Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Yellow fire danger warning
The fire danger situation today (January 8) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.
Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (January 8). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.
A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race
1. Road closure
Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp outside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.
2. Traffic diversions
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Traffic along eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.
B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting
1. Road closure
The following roads will be closed from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:
– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.
In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.
2. Traffic diversions
The following traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:
– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.
C. Learner drivers prohibition
Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:
– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.
D. Suspension of parking spaces
Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.
Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.
Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
​Hong Kong Customs seized about 2 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine and about 980 grams of suspected cocaine at Hong Kong International Airport on January 4 and yesterday (January 6) respectively with a total estimated market value of about $2.3 million.
Customs officers inspected an air parcel arriving in Hong Kong from Malaysia on January 4 and found the batch of suspected methamphetamine concealed inside seven cans of food products.
Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 27-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man in Siu Sai Wan suspected to be in connection with the case.
Also, a 44-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday. He was suspected to have dangerous drugs concealed inside his body cavity and was escorted to hospital for examination. He later discharged 980 grams of suspected cocaine.
Investigations of the two cases are ongoing.
Customs will maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcels and express courier channels.
At the same time, Customs will also apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance, and further step up enforcement actions before the Chinese New Year holiday with a view to combat transnational drug trafficking effectively.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) has established policy to ensure blood safety. BTS always reviews the blood donation arrangement for donors who returned from the areas with potential risks of infectious diseases. The spokesperson for BTS today (7 January) announced that, in response to the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan, as a precautionary measure, members of public who have visited Wuhan should defer blood donation for 14 days from the date of departure.
The spokesperson pointed out that, having considered cautiously and balanced the risk of blood safety, the Hospital Authority (BTS) Expert Panel on Blood and Blood Products Safety decided to revise the arrangement today. Expert Panel remains vigilant and works closely with relevant departments to monitor the latest development, and to timely review related measures. Meanwhile, all blood donors are reminded that if they develop the symptoms of fever, respiratory tract infection or pneumonia after blood donation, they should seek medical advice and inform the healthcare staff of BTS (During office hours: 2710 1201/ 2710 1243/2710 1298; Outside office hours: 2710 1210/2710 1234) as soon as possible.
BTS would also like to invite members of public to give blood before travel abroad during the Chinese New Year holiday to maintain a stable blood supply for patients in need throughout the long holiday.