The Transport Department (TD) invites tenders for operation of the "Central-Hung Hom" and "Water Taxi" licensed ferry services (Tender Reference: TD 45/2019).

     In response to public views for more in-harbour ferry services and the suggestion of provision of "water taxi" in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry, the Government is preparing for the re-commissioning of the "Central-Hung Hom" ferry route and launching of "water taxi" ferry services plying Kai Tak, Hung Hom, Tsim Sha Tsui East, West Kowloon and Central.
 
     The "Central-Hung Hom" ferry service will ply between the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier and Central Pier No 8 (Western Berth). The Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier adjoins the Hung Hom (Hung Luen Road) Public Transport Interchange and the Whampoa MTR Station. The proposed ferry service will provide commuters with an alternative transport option. Those taking the ferry service and landing in Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier can interchange for various routes of franchised buses, green minibuses or the MTR for access to places in Kowloon and the New Territories.

     For the "water taxi" ferry service, there will be five calling points for its main route, including Kai Tak Runway Park Pier Landing No 1 or 2, Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No 2 or 5, Central Pier No 8 (Western Berth), No 9 or 10, and marine landing facilities at the southern waterfront of West Kowloon Cultural District. Passengers can freely hop on and hop off at any calling points. To allow more flexibility for scheduling of sailings, interested ferry operators may recommend the operation period for "water taxi" ferry service. The potential ferry operator shall operate at least three sailings of the main route daily, one of which must depart from Kai Tak at or after 7pm to allow passengers to enjoy the night view of Victoria Harbour. To cater for the needs of passengers in some areas, the operator may also propose operating short-working routes to observe calling points or other berthing facilities on both sides of Victoria Harbour. The TD will take this into consideration in the tender assessment.

     In addition, in support of the Government's development of a smart city, interested operators are required to submit proposed measures in the tender documents, including dissemination of real-time arrival/departure information of ferry routes via mobile phone applications, opening up such data in machine-readable format for use by the public under the data.gov.hk portal, as well as provision of free Wi-Fi on board and at designated ferry piers.

     To improve the air quality of Victoria Harbour, interested operators are expected to introduce environmental protection features to the two licensed ferry services. They have to submit a plan on provision of greener ferries after making an assessment of their financial viability. 

     Tenderers must submit their tenders in sealed envelopes. The cover of the tender submission should be clearly marked with the tender reference and the subject of the tender (but should not bear any indication which may relate to the identity of the tenderer). The tender submission should be addressed to the Commissioner for Transport and placed in the TD Tender Box situated next to the reception counter of the TD on the 10th floor of South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, before noon on January 24, 2020 (Friday). Late tenders will not be accepted.

     Interested parties may obtain the tender documents starting from today (December 13) during office hours at the Ferry and Paratransit Division of the TD on 14th floor, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 13) investigating an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection (URI) at a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in Tin Shui Wai, and appealed to members of the public and staff of institutions to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.

     The outbreak involves 13 boys and eight girls aged 2 to 5 who developed fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat since December 2. Twenty of them sought medical attention. Among them, one child required hospitalisation and was discharged following treatment. A nasopharyngeal swab of a child tested positive for adenovirus and parainfluenza virus type 2 upon laboratory testing. All of them are now in a stable condition.
 
      Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the school to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory infections. The school has been put under medical surveillance.

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

• Receive a seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
• Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     
     Members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, should wear a face mask and consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 13) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Mid Suffolk District of Suffolk County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the district with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 9 270 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 1.82 million poultry eggs from the UK in the first nine months of this year, according to the Census and Statistics Department.
      
     "The CFS has contacted the British authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     â€‹The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, today (December 13) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Dr Ng Cho-nam.

     "Dr Ng had actively participated in environmental protection and promotion of nature conservation, and had made invaluable contributions over the years. He had subsequently served in a number of committees related to the Development Bureau, including the Town Planning Board, the Habourfront Commission, the Task Force on Land Supply, the Community Involvement Committee on Greening, the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies. I am forever grateful for his valuable advice to the Government on issues relating to city planning and development, greening, nature and heritage conservation, and on promoting sustainable development in Hong Kong.

     "I am saddened at the passing of Dr Ng and extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mr Wong said.

     The weapons that appear in Hong Kong kung fu and wuxia films come in a wide variety, with designs and fighting capabilities that showcase the dynamic vision of filmmakers and the creativity of action choreographers. To showcase these powerful and unique weapons, a dedicated exhibition entitled "Multifarious Arrays of Weaponry in Hong Kong Cinema", organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is being held from today (December 13) to March 8, 2020, at the Exhibition Hall of the HKFA.
 
     A star attraction of this fascinating exhibition is the careful reconstruction of the set in "Enter the Dragon" (1973), where the final duel between Bruce Lee and Sek Kin takes place. The nunchaku and tasselled spear used by the duo for training are on display. The recreated set promises to help visitors feel as if they are about to witness the dramatic battle between the two martial arts masters.
 
     In addition, the exhibition showcases various prop weapons, including the leather whip and the willow-leaf sabre used by Kwan Tak-hing in "The Magic Whip" (1968) and the Wong Fei-hung film series respectively. The broken sabre from "The One-Armed Swordsman" (1967) is on display, as are the long sword and the machete from "The Bride with White Hair" (1993), the bronze sword from "An Empress and the Warriors" (2008), and the flying guillotine from "The Guillotines” (2012). Visitors will also see the short tonfa (a fighting stick with a handle) from "SPL 2" (2015). Videos of interviews with numerous action choreographers and stuntmen as well as demonstrations on different kinds of weapons will also be shown at the venue.

     To tie in with the exhibition, a seminar entitled "The Sparks Between Weapons and Kung Fu", hosted by film critic Po Fung, will be held at 2pm on February 15, 2020, at the HKFA Cinema. The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.
 
     Admission to the exhibition and seminar is free. For details, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/programmes/weaponry/index.html.