Tag Archives: China

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, yesterday (November 16, San Francisco time) attended the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) on behalf of the Chief Executive to exchange views on issues such as promotion of regional connectivity and economic prosperity, climate change and green transformation, digital economy, realisation of greater inclusiveness and sustainable development.
 
     The AELM this year was divided into two sessions. The first session featured discussions on combating climate change and green transformation. To effectively combat this global issue that the world must look squarely into, Mr Chan said during the meeting that apart from the individual efforts of each economy, the more important key lies in international co-operation and implementation of strong and constructive policies. Hong Kong has set targets to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and reduce the total carbon emission by half before 2035, as compared to the level of 2005. To that end, Hong Kong set up the Office of Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality. The office, on the premise of ensuring that energy supply is abundant, safe, reliable and reasonably priced, increases the ratio of zero-carbon energy to 60 to 70 per cent within the energy supply structure, and is prepared to provide the necessary resources in combating climate change. Hong Kong is also formulating a strategy of hydrogen development.
 
     Mr Chan pointed out that global green transformation requires policy co-ordination, as well as funding and technical co-operation and support, hence bringing along immense business opportunities. Hong Kong is an international financial centre and Asia’s green financial hub, with a green technology ecosystem that has been growing vibrantly in recent years. Hong Kong, together with the sister cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will make concerted efforts in developing into an international centre of green technology and green finance. Mr Chan said Hong Kong looks forward to enhancing co-operation with other APEC members to achieve high-quality development that is sustainable, green and more inclusive.
 
     Afterwards, Mr Chan attended the opening of the dialogue session with members of the APEC Business Advisory Council. In the evening, he joined the APEC Economic Leaders’ Dinner.
 
     Mr Chan will attend the second session of the AELM on November 17 (San Francisco time) and will depart for Hong Kong at night.

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (November 17) released the latest grading of water quality for nine gazetted beaches that are open for swimming in November.
      
     Five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and four as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:           

Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Golden Beach	St Stephen’s Beach
Middle Bay Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Big Wave Bay Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Silver Mine Bay Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD’s beach thematic website. read more

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (November 17) that, as advised by the postal administration of Italy, due to a local strike at the destination, mail delivery services to Italy are subject to delay. read more

     The Town Planning Board today (November 17) announced amendments to the approved Sha Tin Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
      
     The amendments mainly involve (i) rezoning a site at the junction of Wong Chuk Yeung Street and Kwei Tei San Chuen Road from “Green Belt” (“GB”) to “Residential (Group A) 8”; (ii) rezoning a site to the northeast of Shan Mei Street from “Industrial” to “Government, Institution or Community” (“G/IC”); (iii) rezoning a site at the north of On Sum Street and a site at the junction of Yuen Hong Street and Yuen Shun Circuit from “G/IC” to “Commercial (1)” (“C(1)”); (iv) rezoning a site at the south of On Sum Street from “Open Space” (“O”) to “C(1)”; (v) rezoning a site on Sha Tin Wai Road from “O” to “Residential (Group A) 9”; (vi) rezoning a site on Chap Wai Kon Street from “G/IC” to “Residential (Group A) 10”; (vii) rezoning a site on Yuen Hong Street from “Industrial (1)” to “Commercial (2)”; (viii) rezoning a site on Tung Lo Wan Hill Road from “GB” and “G/IC” to “Residential (Group B) 3”; (ix) rezoning a strip of land at the northern end of Tung Lo Wan Hill Road from “GB” to “G/IC”; (x) rezoning a site to the north of Mei Tin Road, Tai Wai from “Residential (Group B)” and “GB” to “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Religious Institution with Columbarium”; and (xi) rezoning a site to the south of Chek Nai Ping on Tai Po Road (Ma Liu Shui) from “GB” to “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Columbarium (2)”.
      
     Opportunity is also taken to amend the Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning scheme area, where appropriate.
      
     The draft Sha Tin OZP No. S/ST/37, incorporating the amendments, is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, (iv) the Sha Tin District Office and (v) the Sha Tin Rural Committee.
      
     Any person may make written representations in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before January 17, 2024. Any person who intends to make a representation is advised to read the Town Planning Board Guidelines No. 29C on “Submission and Processing of Representations and Further Representations” (TPB PG-No. 29C).

     Submission of a representation should comply with the requirements set out in TPB PG-No. 29C. In particular, the representer should take note of the following:
 
* If the representer fails to provide his or her full name and the first four alphanumeric characters of his or her Hong Kong identity card or passport number as required under TPB PG-No. 29C, the representation submitted shall be treated as not having been made; and
* The Secretariat of the Town Planning Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.
 
     The Guidelines and the submission form are available at the above locations (i) and (ii) and the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk).

     Copies of the draft Sha Tin OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk). read more

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Wan Chai North Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). 

     “The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Wan Chai North area,” a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (November 17). 
      
     The planning scheme area, covering about 55.17 hectares, is bounded by Hing Fat Street to the east, Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road to the south, and Fenwick Pier Street to the west. It includes the existing Wan Chai area to the north of Gloucester Road and Island Eastern Corridor and the reclamation area to the north of Hung Hing Road.
      
     The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Wan Chai North OZP No. S/H25/5, which mainly involve the rezoning of a site covering the existing Wanchai Tower, Revenue Tower, Immigration Tower, Kong Wan Fire Station and Gloucester Road Garden together with part of Harbour Road from “Government, Institution or Community” and an area shown as ‘Road’ to “Other Specified Uses (6)” annotated “Exhibition Centre with Commercial Development” to facilitate a composite development comprising convention and exhibition facilities, hotel and office.
      
     Opportunity is also taken to amend the Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.
      
     The approved Wan Chai North OZP No. S/H25/6 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Hong Kong District Planning Office and (iv) the Wan Chai Home Affairs Enquiry Centre. 
      
     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk). read more