The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, July 18, 2024 is 106.1 (down 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     The Lands Department (LandsD) today (July 18) posted the second batch of resumption notices in accordance with section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) for the remaining phase development of Kwu Tung North/Fanling North New Development Areas (KTN/FLN NDA) to resume 24 private lots with a total area of about 11 900 square metres.

     The 24 private lots to be resumed this time relate respectively to the conclusion of an in-situ land exchange application under the Enhanced Conventional New Town Approach that requires the acquisition of a small amount of third-party land by the Government to be handed over to the land exchange applicant upon payment of the land premium for comprehensive development, as well as the unsuccessful completion of another in-situ land exchange application that calls for resumption of the land concerned to allow the Government to carry out works.

      The above 24 private lots will revert to the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. October 19, 2024). The Government will release ex-gratia land compensation to the relevant land owners after the land reversion.
 
     The first batch of resumption notices involving 109 hectares of land for the remaining phase development of KTN/FLN NDA was posted on January 11 this year. The said land reverted to the Government on April 12, and will gradually be handed over to the Civil Engineering and Development Department from the third quarter onwards for site formation and engineering infrastructure works (including roads, drainage, sewerage, water mains, landscaping works, slope works, and electrical and mechanical works). Upon full development, the KTN/FLN NDA will provide about 86 200 housing units capable of accommodating a population of about 227 000, and will provide about 1 275 000 sq m gross floor area for economic activities while creating about 53 000 job opportunities.

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (July 18) that to provide greater convenience to HKeToll users, the TD will simplify the automatic payment of tolls by credit card and implement related notification arrangements with effect from July 22 this year. Users are also encouraged to use automatic top-up services for payment.
      
     The TD continuously reviews the HKeToll service and introduces improvement measures to provide a better user experience.  In respect of users using a credit card auto-payment, the HKeToll will adopt new arrangements to consolidate all tolls payable on the same day for handling. If a user has more than one toll transaction on the same day, settlement of toll payments will be streamlined from once per transaction to once per day, in which the total fee will be collected from the relevant user in one go on the following day. Under the streamlined arrangements, the relevant user will receive a notification on the HKeToll mobile application stating that the toll transaction is being processed after using government-tolled tunnels each time. The system will then send a notification on the following day to confirm whether the total fee has been paid successfully. The new arrangements can reduce the number of payment transactions, and users can continue to check their detailed records of using government-tolled tunnels on the HKeToll website or mobile application.
      
     The HKeToll system will select the arrangement of consolidating all tolls payable on a day into a single charge for users using credit card auto-payment by default, while providing flexible options. Users can log onto their accounts on the HKeToll website or mobile application to customise their payment and notification preferences according to their individual needs. The existing arrangements for users who currently use bank transfers and designated stored value accounts for auto-payments will remain unchanged.
      
     In addition, a promotional campaign will be launched from July 22 to September 21, in collaboration with the toll service provider and the settlement bank, to encourage users to register for designated stored value accounts of the HKeToll and set up automatic top-up services. This will allow users to manage their HKeToll accounts and pay tunnel fees more easily. The toll service provider will announce the details of the promotional campaign later.
      
     For any enquiries regarding the above arrangements and the promotional campaign, members of the public may visit the HKeToll website (hketoll.gov.hk) or mobile application, or call the hotline 3853 7333.

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 18) 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 the beaches.

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (July 18) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.