Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (January).

     Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing areas before and during firing practice. For their safety, people are advised not to enter the firing area.

     Following are the dates and times for the firing practice sessions in January 2022:

San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range
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Tsing Shan Firing Range
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     The Government has proposed to allow China Telecom Global Limited to install an optical fibre submarine cable of approximately 34.6 kilometres in length and 38 millimetres in diameter from Chung Hom Kok to the eastern boundary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The extent of the area of foreshore and seabed affected is described in the notice gazetted today (December 24).

     The proposed submarine cable is a section of the Asia Direct Cable System which is approximately 9,400 km in length, connecting Hong Kong with Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and the Mainland. The system will boost the external telecommunications capacity of Hong Kong, reinforcing Hong Kong as a key communications hub in Asia.  

     The proposed works are tentatively scheduled to commence in April 2022 for completion by August in the same year.
 
     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) where copies can be purchased on order;

* Southern Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Southern District Office (G/F, Ocean Court, 3 Aberdeen Praya Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong);

* Islands Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (Tung Chung) of the Islands District Office (1/F, Tung Chung Post Office Building, 6 Mei Tung Street, Tung Chung, Lantau Island);

* Sai Kung Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Sai Kung District Office (G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories); and 

* Lands Department's website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before February 24, 2022. The notice of such objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected.

     â€‹The Labour Department (LD) today (December 24) again reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to comply with social distancing measures announced by the Government.
      
     An LD spokesman said, "According to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I), a person who participates in a prohibited group gathering of more than four persons in public places or fails to wear a mask in accordance with the requirement may be charged a fixed penalty of $5,000. During the Christmas and New Year holidays, the LD will conduct mobile broadcasts in multiple languages at popular FDH gathering places across the territory to call upon FDHs to comply with the relevant requirements. On December 25 and 26 as well as January 1 and 2, 2022, the LD will, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, conduct joint operations for two consecutive weekends at Central, Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, the footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, Lai Chi Kok Park, etc. Relevant departments will take enforcement action against those who still refuse to abide by the regulations after repeated reminders.
      
     "We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and holidays in order to safeguard their personal health and reduce the risk of infection."
      
     Hong Kong residents, including FDHs, can get vaccinated for COVID-19 free of charge. For booking and details, please visit the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). The Government appeals to FDHs to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others.
      
     Should FDHs and their employers have any enquiries on employment matters, they may contact the LD through the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823), by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk or through the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).

     The Highways Department (HyD) today (December 24) invited tenders for "Retrofitting of Noise Barriers on Po Lam Road North (near King Ming Court)" (Contract No. HY/2021/21).

     The works are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2022 and will take about 30 months to complete. The works will mainly include retrofitting of noise enclosure along Po Lam Road North (near King Ming Court) and the associated drainage, roadworks, geotechnical, utility diversions, street lighting and landscaping works.

     The HyD has appointed Mannings (Asia) Consultants Limited (MACL) as the consultant to design and supervise the construction works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from MACL at 5/F, Winning Commercial Building, 46-48 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. Submission of tenders will close at noon on February 11, 2022 (Friday). Tender submissions should be placed in the Public Works Tender Box located in Room 503 on the 5th Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.

     For enquiries, please call MACL at 3168 2028.

     â€‹The Transport Department (TD) today (December 24) awarded a consultancy agreement for the Traffic and Transport Strategy Study to Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd.
      
     The Chief Executive announced in her 2020 Policy Address that a comprehensive Traffic and Transport Strategy Study would be carried out to meet new transport developments and demands, and facilitate the flow of people and goods between Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, so as to support the sustainable development of Hong Kong and strengthen its competitiveness for future development. The study aims to identify traffic and transport visions for Hong Kong up to 2050, and formulate an associated strategies blueprint to ensure that Hong Kong can maintain a safe, reliable, environmentally friendly and efficient traffic and transport system. 
      
     The TD will endeavour to seek breakthroughs in mapping out forward-looking traffic and transport policies and initiatives in order to bring new opportunities and impetus to Hong Kong's transport development.
      
     The study is scheduled for completion within 48 months.