Following is the speech delivered by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Siu Chak-yee, at the Force Remembrance Day today (November 15):
      
     Distinguished guests and colleagues, we are here today to honour all members of the Hong Kong Police Force, both regular and auxiliary, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the community of Hong Kong. This solemn ceremony is also a fitting tribute to the dedication to duty and fortitude of all members of staff who have served in the Force over the past 180 years.
      
     Since the founding of the Hong Kong Police Force in 1844, members of the Force have been facing different dangers in the course of our duties. Yet, we have always remained undaunted and put the people of Hong Kong first in our determination to safeguard the prosperity and stability of this city. In doing so, some members of the Force paid the ultimate price, and it is in memory of their sacrifices that we are gathered here in remembrance today.
      
     The fallen officers, who remain a source of pride for the Force, have etched their legacy in history through their dedicated and exemplary service in protecting our people’s lives and property. Their sacrifices underscore the risks and challenges inherent in our daily work as police officers. Through it all, it remains our highest honour to serve and defend our community. We pledge to uphold the legacy of those who came before us and remain steadfast in our commitment to the Force's mission of ensuring national security and public safety. Our motto, “Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty”, guides us as we rise to meet the challenges of every operation. It inspires us to respond to public reports and concerns with empathy, ensuring that the citizens look on us as their companions.
      
     In this ceremony, we are also joined by members of the Hong Kong Police Old Comrades Association, the Royal Hong Kong Police Association and former Force members. Like the many who came before them, they represent the finest traditions of service to the community for which the Force is both famed and justifiably proud – traditions, which continue today and are passed on from generation to generation and that make the Hong Kong Police Force continue to be one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the world.
      
     To all of you present here today, may I ask you to remain standing, and following the “Last Post”, join me in observing a two-minute silence in memory of all those who have fallen in the line of duty.

        

     The Government published a notice in the Gazette today (November 15) on the modifications to the Route 11 (section between Yuen Long and North Lantau). The works have been authorised by the Chief Executive in Council.

     Details of the works are set out in the Annex. The modifications involve revisions of the proposed limit of the works area and the extent of land resumption/clearance. The modification plans and modification resumption plan are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Tuen Mun Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
2/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices,
1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories

Tsuen Wan Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
1/F, Tsuen Wan Multi-storey Carpark Building,
174 – 208 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories

District Lands Office, Tuen Mun,
6/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices,
1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories

District Lands Office, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing,
10/F, Tsuen Wan Multi-storey Carpark Building, 
174 – 208 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories

District Lands Office, Islands,
19/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

     Further enquiries can be addressed to the Major Works Project Management Office, Highways Department, 6/F, Ho Man Tin Government Offices, 88 Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, or at telephone number 2762 3684.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (November 15) said that, to promote the quality services and image of the taxi industry, and compliment quality taxi drivers and taxi service management teams, the Committee on Taxi Service Quality (CTSQ) and the TD are jointly organising the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme 2024.
 
     To recognise the quality services provided by drivers and management teams, a total of 24 awards will be granted under the scheme, including 20 Quality Taxi Drivers, one Most Popular Taxi Driver, two Good Driver, Good Service awards, and one Quality Taxi Service Management Team. To encourage public participation, the scheme is open for nominations throughout the year.
 
     Members of the public can nominate quality taxi drivers and service management teams, and share their Good Driver, Good Service riding experiences provided by a taxi driver via the CTSQ's webpage (www.ctsq.org.hk/voting) by scanning the QR code on the publicity material of the scheme (see Annex). They can also download the nomination form from the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/taxi/index.html) or the CTSQ's website (www.ctsq.org.hk) and send the completed form to the TD by post or email.
 
     The TD will issue letters to the taxi trade and publish content in the Taxi Newsletter to introduce the scheme. Promotional materials will be exhibited inside taxi compartments, at other public transport modes and the information plates of taxi stands. The scheme will also be publicised through the TD's website, the HKeMobility mobile application and collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to invite public and tourists' nominations on drivers and management teams.

     The Chief Executive in Council has authorised the scheme for the sewerage works under the Yuen Long South – Second Phase Development and Yuen Long South Effluent Polishing Plant with modifications as stated in a notice gazetted today (November 15).
 
     The sewerage scheme comprises the following:
 

1. construction of about 6 200 metres of gravity sewers and associated manholes;
2. construction of about 1 700m of twin rising mains and associated manholes;
3. construction of a sewage pumping station;
4. construction of an effluent polishing plant; and
5. ancillary works including reinstatement of carriageways, footpaths, cycle tracks, pedestrian crossings and amenity areas.

 
     Details of the sewerage scheme were published in the Government Gazette on June 2, 2023, and June 9, 2023.
 
     Construction works for the sewerage scheme will be carried out by the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Drainage Services Department in conjunction with the road works under the Yuen Long South – Second Phase Development.

     The Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Amendment Bill) was published in the Gazette today (November 15) to more effectively combat unlicensed specified process (SP) operations and implement recommendations of the latest Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) review.
 
     A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau indicated that SPs are major sources of serious air pollution. Currently, 31 types of SPs are specified in Schedule 1 to the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) (APCO). All SP operations are required to have an SP licence issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). All unlicensed SP operations are illegal. They cause persistent air pollution problems and a large number of complaints and must be immediately stopped.
 
     The spokesman said, "To provide an effective legal means to stop ongoing unlicensed SP operations as soon as possible, the Amendment Bill proposes to introduce a statutory closure notification mechanism to empower the Director of Environmental Protection to issue a closure notice in respect of the premises where he has reasonable cause to believe that an unlicensed SP is being carried out. The Amendment Bill also proposes to revise the scope of 'cement works' and the definition of 'premises' under the APCO to include cement works carried out at sea in order to enhance regulatory clarity. After the enactment and commencement of the Amendment Bill, we will provide a six-month transitional period for relevant existing operators to apply to the EPD for the required SP licences."
 
     The Amendment Bill also proposes to implement recommendations of the latest AQOs review in order to set out measures and requirements to tackle air pollution problems. The proposed AQOs updates include tightening the five objectives for sulphur dioxide (SO2), respirable suspended particulates (PM10) and fine suspended particulates (PM2.5), and adding three new objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO) introduced by the World Health Organization. 
 
     The spokesman said, "The updated AQOs will be on par with relevant standards of other advance economies. A transitional period of 36 months will be provided for designated projects for which environmental permits (EP) have been issued under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) before the new AQOs take effect, starting from the enactment and commencement of the Amendment Bill. During the transition period, the pre-amended AQOs continue to apply to applications for variation of conditions of the EP. Meanwhile, the Amendment Bill also proposes to update the AQOs and provide corresponding transitional arrangements by 'negative vetting' in the future to streamline relevant procedures."
 
     The Amendment Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first and second readings on November 27.