Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
The fire danger situation today (November 22) is red and fire risk is extreme. The countryside is extremely vulnerable to fire. If you are planning to spend the day in the countryside, please take pre-cooked food for a picnic and take all measures to prevent hill fires. The penalty for lighting fires illegally in the countryside is $25,000 and a year’s imprisonment.
read more
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals: "The Social Welfare Department announ… read more
The Transport Department (TD) today (November 22) appealed to members of the public to pay attention to the traffic situation and the latest public transport service arrangement this morning before starting their journey.
As at 6am today, the latest public transport situation is as follows:
(I) MTR
All MTR lines maintain services today. Except the Airport Express Line, the train service will end at 11pm.
Hung Hom and University stations are closed. Entrances/Exits at some stations will also be closed. Train services may be suspended or adjusted due to incidents. Members of the public are advised to continue to stay tuned to the latest traffic news.
From start of service, East Rail Line service will be provided between Mong Kok East and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau stations (not stopping at University Station). West Rail Line service will end at East Tsim Sha Tsui Station. Free shuttle bus service running between Tai Po Market and Kam Sheung Road stations will be arranged during morning and evening peak periods.
Light Rail Route 751P is substituted by Route 706. Routes 614, 614P, 751 and 761P will be diverted. Route 751 will not stop at Chestwood and Yau Oi stops.
(II) Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnel
Due to the damage to the facilities of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT), the tunnel cannot be reopened within a short period of time. To assist members of the public to commute, the TD has co-ordinated with franchised bus and ferry operators to strengthen services. Nine routes operating via the CHT have been rerouted to the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) or the Western Harbour Tunnel (WHC). The routes via the EHC include 101X, 107, 108, 111, 115, 116, 118 and 182 while the route via the WHC includes 118P.
The service hours of the following two special free ferry routes are from 7am to 7pm:
(1) Between Ma Tau Kok Public Pier in Kowloon City and Wan Chai Public Pier (near Golden Bauhinia Square): with a headway of 20 minutes during peak hours
(2) Between Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier and Wan Chai Public Pier (near Golden Bauhinia Square): with a headway of 30 minutes during peak hours
In view of the limited carrying capacity of the ferry services and to provide alternative for passengers, franchised bus operators will arrange special departures (Route 115) at Kowloon City Ferry Pier Bus Terminus via the EHC to Central.
(III) Affected road sections
A number of roads in Tsim Sha Tsui District are yet to be reopened. Some bus routes may be temporarily diverted or suspended. The affected road sections include the junction of Chatham Road South, Cheong Wan Road and Austin Road, Austin Road between Cox’s Road and Chatham Road South and Hong Chong Road (both bounds). Police will implement road closure, traffic control and diversion measures depending on the traffic conditions on site.
As traffic conditions and railway services may change within a short period of time, the TD urges commuters using public transport services to allow more travelling time and plan their journey in advance. Details of the latest traffic news are available at TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk/en/home/index.html) or mobile application “HKeMobility”. read more
The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) made the following response today (November 21) regarding the recent public concerns about the impact of tear gas on health and food safety:
The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said, “I fully understand the public’s concern on the impact of tear gas on health and food safety. In this connection, the FHB has earlier sought advice from relevant experts. Subsequently, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have respectively provided health information on tear gas and advice on contaminants and food safety.”
On the health effects of tear gas, in general, post-exposure symptoms to tear gas may include stinging and burning sensation to eyes and other mucous membranes, tearing, salivation, runny nose, tight chest, headache, nausea, burning sensation of skin, and erythema of skin. These symptoms will usually disappear within a short time after exposure to tear gas. According to the Hospital Authority (HA), amongst those who were exposed to tear gas and attended the accident and emergency (A&E) departments of HA, they generally experienced mild respiratory and skin irritation, and there was no serious health impact reported. Most of them could be immediately discharged after rinsing and receiving treatment at the A&E departments.
Some members of the public enquired how the residual materials could be removed. Advices from the DH include: disposable cleaning items are preferable. Suitable personal protective equipment such as masks, rubber gloves and rubber aprons should be worn. In general, surface with residual materials could be wiped by cloth soaked with soapy water but hot water should not be used in order to avoid evaporating the materials. Also, residual materials should not be stirred up and therefore tools such as high pressure water jet and brooms, as well as electric fans, should not be used. The disposable cleaning items should be properly packed (such as in a sealed plastic bag) after cleaning and then disposed.
Details in the cleaning of residual materials are available in the health information prepared by the CHP (www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/460/102308.html).
On food safety, the CFS has earlier on offered advice to the public on contaminants and food safety. CFS’s advice is available on its website. (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fstr/files/Advice_on_tear_gas_for%20public_e.pdf)
In addition, the CFS has provided advice to the food trade on how to minimise food contamination by contaminants, including chemical substances of tear gas. The CFS advises the trade that food should be properly stored in suitable places such as clean and covered food-grade containers to reduce the risk of food contamination.
“I know the public would like to learn more about the situation at the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market. The CFS staff have visited the market to provide food safety information to traders and advised them to take appropriate preventive measures. Insofar as the general public is concerned, generally speaking, contaminants on the surface of some kinds of food, such as fruits or vegetables, can be reduced by washing with running water. For the sake of prudence, food suspected to be contaminated or showing abnormality should not be consumed.”
“The FHB will continue to exchange views with relevant experts and to provide in a timely manner up-to-date information and advice to the public from the public health perspective,” stressed Professor Chan. read more
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at the Hong Kong Shipowners Association Annual Cocktail Reception and International Chamber of Shipping (China) Liaison Office Launch Ceremony today (November 21):
Vice Minister Liu (Vice Minister of Transport, Mr Liu Xiaoming), Deputy Director Huang (Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Huang Liuquan), Bjorn (Chairman of Hong Kong Shipowners Association, Mr Bjorn Hojgaard), Esben (Chairman of International Chamber of Shipping, Mr Esben Poulsson), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I am delighted to be here with you for the annual reception of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA). Now into its 62nd year, the HKSOA has become one of the largest, most respected voices in global shipping. The Government of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) fully appreciates the contribution of the HKSOA to our maritime industry, our economy and the future of Hong Kong. We could not have asked for a more trustworthy partner and are truly grateful for the unfailing support all along.
Tonight’s reception also marks the official launch of the Liaison Office of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). Established in 1921, ICS is the largest trade association for shipowners and operators. It represents more than 80 per cent of the world’s merchant fleet and all sectors of the industry. The decision to have its first ever Liaison Office based right here in Hong Kong is clear recognition of China’s emergence as one of the world’s leading maritime nations, and also Hong Kong’s superb connectivity with the global shipping community.
Hong Kong is a small city of 1 100 square kilometres with a population of 7.4 million. Given our limited domestic market, we ceaselessly reach out to the world. Strategically located in the heart of Asia and being the southern gateway to Mainland China, Hong Kong’s shipping and trading venture has come a long way, and was the world’s seventh largest trading economy of goods in 2018.
The first scheduled container ship berthed at Hong Kong on July 30, 1969. Fifty years since then, a throughput of 19.6 million TEUs were handled in 2018. Once a small fishing village back then, we are now the home base for shipowners who own or manage a near 2 200 ships. In 2018, some 280 million tonnes of cargoes were moved through our Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. Our maritime and shipping industry is truly a pillar underpinning the trade and logistics industry, which accounts for 21 per cent of Hong Kong’s GDP and 19 per cent of total employment.
As a matter of fact, Hong Kong is blessed with immense opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. The Greater Bay Area’s Outline Development Plan calls for Hong Kong to continue and excel as a premier international maritime centre.
Same as the dedication of the HKSOA to creating value for its members, we the Government are committed to supporting the growth of the maritime sector. We have announced various initiatives in the 2019 Policy Address, such as tax concessions for ship leasing and marine insurance business, funding injection for maritime manpower development, and setting up regional maritime desks worldwide to better support our shipowners.
As an externally oriented economy, we are not immune from the impact of global economic slowdown. For the first nine months of 2019, the total throughput at Hong Kong Port dipped 6.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2018. Amid external headwinds and domestic social unrest, we have to brace ourselves for the eventuality of an overall negative growth for 2019.
To ease the financial burden of various sectors, the Financial Secretary has announced a number of supporting measures. On maritime front, we would exempt a number of fees for ocean-going vessels for 12 months. We would also provide one-off survey fee subsidy and non-accountable fuel subsidy to local commercial vessels. Besides, to better support small and medium enterprises, a new 90 per cent guarantee for approved loans would be rolled out. The Government is proactively supporting enterprises in Hong Kong.
Indeed, we have gone through difficult times in the past and every time we have emerged stronger and more resilient than ever. Hand on heart, I am confident that Hong Kong will overcome and rise again. In closing, I wish the ICS, the HKSOA and every one of you a memorable evening and the best of business in the years to come. Thank you.
