Tag Archives: China

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
     The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (June 27) announced the funding results of the General Research Fund (GRF) and the Early Career Scheme (ECS) for 2024/25. Altogether, 1 255 successful proposals were granted funding totalling $1.1 billion.
 
     In this round of exercise, the RGC received 3 533 GRF and 634 ECS applications from academic staff of the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee. This represents an increase of 10 per cent and 21 per cent respectively as compared with that of last round.
 
     After rigorous international peer reviews, 1 046 GRF projects were approved with a total funding of around $980 million, which compares with that of last year, with an overall success rate of about 30 per cent. The funded proposals cover all the disciplines of business studies, biology and medicine, engineering, humanities and social sciences, and physical sciences.
 
     Moreover, the RGC also decided to fund 209 ECS projects with a total amount of around $140 million. This represents an increase of 12 per cent in terms of the number of projects funded, with an overall success rate of about 33 per cent.
 
     The RGC Subject Panels commended the marked improvement in the overall quality of research proposals submitted under the GRF and ECS in recent years, including the originality of the proposals as well as the innovative methodologies that they put forward to tackle research questions. The research outcomes will support further development in various research fields.
 
     The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Timothy W. Tong said, “It is heartening to see the enthusiasm of the Hong Kong research community in taking forward individual exploratory research as evidenced by the significant increase in the number of applications and the outstanding research quality in this round of exercise.
 
     “The RGC endeavours to propel the growth of the thriving Hong Kong research ecosystem by administering different individual and collaborative research funding schemes. Amongst them, the GRF and ECS, which support all research disciplines for individual researchers, are instrumental in the Council’s mission to develop a robust research base for maintaining academic vigour and catering to the needs of Hong Kong.”
 
     The RGC has stepped up efforts in recent years in supporting early‑stage researchers in Hong Kong to further bolster Hong Kong’s capacity as a world-leading education and innovation hub. Professor Tong said that it was encouraging to see an increased number of proposals funded under the ECS this year. The RGC looks forward to remarkable research outcomes from these talented individuals.
 
     The GRF and the ECS are individual research funding schemes under the RGC. The GRF supplements universities’ own research support for researchers who have achieved or have the potential to achieve excellence. The ECS aims to nurture junior academics and prepare them for a career in education and research. Following international practice, the RGC has adopted a peer-review mechanism to assess research proposals primarily based on academic quality and merit.
 
     The 2024/25 funding results of the GRF and the ECS are available on the RGC website (GRF: ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/grf/funded_research.html; ECS: ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/ecs/funded_research.html). read more

     The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (June 27).
 
     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
 
     For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
 
     The heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Island:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
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Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
 
     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) today (June 27) issued joint consultation conclusions on the annual update… read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment signe… read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 27) reminded the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in phases from June 29 (Saturday) to July 1 (Monday) to facilitate the holding of the flag raising ceremonies in Central, Wan Chai North and Tin Hau to mark the celebration of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
 
(A) Road closures

     Road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases in the vicinities of Central, Wan Chai North and Tin Hau during the periods of time specified below until the closed roads reopen to traffic:
 
Central and Wan Chai North
——————————-

(i) From 7.30am to 11.40am on June 29 and from 0.01am on June 30 to noon on July 1

• Expo Drive;
• Expo Drive Central;
• Expo Drive East; and
• the slip road leading from the Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel (CWBT) to Expo Drive.

 
(ii) From 0.01am on June 30 to noon on July 1

• The section of Lung Wo Road eastbound between the Wan Chai portal of the CWBT and Fleming Road.

 
(iii) From 7.15am to 8.30am on June 30

• The section of Lung Wo Road between Edinburgh Place and Tim Wa Avenue.

 
(iv) From 5.30am to noon on July 1

• The section of Lung Wo Road westbound between the Wan Chai portal of the CWBT and Fleming Road; and
• Lung Tat Path.

 
Tin Hau
———
 
(i) From 6.45am to 7.15am on July 1

• The section of Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Lin Fa Kung Street West.

 
(B) Public transport arrangements
 
Central and Wan Chai North
——————————–
 

• In connection with the road closure arrangements in the vicinities of Central and Wan Chai North, cross-harbour (XHT) bus route Nos. 104, 900, 961, H1 and H2K will be temporarily diverted from 7.30am to 11.40am on June 29 and from 0.01am on June 30 to noon on July 1, and the associated bus stops will be suspended or relocated; and
• The taxi stand at Expo Drive will be suspended from 7.30am to 11.40am on June 29; and from 0.01am on June 30 to noon on July 1, and the cross-harbour taxi stand at Harbour Road westbound opposite Harbour Centre will be suspended from 5.30am to noon on July 1.

 
Tin Hau
———-
 

• In connection with the road closure arrangement in Tung Lo Wan Road, Citybus route Nos. 2, 5X, 81, XHT bus route Nos. 914 and A11 will be temporarily diverted from 6.45am to 7.15am on July 1, and the associated bus stops will be suspended or relocated.

 
     In anticipation of more traffic in the vicinities of Central, Wan Chai North and Tin Hau, motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, they should exercise tolerance and patience, follow the Police’s instructions and be alert to the latest traffic news through the media.
 
     Appropriate traffic signs will be erected to guide motorists. Public transport operators will display notices to inform passengers of the temporary arrangements. Public transport users are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of bus route diversions and relocation of bus stops. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary.
 
     For details on the special traffic and transport arrangements, members of the public can visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) or mobile application “HKeMobility”. read more