Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (October 7).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (October 7) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.

     The Civil Aid Service (CAS) mobilised a total of 140 members to remote areas to assist in the relief work following the passage of Super Typhoon Mangkhut in a two-day operation which commenced yesterday (October 5).

     The passage of Super Typhoon Mangkhut has caused extensive and severe damage to trees across the territory, during which numerous fallen tree cases were reported. A total of 140 CAS members were deployed to Sai Kung, Tseung Kwan O, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Kat O yesterday and today respectively to clear fallen trees and broken branches. They also helped clean up beaches.

     The CAS will tomorrow deploy members to Tseung Kwan O, Tai Wai, Tai Po and Kat O to assist in the relief work in remote areas. 

     The CAS will continue to mobilise its members to carry out recovery work in other remote locations next week.

            

     Police today (October 6) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Happy Valley. 
      
     Chan Shi-lung, aged 67, was last seen at a hospital on Eastern Hospital Road in Happy Valley yesterday morning (October 5). His family made a report to Police on the same day.
      
     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 64 kilograms in weight and of middle build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue and grey stripes T-shirt, apricot-coloured trousers, dark-blue sports shoes.
      
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 5613 6963 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
 

  

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session after attending the Launching Ceremony of PolyU Jockey Club "Operation SoInno" cum "One from Hundred Thousand" Symposium on "Transitional Social Housing" today (October 6):
 
Reporter: The public housing ratio is going to be raised up. How will this affect the market right now?
 
Secretary for Development: We think it's the right thing to do. I have explained it publicly. I think the Secretary for Transport and Housing has also explained it publicly. Given the huge shortage of public housing, we think it is reasonable to devote more resources to public housing. We have done so, for example, by picking nine sites on Anderson Road and in Kai Tak. Originally, those sites would be put in the Land Sale Programme, those sites will now be devoted to public housing. We think it is the right thing to do.

     You asked about pricing in the private housing market, it is determined by a lot of factors. As I have said before, land supply by the government is but only one factor, interest rates, the flow of capital and also the land supply that can be provided through redevelopment by private developers, there are all different factors that contribute to housing prices. There is no one easy projection or theory that can be made.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)