to the TD's website on AV trials (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/taoav/index.html).

     A spokesman for the TD said that upon receipt of an application for the pilot licence, the TD will consider various factors including the design operating range and functions of the autonomous system submitted by the applicant, relevant international or national standards/guidelines, and the road test situations, based on the Code of Practice for Trial and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles before approval. The TD will exercise stringent control with a view to promoting AV trials in Hong Kong in a safe and orderly manner.

     To facilitate wider trials and application of AVs by the industry in Hong Kong, the new legislation and regulatory regime for AVs came into operation on March 1, 2024, providing a flexible regulatory framework for AVs. The TD welcomes interested organisations or enterprises to submit applications and act in concert to promote the further development of autonomous driving in Hong Kong.

     In addition, the Government launched the $1 billion Smart Traffic Fund in 2021 to provide funding support to local organisations or enterprises for conducting research and application on vehicle-related innovation and technology. To date, 12 approved projects have been related to AVs. The road sections under these trials cover public roads and various application scenarios, such as the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Hong Kong Science Park and individual private residential estates.




Appeal for information on missing man in Tuen Mun (with photos)

     Police today (November 29) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tuen Mun.

     Police received a report saying that a 38-year-old man, Chan Chun-nam, went missing after he was last seen in Yau Oi Estate today afternoon.
    
     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 75 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a dark green crewneck sweatshirt, black trousers and grey sneakers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3127 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

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EEB and GACC sign Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement on co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong (with photos)

     The Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Supporting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Equine Industry Development, and the Cooperation Agreement on the Requirements of Inspection, Quarantine and Hygiene of Hong Kong Aquaculture Products Exported to the Mainland today (November 29), with a view to further enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong in respect of the equine industry and the export of Hong Kong aquatic products to the Mainland.
      
     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said, "The MOU will further enhance the exchanges and co-operation between the equine industries of Hong Kong and Guangdong and contribute to the transformation and upgrading of the country's equine industry. The Agreement will help Hong Kong's aquaculture industry explore the Mainland market, in line with the HKSAR Government's Blueprint for Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries to expand the sales outlets of fisheries products for the aquaculture industry and promote its sustainable development."
      
     The MOU will further enhance co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong in quarantine and customs clearance arrangements of horses, forage feed, biological products, etc; support the construction and development of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse, and deepen co-operation and exchanges in the field of laboratory technology between the two sides.
      
     On the export of aquatic products, the Agreement will expand the variety of Hong Kong cultured aquatic products to be exported to the Mainland, and set out clearer inspection, quarantine and hygiene requirements for the related cultured aquatic products, as well as establish a co-operation mechanism.   

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United Christian Hospital responds to case of Legionnaires’ disease

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following reply today (November 29) regarding a Legionella infection case:

     A 75-year-old male patient who had stayed in a medical and geriatric ward of UCH was confirmed to have Legionnaires' Disease. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) visited the ward and collected water samples today. The source of infection is still under investigation. The patient was admitted to UCH on November 12. His condition continued to deteriorate and eventually succumbed on November 25.

     The hospital has already implemented a series of precautionary and enhanced infection control measures, including:
 

  1. suspending use of related basin faucets and shower heads;
  2. installing bacterial filters with specifications for related water faucets and arranging to disinfect the related water supply system; and
  3. providing boiled or bottled water to patients in the wards concerned for drinking and mouth rinsing.

     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office according to established guidelines. The hospital will co-operate with the CHP to investigate the source of infection.




CE meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg (with photo)

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg, Mr Xavier Bettel, today (November 29), to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, also attended the meeting.
      
     Mr Lee welcomed Mr Bettel's visit to Hong Kong. Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong boasts a highly internationalised and market-oriented business environment, with talent proficient in multiple languages, making the city an ideal place for companies to expand their global operations. He welcomed enterprises from Luxembourg to leverage Hong Kong's platform as an international financial and trade centre to explore overseas and Mainland markets, achieving mutual benefits.
      
     Mr Lee introduced a series of measures by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government designed to enable enterprises to set up headquarters or corporate divisions in Hong Kong, as well as details and achievements of various talent admission schemes. Mr Lee looks forward to strengthening co-operation with Luxembourg in the future, with the HKSAR Government continuing to promote trade, investment, arts and cultural exchanges with Luxembourg through the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels.
      

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