The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, June 13, 2024 is 106.3 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Following is the speech by the Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Ms Joanne Chu, at the Opening Ceremony of the 38th International Travel Expo and the 19th MICE Travel Expo:

Mr Tong (Founder and Managing Director of TKS Exhibition Services, Mr Tong Kam-shing), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends of Hong Kong,

     First of all, thank you so much for having me today. It is my great honour to participate in the Opening Ceremony of the International Travel Expo and MICE Travel Expo event. And may I also extend a warm welcome to all of you to Hong Kong. 歡迎我們內地的朋å�‹åˆ°é¦™æ¸¯ä¾† (Our friends from the Mainland, welcome to Hong Kong). I remember there is a very famous book about travel around the world in 80 days. But now I can tell you, you can just do it in one day. The trick, of course, is to come and visit the International Travel Expo. So I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to KS and your team for staging such a wonderful event in Hong Kong about tourism because right now we are promoting tourism everywhere. 

     So back to the Travel Expo this year. I know the theme this year is "Forward to Full Recovery". I think in Hong Kong, we have a very good story to tell. First of all, in terms of the tourism figures, following the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the rest of the world, we have been seeing a very good trend of recovery of our tourism market. 

     Just take 2023 as an example. We received 34 million visitors coming from all over the world. And just in the first five months of 2024, we have already welcomed 18 million visitors coming to Hong Kong from different parts of the world, representing an increase of 78 per cent, compared to the same period of 2023. And we are confident that the increasing trend will continue because thanks to the support of the Central Government, we are welcoming more and more Mainland visitors to Hong Kong under the Individual Visit Scheme, which has recently been expanded to cover 59 Mainland cities, including all the provincial capitals on the Mainland. Under the Scheme, it will be more convenient and much easier for our Mainland friends to come and visit Hong Kong.

     Besides, we are also stepping up our efforts to reach out and expand our new source market, including the Middle East and the Muslim market. So we stand ready to welcome our friends from different parts of the world to come to Hong Kong. So please ask your friends to come to Hong Kong; share your unique experience here in your social media to attract them to come.

     In fact we know that to sustain the momentum, we have to diversify our tourism products to enrich our tourism offerings. Actually in the past few years, apart from enhancing our very famous local attractions – the two theme parks, the Peak, etc – we have been putting a lot of efforts in developing the thematic tour experiences to our visitors. 

     Just take the work of the Tourism Commission as an example. We launched two signature projects in the past few years. One is called the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival. I'm sure most of you will know that Sai Kung is the back garden of Hong Kong. If you have a chance to visit Sai Kung, I strongly encourage you to go there to see the paradise of our city. The idea of the Arts Festival is to connect the beautiful islands of Sai Kung together with arts and culture. Imagine – on one hand, you are enjoying the beautiful sunshine and beautiful natural scenery, and on the other hand, you can immerse yourselves in art installations and different cultural activities. So is it amazing? Sounds very attractive, right? I think I should have something back from all of you here. The upcoming Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival this year will start in November in Hong Kong. Please stay tuned for this.

     Another signature project that my office is doing is what we called the Design District Hong Kong, #ddHK in short. Again, our idea is to connect the local neighbourhood with arts and culture to showcase the local characteristics. We will have art installations by different artists, and also different cultural activities for visitors and locals to join. We have done the #ddHK in Central and Sham Shui Po before. This year, we will bring that to the New Territories, in Tsuen Wan and Sha Tau Kok, two other emerging tourist destinations to Hong Kong. The #ddHK, again, will come in the fourth quarter of this year. Please also stay tuned for this event.

     Ladies and gentlemen, just the efforts of the Government, of course, isn't enough. We have to count on our trade. That's why we have been working very closely with the Travel Industry Council to encourage our local industry practitioners to develop more thematic tours covering local heritage, culture, the rich history of Hong Kong, and even blue and green tourism, so that when visitors come to Hong Kong, through taking part in these thematic tours, they can get a taste of the authenticity, vibrancy, energy and rich culture of the city and, of course, experience the East-meets-West culture of Hong Kong. 

     Of course I know that just the product is not enough. We have to continue organising different types of exciting and special events for our visitors. Talking about events, there is one event I think you can't afford to miss, which is the upcoming International Dragon Boat Race, to be held this weekend at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. This is a carnival-like event combining local heritage. Of course, it's the legendary dragon boat race, entertainment, sports and tourism. I look forward to seeing you there at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade this weekend, because the Hong Kong Tourism Board will also have the Summer Chill Food Lane there, where you can enjoy a variety of local delicacies. 

     Apart from the dragon boat race, we have already scheduled over 210 events for the rest of the year in Hong Kong. Right now we are also having the Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong. So do buy a ticket and support the volleyball teams that you like. Besides, if you are arts and culture lovers, right now we are having the Chinese Culture Festival and, later on, the International Arts Carnival. If you are a fan of comics, I am sure the 100% Doraemon and Friends Tour will be your cup of tea. If you are a foodie, no worries, do come and enjoy the Wine and Dine Festival to be held in October this year in Hong Kong.

     Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure with the support of the Hong Kong Government and the efforts from all of us here, we can take the next step forward of the tourism industry and bring the industry to a new height. Once again, thank you so much for having me. I wish the twin expo another year of great success. Good health and prosperity to all of you here. Thank you so much.

     â€‹The Housing Bureau (HB) today (June 13) announced that the Light Public Housing (LPH) will be open for applications from June 24, with the Phase 1 application covering two projects at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, and Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok (Phase 1 application projects), which will provide a total of about 4 440 units for gradual intake anticipated from the first quarter of 2025 onwards.

     Those eligible to apply for the Phase 1 application projects will receive by post on or before June 24 the application forms sent by the HB in batches. Interested applicants who submit the duly completed application forms between June 24 and July 15 will be handled with priority. From July 16 and beyond, the HB will continue to accept applications, which will be handled upon completion of processing the application forms submitted on or before July 15. 

     A spokesman for the HB said, "The Chief Executive has put forward in the 2022 Policy Address that the Government will expeditiously build about 30 000 LPH units by 2027-28 through making use of government and private land not yet earmarked for long-term development in the near future with standardised simple design and the Modular Integrated Construction approach or through converting existing government properties. This serves to fill the short-term gap of public housing supply and improve the living conditions and quality of life of people living in inadequate housing as soon as possible. 

     "It takes about two and a half years only from putting forward the LPH initiative for the first time in October 2022 to intake of the first batch of LPH units starting from the first quarter of 2025. This clearly shows the determination and execution ability of the current term of the Government in solving the housing problem faced by our people. Apart from the two projects in Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, and Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok, we will continue to actively take forward the remaining 11 LPH projects across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Taking into account the progress of works, we will announce in due course the application arrangements for the other LPH projects."

     The spokesperson added, "The environment as well as the leisure and living facilities of LPH are much better as compared with the inadequate housing conditions. LPH also offers an affordable rental level, which is set at around 90 per cent of the rent of traditional public rental housing (PRH) of the same type. The two projects being launched this time are located at the New Territories and the urban areas respectively with their own advantages."

     Details of LPH Phase 1 application are as follows:

(1) Eligibility for application: General applicants who are on the waiting list for traditional PRH for three years or more (calculated from the last intake date for the Phase 1 application projects, i.e. May 2025) are eligible to apply for LPH, with priority given to family applicants. Those meeting the eligibility criteria will receive by post the application forms sent by the HB in batches. 

(2) Application period: Applicants who submit the duly completed application forms between June 24 and July 15 will be handled with priority. From July 16 and beyond, the HB will continue to accept applications, which will be handled upon completion of processing the application forms submitted on or before July 15.

(3) Submission methods: Interested applicants may submit their duly completed application forms by post to P.O. Box of the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing of the Housing Bureau (P.O. Box 28222, Gloucester Road Post Office, Wan Chai, Hong Kong); or by depositing into the drop-in boxes during office hours (from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays, except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) at the following locations: 

• Light Public Housing Information Counter at Podium Level 2, Hong Kong Housing Authority Customer Service Centre, 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon
• Office of the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing at Room 801, 8/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

     In addition, if the applicant and all family members have registered for "iAM Smart+", they may opt to complete, sign and submit the e-Form by scanning the exclusive QR code pre-printed in the application form. 

     Information on Phase 1 application projects is as follows:

(1) Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long: Providing about 2 150 units (including units for one to two persons, and three to four persons) with anticipated intake date in the first quarter of 2025. There are shops, launderettes, study/activity rooms, community services facilities, etc, within the project. There are also bus terminus and minibus stops within the project for providing public transport services, and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to travel to Yuen Long Town Centre, Sheung Shui or Tai Lam Tunnel Bus Interchange. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $740 to $1,420 (depending on the unit size) (Note).

(2) Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok: Providing about 2 290 units (including units for one to two persons, three to four persons, and four to five persons) with anticipated intake date in the second quarter of 2025. There are minibus stand, small shops, launderettes, study/activity rooms, community services facilities, etc, within the project. There are also a number of minibus and franchised bus routes in the vicinity travelling to/from Choi Hung MTR station as well as different places in Hong Kong and Kowloon. It takes about five to 10 minutes on foot to reach Choi Fook Estate Market, Choi Tak Shopping Centre or Choi Wan Shopping Centre. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $1,110 to $2,650 (depending on the unit size) (Note). 

     The HB will process the application forms received as soon as possible and make arrangements for the allocation procedures. To give priority to those families in need to move into LPH, if the applicants are currently living in inadequate housing; having special medical conditions; or having minor children, newborn babies, elderly persons, etc, in the family composition, they will be given higher priority for LPH allocation. The first batch of applicants who are successfully allocated LPH units under the Phase 1 application projects will be notified by the HB in batches starting from the fourth quarter of 2024, and will be arranged to go through eligibility verification and intake arrangements. For those applicants who are not allocated any LPH unit, their information will be retained for processing together with other applications received during the other phases of LPH application.

     For information about the LPH Phase 1 application, please refer to the enclosed LPH Promotional Pamphlet, or browse the LPH website of the HB (www.hb.gov.hk/eng/lph). For enquiries, please call 3464 0700, or send email to lphapp@hb.gov.hk. 

     Note: Rents vary depending on the unit size and the district. The rental level is preliminarily set at around 90 per cent of the rent of newly completed traditional PRH in the same district and is estimated based on the current rent of traditional PRH.  Having regard to the biennial rent review of the traditional PRH, the rent of LPH will also be adjusted accordingly. 

        

     The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) charged four employees for a contractor of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and two staff members of a waste disposal company for allegedly offering and accepting advantages for assisting the company to unload construction waste onto a landfill free of charge, and conspiring together to defraud the EPD. The case was mentioned at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (June 13).

     The EPD attaches great importance to the integrity and good professional ethics of all staff, and does not tolerate any corruption acts. The department has been co-operating actively with and has offered full assistance to the ICAC's investigation.

     The EPD has conducted a comprehensive review of relevant workflow and regulatory regime, and has made improvements with reference to the advice of the ICAC's Corruption Prevention Department, including applying an automatic sampling process when inspecting waste collection vehicles to reduce the effect of human factors. On-site EPD staff members will be informed of the sampling results concurrently to facilitate their conducting of ambush inspections, strengthening the regulation of landfill operations.

     In view of the ongoing legal proceedings, the EPD will not comment on the specifics of the case.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 13) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     "The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

     "Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight are more vulnerable to heat stroke. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;
• Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day if feasible. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     
     â€‹The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

    
     â€‹If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
     
     â€‹The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather report and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.