The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (January 10) announced that the department collected 10 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in December 2023 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications.
 
     The detailed test results are available on the EMSD's website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/rl/lpg_sample_analysis_simple). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD's hotline on 2333 3762.
 
     In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 10) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

    Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (January 10). 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 the 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 for 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.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (January 10) announced that two auctions of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on January 27 (Saturday) and 28 (Sunday) in Meeting Room S221, L2, Old Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 350 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public sale at each auction. The lists of marks have been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(1) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(5) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html.

     â€‹The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, continued his visit to Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in Guangzhou and Huizhou today (January 9).
      
     In the morning, Mr Chan visited Pony.ai, an autonomous vehicle start-up, and took its Robotaxi in Nansha, Guangzhou. He was pleased to learn that the company, which specialises in developing advanced, safe and reliable autonomous driving technology, has been conducting road testing in various Mainland cities and moving ahead with commercial operations of autonomous driving.
      
     Mr Chan said that a new statutory regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles will be implemented within this year in Hong Kong, so as to facilitate the industry's testing and application of autonomous vehicle technology with flexibility in the city on the premise of ensuring road safety.
      
     Mr Chan welcomed autonomous vehicle companies on the Mainland to share experiences and forge co-operation with Hong Kong on autonomous driving technology to drive the city's smart mobility development.
      
     Mr Chan then visited The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) in Nansha and conversed with its President, Professor Lionel Ni, researchers, and students from Hong Kong, to learn about the university's progress in fostering teaching and research, its transformation of scientific and technological achievements, student exchanges, etc. The HKUST(GZ), as the first Mainland-Hong Kong higher education institution co-operation project approved by the Ministry of Education since the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the GBA, was opened in September 2022.
      
     Mr Chan was glad to learn that the HKUST(GZ) admitted its first batch of undergraduate students last year, with the total number of newcomers at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels reaching nearly 1 000. He hoped that The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the HKUST(GZ) will continue to implement the "Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses" framework, under which the two campuses complement and collaborate with each other to support the development of the GBA into a high-calibre talent hub.
      
     Mr Chan ended his visit to Guangzhou by noon and headed to Huizhou. He first attended a lunch gathering with representatives of various Hong Kong enterprises in Huizhou to exchange views on their latest developments in the municipality as well as the GBA at large. He then visited Glorious Sun Group, one of the Hong Kong enterprises concerned, to learn about its successful transformation on the Mainland from being an investor in the manufacturing sector to becoming a modern service provider, which has actively adopted business digitalisation in recent years.

     Mr Chan was pleased to learn that many Hong Kong enterprises came to Huizhou for investment and business set-up purposes at the outset of the country's opening up. Along with the country's rapid economic development, Hong Kong enterprises have settled in many industries of Huizhou and reached a cumulative total of over 10 000. Many of the enterprises have successfully upgraded and restructured their operations.
      
     Mr Chan expressed his affirmation that the Hong Kong enterprises in Huizhou have served the country's needs with their own strengths and integrated into the country's overall development. He pointed out that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue to promote exchanges and co-operation on various fronts between Hong Kong and Huizhou, and support the development of Hong Kong people and enterprises in Huizhou.
      
     Thereafter, Mr Chan met with the Mayor of Huizhou Municipal People's Government, Mr Wen Jinrong. Mr Chan said that Hong Kong and Huizhou enjoy close geographical and cultural ties, and maintain close co-operation in business and trade. Huizhou is an important hub on the east coast of the GBA, with a solid manufacturing base and rich cultural and tourism resources. Hong Kong is the most international city in the GBA, with well-developed professional service industries and a mix of Chinese and Western cultures.
      
     Mr Chan hoped that Hong Kong and Huizhou will continue to live up to the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits to foster exchanges and co-operation as well as strive for more policy innovations and breakthroughs in areas including business, trade and culture, with a view to making new contributions to the high-quality development of the GBA.
      
     Mr Chan will begin his visit to Shenzhen tomorrow (January 10) and return to Hong Kong the same day.