The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will meet on Tuesday (December 19) to consider two applications for new issue and renewal of liquor licences.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
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Amazonia in Wan Chai

Kowloon:
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Tasty Lamb in Prince Edward

     The board will also consider revocation of the liquor licence of Ganko Sushi in Tsim Sha Tsui.

     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

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 (December 17) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Transport Department today (December 17) reminded members of the public that the 16th round of computer ballot registration for submitting applications for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the scheme) will be open from 10am tomorrow (December 18) to 11.59pm on December 21, and the ballot result will be announced on December 22.
      
     Eligible applicants for the scheme can register for computer balloting through the designated website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk). Successful balloting applicants are required to submit applications for the scheme within the designated date and time randomly allocated by the computer system.
     

     With 5G services developing rapidly in Hong Kong, the recent 5G Campus Application Competition, organised by the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA), had the aim of enhancing students' understanding of 5G technology and fostering innovation and talent.
 
     Participating students developed a range of projects with benefits for the environment and daily life, and with the goal of implementing their solutions on campus.
 
     News.gov.hk interviewed Assistant Director (Support) of OFCA, Mr Kingsley Yeung, to find out more about the competition, while the winning team of students shared their reflections on what they learned from participating in it. 
 
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (December 17) in text and video format.

     â€‹The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (December 17) commenced the public consultation exercise for the 2024-25 Budget.
      
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "This year, Hong Kong's economy has been recovering from the COVID pandemic, and the city has fully resumed convenient travel with the Mainland and the world. The economy is picking up with positive growth, though the strength of recovery has been weaker than was expected at the beginning of this year due to factors such as high interest rates around the globe and geopolitics. Looking to next year, the external environment will remain complex and full of uncertainties. As a small and fully open economy, Hong Kong will continue to face challenges. In preparing for the 2024-25 Budget, we will pursue development for promoting stability, and continue to suitably allocate resources to drive economic growth and bring tangible benefits to the people. We need to make forward planning for Hong Kong’s long-term and sustainable development, to grow the economic pie together and make it better. At the same time, we will strive to achieve more inclusive development so that our residents could better share the fruits of economic progress.
      
     "I invite members of the community to actively express their views on the coming Budget."
      
     Members of the public can share their views through various channels, including visiting the website www.budget.gov.hk or the dedicated Facebook page for the Budget (www.facebook.com/BudgetGovHK), or by email (budget@fstb.gov.hk), phone (2810 3768), fax (2147 5770) or post (Budget Consultation Support Team, 24/F, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong).