Tag Archives: China

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TD concerned about cross-boundary traffic in early hours this morning

     â€‹A spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) said today (January 1) that in anticipation of a large number of visitors returning to the Mainland in the early hours of the morning after the New Year’s Eve fireworks musical, the service operators had already increased the number of vehicles in accordance with the TD’s recommendations, for example, strengthening service headway at Prince Edward from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes, in order to cope with the demand of cross-boundary visitors returning to the Mainland overnight. The TD is concerned about the long waiting time for cross-boundary visitors and will review the situation and take follow-up action.
      
     The spokesman added that as of last night (December 31), the number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong was 223 000, which was the highest one-day figure in 2023. The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s “Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations” fireworks musical on Victoria Harbour, which resumed last night after New Year’s Eve 2018, was also very popular, with more than 479 000 people watching on both sides of the Victoria Harbour. The TD has been closely monitoring the traffic situation in various districts after midnight and has maintained liaison with local and cross-boundary transport operators with a view to facilitating the dispersal of local residents and cross-boundary visitors as soon as possible. However, as only the Huanggang Control Point maintained passenger clearance service between Hong Kong and Shenzhen after midnight, and as the number of outbound travellers was higher than expected, the vehicle queue extended from Huanggang Control Point to the San Tin Highway, and therefore even though the cross-boundary bus operators had deployed additional vehicles, visitors still had to wait for a longer time for cross-boundary coaches in the urban area.
      
     The TD will review and follow up the incident with the relevant departments and service operators with a view to providing better service arrangements for cross-boundary visitors. read more

Members of seventh term District Councils take oaths and assume office

     The Government today (January 1) held the oath-taking ceremony for members of the seventh term District Councils (DCs) at the Conference Hall of the Central Government Offices.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the ceremony. He congratulated the DC members on their taking of oaths and assumption of office. He outlined four requirements for the DC members, namely upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (Basic Law) and bearing allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China; ensuring effective communication between the Government and the people by serving as a connection between the two; implementing the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” at the district governance level and upholding the important duty of safeguarding national security; and adopting a people-oriented approach to bring tangible improvements to the community. 

     Mr Lee also expected the DC members to facilitate the Government in implementing its policies in the districts, strengthening district governance to build a better Hong Kong together.

     Pursuant to the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance, all 470 DC members took oaths to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the HKSAR. The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, served as the oath administrator as authorised by the Chief Executive.

     According to the Interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (the Interpretation), the person administering the oath has the duty to ensure that the oath is taken in a lawful manner. He or she shall determine that an oath taken in compliance with the Interpretation and the requirements under the laws of the HKSAR is valid, and that an oath which is not taken in compliance with the Interpretation and the requirements under the laws of the HKSAR is invalid. If the oath taken is determined as invalid, no arrangement shall be made for retaking the oath.

     Based on the principles laid down by the Interpretation and the relevant legal provisions, the oath administrator determined that the oaths taken by all 470 DC members were valid. read more