Author Archives: hksar gov

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (August 5) announced a new service schedule of the two Coin Carts under the Coin Collection Programme, for the period of August 29, 2022 up to October 30, 2022. The schedule and other details of the Programme are shown on the HKMA webpage (coincollection.hkma.gov.hk).
      
     Since the launch of the Programme in October 2014 up to July 31, 2022, the two Coin Carts had carried out 969 000 transactions, collecting 779 million coins with a total face value of HK$1,193 million during the period. The collected coins are re-circulated to meet demand.
      
     The Coin Carts provide service at locations that are convenient to the public without affecting the normal flow of traffic and pedestrians. Locations that have suitable power supply facilities, such as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department mobile library service locations, are preferred so as to reduce the need for using the Coin Carts’ own stand-by generators. This makes the Programme more environmentally friendly. In selecting the service locations, the HKMA has taken into consideration comments and suggestions given by district councils and members of public; and has consulted the Transport Department and the Hong Kong Police Force as necessary.
      
     The two Coin Carts collect coins from members of public in the 18 districts of Hong Kong on a rotating basis. Under normal circumstances each Coin Cart will stay at a location for a week, subject to availability of the parking space and the maintenance schedule of the Cart. Service hours are from 10am to 7pm. Each vehicle is equipped with two coin counting machines and operational staff will be present to provide assistance. An electrical wheelchair lift is available for use. Users can choose to exchange coins for banknotes or adding value to their stored value facilities, such as Octopus Cards or e-wallets (including AlipayHK, Octopus Wallet, Tap&Go, TNG Wallet and WeChat Pay). There is also a Community Chest donation box inside each vehicle. The coin collection service is free of charge.
      
     The HKMA will review the Programme from time and time; and will regularly update the service schedule to give advance notice to the public. read more

     The Government announced today (August 5) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have been collecting sewage samples for virus testing in all dis… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      Regarding an earlier announcement on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier cases, the spokesperson for North District Hospital gave the following update t… read more

     Police are investigating a pending manslaughter case in Hung Hom yesterday afternoon (August 4) in which an 81-year-old woman died.      At 5.12pm yesterday, Police received a report from a 51-y… read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 5) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).     
  
     Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
  
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	South Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	St Stephen’s Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Stanley Main Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Kiu Tsui Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Trio Beach*
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Repulse Bay Beach*

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Kadoorie Beach*
Big Wave Bay Beach	Kwun Yam Beach
Butterfly Beach*	Lido Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach*
Cafeteria Old Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Casam Beach*	Pui O Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Shek O Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Discovery Bay	Ting Kau Beach*
Golden Beach*	Turtle Cove Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach

   
Grade 3 beach is:

Castle Peak Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Approach Beach, Casam Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Lido Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Deep Water Bay Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
 
     “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.
 
Note 1: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that lifeguard services at 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, will be provided from August 6.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service. read more