To show support for the Hong Kong athletes taking part in the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will set up the Asian Para Games Live Zone at designated sports centres in 18 districts to broadcast the Games' competitions, allowing members of the public to experience the excitement of this spectacular sports event and cheer for Hong Kong athletes participating in the Games.
      
     The Asian Games Live Zone located at 18 designated sports centres will be open from 7pm on October 22, from 9am to 8pm between October 23 to 27, and from 9am to 2pm on October 28, while the closing ceremony will start at 7.35pm on October 28. Members of the public are welcome to watch the live broadcast of competitions at the zones and to support the Hong Kong athletes together. Locations of the Asian Para Games Live Zone are set out in the Annex.

     The Government today (October 20) gazetted a notice announcing that the Antiquities Authority (i.e. the Secretary for Development) has declared the Tin Hau Temple at Joss House Bay (the Temple) in Sai Kung and the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong in Sheung Wan as monuments under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.
      
     The Temple, commonly known as "Tai Miu", is located on the northern shore of Joss House Bay, Sai Kung. It is one of the oldest and largest Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong and among the few existing Tin Hau temples which are close to the seashore. The inscriptions on the rock at the back of the Temple suggest that the Temple is linked to the Southern Song dynasty. The Temple retains many historic architectural and decorative elements, including granite columns, murals at the incense pavilion, screen doors, timber cornice boards and floor tiles. The Temple is of significant historical and social value, as it represents the traditional religious practices of fishermen and other members of the seafaring community, and exemplifies the significance of Tin Hau belief in Hong Kong.
      
     The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong at Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, currently known as the Bridges Street Centre, was built in 1918. It was the first headquarters building of the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong until the association moved its headquarters to Waterloo Road, Kowloon in 1966. The building retains the indoor heated swimming pool and the elevated wok-shaped timber running track supported by a cantilever structure, which are the first of its kind in Hong Kong. Since the opening of the building, the association has been providing a wide range of social services there, witnessing the development of social services in Hong Kong. At present, rehabilitation services for the mentally disabled and other social services are provided in the building.
      
     Information on the two monuments is available on the website of Antiquities and Monuments Office (www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/monuments/index.html).

                        

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (October 20) that the application numbers of the 1 500 personalised vehicle registration mark (PVRM) applications selected by lot for the 49th exercise have been published on its website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_application/index.html) and posted on the notice boards of the TD's licensing offices.
 
     "The applicants have already been sent an acknowledgement of receipt bearing an application number. They may check the list to see whether their applications have been selected. Applicants will also be notified of the ballot results by post in batches," a department spokesman said.

     The department will later check the proposed PVRMs selected against the basic combination requirements. If, among the selected applications, more than one applicant proposes the same PVRM, only the one on which the lot falls first out of those applications will be further processed.
 
     If the selected PVRMs meet the basic requirements, the department will send notices by registered mail to the applicants in batches, requiring them to pay a deposit of $5,000 within the period specified in the notice. If an applicant fails to pay the deposit within that period, his or her application will be cancelled automatically and will not be further processed.
 
     Upon receipt of the deposit, the Commissioner for Transport will determine, with the assistance of a vetting committee, whether an application should be approved or rejected. PVRMs approved in the 49th exercise will be put up for auction in batches. Auction details will be published in newspapers and on the TD's website in due course.
 
     For enquiries, applicants can call TD Hotline at 2804 2600.

     The Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Michael John Hartmann, a former Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, as Chairman of the Market Misconduct Tribunal (MMT) for a term of three years from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2026, and as Chairman of the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal (SFAT) for a term of three years from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026.
 
     Announcing the appointment today (October 20), the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "Mr Hartmann has made remarkable contributions to the performance of both Tribunals over the years. No doubt he will continue to guide the Tribunals to operate effectively in the new term."
 
     Both the MMT and the SFAT are established under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (SFO).
 
     The MMT deals with six types of market misconduct, namely insider dealing, false trading, price rigging, disclosure of information about prohibited transactions, disclosure of false or misleading information inducing transactions, and stock market manipulation. In addition, the MMT is empowered to deal with the breaches of disclosure requirements on price sensitive information of listed corporations.
 
     The SFAT has jurisdiction to review specified decisions made under the SFO by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and an investor compensation company recognised by the SFC. It serves as an effective safeguard to ensure that the relevant regulatory decisions are reasonable and fair.
    
     Mr Michael Victor Lunn, a former Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, and Mr Ian Charles McWalters, a former Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, are the other serving Chairmen of the MMT and the SFAT.

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (October 20) that with the amended Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance (Cap. 570) (Fixed Penalty Ordinance) coming into effect on Sunday (October 22), the department has stepped up publicity and educational work to remind public of the new fixed penalty levels. Members of the public are urged to observe the law and to maintain a hygienic environment through concerted efforts.

     Upon commencement of the amended Fixed Penalty Ordinance, the level of fixed penalty for depositing of litter or waste, spitting, displaying bills or posters without permission in public places, and fouling of street by dog faeces will be raised to $3,000, while the fixed penalty level for shopfront extension and illegal disposal of construction waste or a large amount of other wastes will be raised to $6,000.

     The Government has been reminding public of the new fixed penalty levels and the commencement date through various channels including Announcements in the Public Interest on TV and radio, as well as advertisements on public transport, etc. The FEHD has further disseminated the relevant messages to members of the public through social media content, displaying banners and posters and distributing promotional leaflets in collaboration with members of the local community. Staff of the FEHD has recently carried out publicity and educational work in various districts. Promotional leaflets were distributed to foreign domestic helpers, retail shops and other members of the public, appealing to them to abide by the law and to support to the Government's work for achieving continuous improvement in environmental hygiene and cityscape.
 
     The spokesman said the FEHD has formulated enforcement guidelines, which will be regularly updated and enhanced. Furthermore, in order to assist frontline staff in carrying out their duties, the department has also enhanced the training and equipment for frontline staff.