The Housing Bureau (HB) today (July 19) awarded the operation and management contract of the first Light Public Housing (LPH) project (Contract no. LPH20240001) to the Pioneer Management Limited – Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Joint Venture at a tender sum of about $202 million.
 
     The LPH project, located on Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, will provide about 2 100 units, with tenant intake anticipated in the first quarter of next year. Under the steer and supervision of the HB, the operating organisation will need to work at full capacity to carry out the pre-management works effectively in the coming months, so as to ensure the smooth handling of LPH applications and intake matters, and to provide various services and ancillary facilities for the residents and local community immediately upon intake.
 
     The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said, "Since the Chief Executive announced the construction of about 30 000 LPH units by 2027/28, the HB and the Architectural Services Department have been working at full steam to take forward the related works, in order to assist the families with urgent housing needs to improve their living conditions as soon as possible. The LPH Phase 1 Application has received an overwhelming response, with over 10 200 applications received by the end of the priority handling period (i.e. June 24 to July 15). With the official appointment of the operating organisation for the LPH project on Yau Pok Road today, this social project has taken a significant step forward again."
 
     She continued, "LPH is led by the Government, and I aspire to work closely with various operating organisations in the coming years to ensure effective operation and management, hence allowing the residents and nearby community to be benefited from the project's ancillary facilities and community services. I would also like to appeal to other organisations that are interested in operating other LPH projects to actively participate in the tenders of other projects, thereby working together with the Government to improve the living environment of the grassroots and help them in their pursuit towards happiness."
 
     In addition to providing accommodation, the LPH projects will also offer various services and facilities for the residents and local community. Therefore, the requirements for LPH's operation and management services differ from the general property management contracts, which not only include occupant management, property management and daily maintenance, but also a range of social services, as well as the management and operation of ancillary facilities.
 
     To ensure service quality, the HB has, in the assessment process, carried out a technical assessment based on a series of criteria including the management capability and relevant experience of the tenderers, as well as the proposed modes of operation and management, social services to be provided, exit plan and the use of innovation and information technology. The tender price was then comprehensively evaluated to decide on the most suitable operating organisation.
 
     The LPH Application, with the Phase 1 covering the two projects on Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, and Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok and providing a total of about 4 440 units, has commenced since June 24, 2024.  Eligible applicants who have not yet submitted their applications may still do so. For more details, please visit the LPH website of the HB (www.hb.gov.hk/eng/lph), call 3464 0700, or email to lphapp@hb.gov.hk.

  

     The Marine Department (MD) today (July 19) introduced the Green Incentive Scheme to about 150 maritime industry representatives and guests at the Association Summer Buffet Luncheon 2024 hosted by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA).

     The Director of Marine, Mr Wong Sai-fat, expressed his gratitude for the support rendered by the HKSOA and the shipowners of Hong Kong-registered ships for their efforts in promoting green shipping. Under the Green Incentive Scheme, all Hong Kong-registered ships of 5 000 gross tonnage or above in possession of a valid "Statement of Compliance – Fuel Oil Consumption Reporting and Operational Carbon Intensity Rating" (SoC) showing that the ship has attained a rating of A or B in the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) formulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are eligible for the green incentive. Each qualified Hong Kong-registered ship is eligible to receive $20,000 per corresponding year from 2024 to 2026. If a ship attains a rating of A or B in the CII throughout the three years from 2024 to 2026, the ship may then receive a maximum incentive of HK$60,000. Mr Wong highlighted that the Scheme will help promote the image of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry as a green fleet and reinforce its brand in the international maritime arena.

     To promote green shipping to its member states and associate members, the IMO issued a circular letter on June 27 this year to promulgate Hong Kong, China's effort in offering the Scheme to invigorate the green transformation of the maritime industry. In a video speech at the luncheon, the Secretary General of the IMO, Mr Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco, commended Hong Kong for taking a proactive approach of being the pioneering flag administration to support the IMO's green shipping policy on CII. Moreover, he said that the IMO is calling for member states and associate members to take actions and measures to promote the reduction of carbon emissions. In this connection, he once again expressed his appreciation to Hong Kong and congratulated the success. He also welcomed Hong Kong to share the outcome of relevant experience with the Organization in demonstration that the initiatives, or the calls for action that the IMO are putting forward, have been actively taken forward by member states or associate members, thus enabling the shipping sector to take similar actions.

    

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, will lead 28 members of the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum and students of Shenzhen University, the Leaders Forum's partner, to visit Henan Province tomorrow (July 20) for a better understanding of the country's history and culture, as well as its modern development.

     The study tour will last for six days. Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong on July 23, while the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, will lead the members on July 24 and 25 to participate in the remaining part of the tour.

     During Mr Tang's absence, Mr Cheuk will be the Acting Secretary for Security.

     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 19) organised the Training Workshop on Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Smoking Cessation Service 2024, which provides training on acupuncture to 138 frontline Chinese medicine (CM) practitioners to enhance their skills in providing CM acupuncture smoking cessation services.

     To strengthen knowledge exchange on tobacco control and share local experiences in cessation service provision with Mainland and Macao healthcare professionals, TACO extended invitations to CM practitioners from the Mainland and Macao to participate in this year's workshop. The training content spanned smoking cessation counseling, the mechanism and treatment plans of CM smoking cessation, as well as practical demonstrations of acupuncture and ear point treatment techniques, further equipping frontline CM practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills in delivering cessation treatments. Of the participants, 114 frontline CM practitioners were from the Mainland and Macao. Among them, 98 were recommended by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province and the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. 

     Research shows that acupuncture combined with ear point treatment and professional counselling can effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms and the short-term discomforts that may appear when smokers start to quit smoking, thus increasing the success rate of quitting smoking. According to the experience of DH-subvented CM acupuncture smoking cessation service operated by Pok Oi Hospital, a quit rate of over 20 per cent (i.e. the percentage of service users who self-reported to have stayed quit in the past seven days) at 52 weeks after the quit date was attained, comparable to that of the cessation services using nicotine replacement therapy.

     The DH has also introduced Chinese medicine ear point patches to help with quitting smoking, which is a new initiative under the Quit in June campaign this year. The application of cowherb seeds on the surface of the ears to stimulate ear points will lessen the discomfort related to nicotine withdrawal, especially during the early stage of quitting. People who wish to quit smoking can receive Chinese medicine ear point patches for free at more than 40 Chinese medicine clinics across the territory. They can also enrol in free Chinese medicine and acupuncture smoking cessation services anytime, or after they have tried the Chinese medicine ear point patches for two weeks. Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on quitting and the available support tools and services.

     The DH has become a regional hub for supporting training in smoking cessation treatment and services, after it was designated by the World Health Organization to establish the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in April 2012. In addition to the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific region, TACO also regularly holds smoking cessation treatment training courses to enhance the capability of local healthcare professionals in providing smoking cessation support.

     The DH will further strengthen collaboration and communication with the Mainland in tobacco control, and it is committed to providing continued support in cessation training and assistance, as well as jointly promoting the construction of a smoke-free Greater Bay Area.

  

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements tomorrow (July 20) to facilitate the drone show to be held in Tsim Sha Tsui East.
 
Crowd safety management measures
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     As a large number of people is expected and given that "A Symphony of Lights" will be performed immediately after the drone show, crowd management measures may be implemented at the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront area depending on the crowd conditions to maintain public order and safety.
 
     Members of the public are advised to exercise patience and tolerance, follow the instructions of the Police on site, and take heed of directional signs and announcement at scene.
 
Special traffic arrangements
—————————-
 
     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented by phases, until the crowd has dispersed and the roads are safe for re-opening:
 
A. Road closures
 
     The following roads will be closed, except for vehicles with permit:
 
Phase I (from 5.30pm onwards)
 
– Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Lok Road;
– Hung Hom Bypass between Metropolis Drive and Salisbury Road;
– Salisbury Road between Cheong Wan Road and Chatham Road South;
– Salisbury Road underpass;
– Hong Wan Path;
– Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road;
– Granville Square;
– Mody Lane; and
– Mody Square.
 
     Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended.
 
Phase II (from 6.30pm onwards)
 
– Southbound Chatham Road South between Cameron Road and Salisbury Road;
– Northbound Chatham Road South between Prat Avenue and Salisbury Road;
– Southbound Nathan Road between Kimberly Road and Granville Road;
– Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
– Carnarvon Road between Nathan Road and Humphreys Avenue;
– Southbound Kowloon Park Drive between Canton Road and Salisbury Road;
– Eastbound Salisbury Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Chatham Road South;
– Westbound Salisbury Road between Star Ferry Bus Terminus and Chatham Road South;
– Hanoi Road;
– Bristol Avenue;
– Mody Road;
– Blenheim Road;
– Minden Avenue;
– Minden Row;
– Haiphong Road;
– Lock Road;
– Hankow Road;
– Ashley Road;
– Ichang Street;
– Peking Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Nathan Road; and
– Middle Road.
 
     Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended.
 
B. Traffic diversions
 
     In connection with the road closure as mentioned above, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
 
Phase I (from 5.30pm onwards)
 
– Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be diverted via Hung Hom Bypass to Cheong Tung Road South roundabout;
– Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Hung Hom Bypass;
– Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Bypass must turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;
– Traffic along southbound Salisbury Road near Hong Chong Road will be diverted to Tsim Sha Tsui East direction;
– Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot enter Mody Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn left to eastbound Mody Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn left to eastbound Salisbury Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Mody Road must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South;
– Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South; and
– Traffic along Granville Road between Science Museum Road and Chatham Road South will be re-routed one-way eastbound.
 
Phase II (from 6.30pm onwards)
 
– Franchised buses and green minibuses travelling along southbound Chatham Road South must turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South must turn right to Cameron Road;
– Traffic along southbound Nathan Road must turn left to Kimberley Road;
– Traffic along westbound Granville Road must turn right to northbound Nathan Road;
– Traffic along southbound Canton Road cannot enter southbound Kowloon Park Drive;
– Traffic along southbound Canton Road cannot enter Haiphong Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Kowloon Park Drive; and
– Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn right to Peking Road.
 
C. Suspension of parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas
 
     All on-street parking spaces along the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui will be suspended from noon to 11pm.
 
     The non-franchised bus pick-up/drop-off points on westbound Salisbury Road opposite to Wing On Plaza will be suspended from 3.30pm, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
     The taxi stands, taxi pick-up/drop-off points and public light bus stands within the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui will be suspended during the road closure period, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
D. Suspension of landing steps
 
     Tsim Sha Tsui landing step Nos. 1, 2 and 5 will be suspended from 2pm, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
E. Suspension of car parks
 
     Vehicles parked in all car parks within the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui cannot enter or leave the carparks from 5.30pm, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
 
     According to the event organiser, the recommended viewing locations for the drone show are the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade near the Tsim Sha Tsui East area, as well as part of the traffic lanes of eastbound Salisbury Road after the road closures. The buildings near the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Museum of Art in the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront area may block the view of the show. Members of the public are advised to plan their journey early and allow for additional traveling time to avoid delays.
 
     Members of the public are advised to use public transport to access the above areas. They should pay attention to the latest event arrangements announced by the organiser and the latest weather news released by the Hong Kong Observatory. 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.
 
     If the cancellation of the drone show is announced by the organiser, the above-mentioned crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements will not be implemented.