Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Buildings Department approved 17 building plans in October, with six on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, eight were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments, two were for factory and industrial developments, and three were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on nine building projects which, when completed, will provide 56 652 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 1 749 units, and 10 848 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for four building projects.

     The department also issued 19 occupation permits, with six on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and 10 in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 120 440 sq m involving 2 074 units, and 56 318 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in October totalled about $7.7 billion.

     In addition, eight demolition consents involving eight building structures were issued.

     The department received 3 083 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in October and issued 807 removal orders on UBWs.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for October can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk). read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 23) appealed to members of the public to keep venues clean and mind their safety while celebrating Christmas.

      The LCSD will work with other government departments to implement a series of measures over Christmas (December 24 to 26) to maintain cleanliness and safety at LCSD venues, especially at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Avenue of Stars, Middle Road Children’s Playground, Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden and Urban Council Centenary Garden, where large crowds are expected.

      An LCSD spokesman said, “Our staff, together with law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will step up patrols at our venues in the Tsim Sha Tsui area and take action against littering, illegal hawking and vandalism of public property. Those who litter will be liable to a fine of $1,500.

      “In crowded areas, people should remain calm and take care of their own safety,” he added.

      The public announcement systems at the HKCC will also broadcast anti-littering and crowd management messages in Cantonese, Putonghua and English on a regular basis during the holidays. read more

     Police today (December 23) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Western District.                 Wong Ko, aged 69… read more

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements from December 24 (Tuesday) to December 25 (Wednesday) on Hong Kong Island to facilitate the public to celebrate the festive season.

(I) Lan Kwai Fong

A. Crowd safety management measures

     As a large number of people is expected, crowd management measures will be implemented in Lan Kwai Fong area. It could take a long time to enter Lan Kwai Fong. Please follow the Police’s instruction and queue patiently.

     Furthermore, the Police may in response to any unforeseen events and the risk it posed to public safety and public order consider cordoning off Lan Kwai Fong and its adjacent area. Please stay tuned to the latest announcement. 

     Members of the public are urged not to bring or discharge aerosol spray in the vicinity as it may be hazardous to people nearby. Parents are advised not to bring children into the area.

B. Road closure and traffic diversions

     Subject to crowd and traffic conditions, the following roads will be closed in phases between December 24 and 25:

Phase I (From 2pm on December 24 to 6am the following day)
 
– D’Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Stanley Street;
– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and Cochrane Street; and
– On Lan Street.

Phase II (From anytime after 6pm on December 24)

– D’Aguilar Street between Queen’s Road Central and Stanley Street;
– Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central;
– Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Lower Albert Road between Garden Road and Ice House Street;
– Upper Albert Road between Upper Albert Road and Lower Albert Road; and
– Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.

     Upon completion of traffic diversions, the crowd will be directed to queue up along Wellington Street, Pottinger Street, Stanley Street, D’Aguilar Street and Queen’s Road Central. The whole section of D’Aguilar Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

C. Suspension of on-street parking spaces

     All on-street parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 2pm on December 24 to 6am the following day:

– Stanley Street near D’Aguilar Street;
– Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.

(II) Statue Square

     The following roads will be closed and pedestrianised from 8pm on December 24 to 11.59pm on December 26:

– Chater Road between Pedder Street and Jackson Road; and
– Ice House Street between Des Voeux Road Central and Connaught Road Central.

(III) Garden Road

     To facilitate the dispersal of people after a religious gathering in St. Joseph’s Church on Garden Road, the rightmost lane of Garden Road between Kennedy Road and Lady May Path will be coned off for pedestrians between 12.01am and 1am on December 25.

(IV) Victoria Park

A. Pedestrianisation

     The following roads will be pedestrianised from 4pm to 11.59pm on December 24, and from 12 noon to 11.59pm on December 25:

– Lockhart Road east of Cannon Street;
– East Point Road; and
– Great George Street west of Paterson Street.

B. Road closure and traffic diversions

     Depending on crowd conditions, the following traffic arrangements may be implemented in Causeway Bay:

– Northbound Gloucester Road service road between Kingston Street and the U-turn slip road of southbound Gloucester Road service road will be closed;
– Southbound Gloucester Road between the ramp leading from Victoria Park Road flyover and Causeway Road will be closed;
– Sugar Street will be closed;
– Traffic along Victoria Park Road flyover will be diverted to westbound Gloucester Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Yee Wo Street cannot enter Sugar Street;
– Northbound Gloucester Road between Causeway Road and Kingston Street will be closed, except for northbound traffic from Tai Hang Road flyover;
– Great George Street will be closed;
– Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street will be closed;
– Westbound Kingston Street between northbound Gloucester Road and Paterson Street will be closed;
– Traffic along southbound Paterson Street will be diverted to eastbound Kingston Street;
– Traffic along southbound Cleveland Street will be diverted to eastbound Kingston Street; and
– If necessary, Paterson Street, Kingston Street and Cleveland Street will be closed in short notice.

C. Suspension of car parks

     The Hing Fat Street public car park will be suspended from 9am to 8.59pm daily until December 30, 2019, and from 9am on December 31 to 8.59am the following day, for the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, except for the disabled parking spaces.

     Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.
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     Kid Koala, a renowned Canadian DJ, music producer and graphic novelist, will perform the multimedia theatre production “Nufonia Must Fall” in January and February. The production includes puppetry, concert performance and cinema and is suitable for audiences aged 3 and above.
 
     The heart-warming sci-fi love story of “Nufonia Must Fall” follows the marshmallow-like Robot R, who is on the verge of obsolescence. He falls in love with a female robotics expert and wants to create a song for her.
 
     Premiered in 2014, Kid Koala’s “Nufonia Must Fall” has toured widely, earning overwhelming audience responses in countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Chile, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and China.
 
     Kid Koala, accompanied by the Afiara Quartet, will perform his original score on piano and turntable. With 40 puppets, 20 miniature sets and cameras, the production recreates each scene from Kid Koala’s graphic novel of the same title with puppets on the stage. Under the direction of Oscar-nominated production designer K K Barrett, the performance is cinematically lit, filmed and projected on-screen. The combination of cinema, theatre and a concert aims to offer a brand-new experience for audiences.
 
     Kid Koala has released four solo albums and two graphic novels and has also contributed to the scores for various films. His appreciation for Charlie Chaplin movies inspired him to create the nearly non-verbal “Nufonia Must Fall” movie for the stage from his original graphic novel.
 
     Details of the performances are as follows:
 
January 31 (Friday), 8pm
February 1 (Saturday), 3pm
Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall
Tickets: $150 to $360
 
     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, “Nufonia Must Fall” is one of the attractions of the “Cheers!” Series. The programme contains some English with Chinese subtitles. Tickets are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). Children must be accompanied by a parent or an adult, and one ticket per person is required regardless of age (including for very young children). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/f_entertainment/programs_900.html.
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