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 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on food safety co-operation today (June 27), with a view to enhancing the exchange of information on food safety assessment work in Mainland China and the HKSAR, especially the work on food consumption surveys and total diet studies. The MOU was signed by the Controller of the CFS, Dr Christine Wong, and the Deputy Director General of the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Mr Wang Yongting.

     The MOU seeks to deepen the exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong on food safety and to promote the technical level of food safety risk assessment through joint efforts. Specifically, the MOU covers exchanges on food safety risk assessment and enhancement of co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong to jointly launch food safety risk assessment work.

     â€‹A spokesman for the CFS said, "Under the framework of the MOU, the Mainland and Hong Kong will carry out food safety risk exchanges and co-operation, including work exchanges on total diet study and academic exchanges. According to operational needs, the two signatories will facilitate the arrangements on mutual visits and exchanges by food safety experts and academics, staff training and work experience sharing between the Mainland and Hong Kong."

  

     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".

     The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 80 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 27).

     This publication contains key findings on Internet and personal computer (PC) penetration based on the Thematic Household Survey conducted from May to August 2023.

     The survey results showed that the majority of households (96.6%) had Internet access at home in 2023. Among these households, smartphone was the most popular type of device used for Internet connection at home (99.9%), followed by PC (77.0%).

     Usage of the Internet remained popular. The rate of persons aged 10 and over having used the Internet during the 12 months before enumeration was 96.0% in 2023, while the corresponding rate in 2022 was 95.6%. It is noteworthy that the rate of persons aged 65 and over having used the Internet increased noticeably from 81.8% in 2022 to 84.2% in 2023.

     Findings of the survey also showed that the popularity of smartphones remained at a high level. The smartphone penetration rate was 96.4% in 2023, comparable with the corresponding rate in 2022.

     The usage of mobile payments was also common in Hong Kong. The survey revealed that in 2023, 64.9% of persons aged 15 and over had used mobile payments during the 12 months before enumeration, while the corresponding figure in 2022 was 60.2%. Among others, the implementation of the Consumption Voucher Scheme by the Government should have promoted the wider use of electronic payment.

Other information

     The survey successfully enumerated target respondents in some 10 100 households in accordance with a scientific sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, are presented in the publication. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1130201&scode=453).

     Enquiries about the survey findings can be directed to the Social Surveys Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5103 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).

     â€‹The Chief Executive has appointed Mr Symon Wong Yu-wing as Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) for the period from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026. Mr Wong will succeed Professor Douglas So Cheung-tak who will leave the position with effect from July 1, 2024.
      
     The Chief Executive has also appointed Mr Clifton Ko Chi-sum as a member of the Council of the HKAPA for the period from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026.
      
     Other serving members of the Council include:
 
Mr Charles Yang Chuen-liang (Chairman)
Mrs Helen Chan (Treasurer)
Dr Raymond Chan
Mr Nick Ho Lik-ko
Mrs Christine Ip Yeung See-ming
Mr Jason Joseph Lee Kwong-yee
Ms Sheryl Lee Ming-chi
Mr Andrew Leung Chun-keung
Dr Irene Tang Mo-lin
Dr Tang Yuen-ha
Ms Wong Caroline Ho
Ms Stella Lau Yin-ling (staff representative)
Professor Yiu Song-lam (staff representative)
Director of the HKAPA (ex-officio)
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism or his representative
Secretary for Education or her representative
 
     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing Deputy Chairman of the Council of the HKAPA, Professor Douglas So Cheung-tak, for his remarkable contribution to the HKAPA during his term of service.
      
     The above appointments will be published in the Government Gazette on July 5, 2024.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (June 27) published the June 2024 issue of its Quarterly Bulletin. This issue of Quarterly Bulletin carries a regular article on the developments in the banking sector.
      
     The Quarterly Bulletin can be viewed on and downloaded from the HKMA website.