The outdoor "Concert in the Park 2019" will be held on Sunday (December 1) from 1.30pm to 7pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, featuring diverse performances by seven bands and music groups. Members of the public are welcome to enjoy the concert and admission is free.
 
     Filipino DJs Michael Vincent Benares and Jun "Tita Kerry" Paragas will serve as programme hosts. The line-up features Bluesy Cats, Hard Luck Kings, LAGABLAB, Rockin' Chicken, HKMU Assembly, Sound Bytes and Da Hiking Boyz. They will perform different types of music including pop, soul, rock, jazz and folk.
 
     "Concert in the Park 2019" is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, with the co-operation of the Hong Kong Musicians Union. The event aims to promote cultural exchange between the Filipino community and local citizens.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2591 1340 (LCSD) or 2823 8536 (Philippine Consulate General), or visit the website of the LCSD:
www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cpo/territoryevents/concertinthepark/cp2019.html.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning December 2:
 

     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) bagged two Winner Awards at the 19th Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards with its in-house developed nowcasting system.

     Joined by 250 teams from 15 economies, the 19th APICTA Awards was held from November 19 to 22 in Ha Long, Vietnam. The nowcasting system named SWIRLS (Short-range Warning of Intense Rainstorms in Localized Systems) developed in-house by the HKO won two Winner Awards in entries titled "Public Sector and Government category – Government & Citizen Services" and "Technology category – Artificial Intelligence".

     The HKO's nowcasting system SWIRLS makes use of weather observations from radars, lightning sensors and rain gauges, in combination with information and artificial intelligence technologies, to provide effective forecasts of rainfall and lightning a few hours ahead, supporting the HKO's rainstorm forecasting and warning services. In turn, such services assist members of the public, government departments and public utilities in taking precautionary measures ahead of inclement weather to safeguard public safety and reduce damage. The HKO also shares the source code of SWIRLS with other regions to promote Hong Kong's internationally leading role in respect of nowcasting techniques and applications in weather services.

     SWIRLS also won the Smart Business Grand Award and the Smart Business (Solution for Business and Public Sector Enterprise) Gold Award at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2019 in April this year.

    

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 26) conducted the balloting for the application for vacant fixed hawker pitches and the ballot results have been released.
      
     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD will re-allocate 435 vacant fixed hawker pitches, which were earlier open for application by persons who are interested in the hawking business and able to meet relevant requirements. The application period has ended and a total of 12 788 eligible applications have been received. Ballots were drawn today to determine the pitch selection priority order of eligible applicants.
      
     "The ballot results have been uploaded onto the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) and will be displayed at the FEHD District Environmental Hygiene Offices and Hawkers and Markets Offices tomorrow (November 27) for viewing by applicants. The FEHD will also issue letters to notify eligible applicants of their priority numbers and later issue letters in batches according to the priority numbers to invite successful applicants for pitch selections and completion of the formalities for issue of new licence."

     For enquiries, please call 2348 6944.

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (November 27). 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.