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 13) 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.
Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (December 13). 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 Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced today (December 13) the facilitation measure on "Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong)" (the GBA Standard Contract) and its early and pilot implementation, with a view to facilitating and streamlining the arrangements on cross-boundary flow of personal information from the Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to Hong Kong.
Under the co-operation framework of the "Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating Cross-boundary Data Flow Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" signed between the ITIB and the CAC in June this year, the GBA Standard Contract is the first facilitation measure formulated to foster the cross-boundary flow of personal information within the GBA in a safe and orderly manner. It allows individuals and organisations in the Mainland cities within the GBA and Hong Kong to enter into a standard contract adopting a standardised template on a voluntary basis, providing for the responsibilities and obligations of both contracting parties in protecting personal information.
​Under the GBA Standard Contract, the compliance requirements for the cross-boundary flow of Mainland personal information among nine Mainland cities within the GBA (i.e. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province) and Hong Kong will be streamlined. The GBA Standard Contract will also lift the restriction on the volume of cross-boundary flow of personal data that a personal information processor can transfer under the Mainland's framework on safe management of cross-boundary data flow, and simplify the relevant assessment contents in applicable personal information protection impact assessment.
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province will jointly take forward the orderly implementation of the GBA Standard Contract, which will benefit the public and businesses of different sectors. The OGCIO will launch the "early and pilot implementation" arrangement of the GBA Standard Contract this month, with the first phase inviting openly for participation from the banking, credit referencing and healthcare sectors which have a strong demand for cross-boundary services. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will review the "early and pilot implementation" arrangement in due course, with a view to further extending the facilitation measure to other sectors.
A spokesman for the ITIB said, "We would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the CAC for its unfailing support in facilitating the cross-boundary flow of information within the GBA in a safe and orderly manner. With the implementation of the GBA Standard Contract, the compliance costs of cross-boundary personal data flow for enterprises will be greatly reduced, thereby facilitating the provision of relevant cross-boundary services in the GBA and bringing convenience to the public and businesses. The GBA Standard Contract also promotes the development of the GBA's digital economy and helps Hong Kong better integrate into the national development."
"The GBA Standard Contract is an administrative measure. It does not affect the supervisory and regulatory roles of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data in ensuring compliances with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO). Meanwhile, the processing and export of personal data from Hong Kong will be conducted on a voluntary basis and continue to be regulated in accordance with the PDPO of Hong Kong," the spokesman continued.
For details of the facilitation measure and the "early and pilot implementation" arrangement of the GBA Standard Contract, please refer to the OGCIO's thematic website (www.ogcio.gov.hk/en/our_work/business/cross-boundary_data_flow/index.html).
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
At the invitation of the Government, the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Security visited Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) today (December 12) to learn more about the current situation and future development plan of LCKRC. The in-situ partial redevelopment of LCKRC has been deliberated by the Panel and the Public Works Subcommittee, and will be considered at a future meeting of the Finance Committee.
Accompanied by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung and the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, Members received a briefing on the current situation and the redevelopment of LCKRC. They subsequently visited various facilities in the Main Building and Annex (which has been proposed for redevelopment) of LCKRC, including prison cells, visitation facilities, institutional clinic, dental treatment room, and religious service and multi-purpose room.
During the visit, Members noted the current operational challenges and insufficiency of facilities in LCKRC, including overcrowded custodial environment and inadequate activity space for persons in custody (PICs) on remand. Members expressed grave concerns over the daily activities of PICs on remand, and the management of institutional discipline and order under such environment.
Members were advised that since the facilities of LCKRC (including pipes) were dilapidated and some of these facilities were not built specifically for the purpose of LCKRC, the facility improvement and maintenance works undertaken by the Government failed to meet the operational need of LCKRC. In this regard, Members generally saw the need to implement the redevelopment of LCKRC. Members also exchanged views with the Government on the introduction of "smart prison" elements to further enhance the operational efficiency of LCKRC and improve the working environment of correctional officers.
A total of 16 members and non-members of the Panel on Security joined the visit.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong that HongKong BTC Bank as referred to on the website of https://hkbtcbank.com and X (formerly Twitter) account https://twitter.com/hkbbank does not have the authorization of the Monetary Authority (MA) under the Banking Ordinance (the Ordinance) to carry on banking business, or the business of taking deposits, in Hong Kong; and HongKong BTC Bank does not have the approval of the MA to establish a local representative office in Hong Kong under the Ordinance.
Given the global nature of the Internet, members of the public are reminded to verify the status of any organisation making use of the Internet to offer bank accounts to, or to solicit deposits from, the public in Hong Kong prior to transferring any funds to, or providing any personal information to, any such organisation.
A list of authorized institutions is available on the HKMA's website (www.hkma.gov.hk). Members of the public may also check the status of any entity which appears to be soliciting deposits from the public in Hong Kong, or holding itself out as a bank or deposit-taking company in Hong Kong, by emailing the HKMA's public enquiry service (publicenquiry@hkma.gov.hk).