The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for United Christian Hospital (UCH) gave the following update today (March 5) regarding a patient leaving the hospital without notification earlier:
      
     The UCH has received notification from the Police that the 45-year-old female patient who left the Accident and Emergency Department of UCH without notification earlier today was located.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (March 5) that the HA Board has discussed and approved earlier to establish a Development & Works Division and appoint a Director (Development & Works) to oversee the capital projects in the authority. The Director will lead the Division to execute the strategies and works projects set in the HA Hospital Development Plan. The selection process of the Director was conducted earlier through open recruitment, and the HA announces today the appointment of Mr Kelvin Lo as the Director (Development & Works) with effect from tomorrow (March 6).
 
     Mr Lo is a seasoned senior executive in the Government. He has devoted himself to civil engineering since his graduation from the university and has acquired over 35 years of profound professional experience in drawing up infrastructure development strategies, delivering complex, mega public capital works projects and managing huge infrastructure assets. Mr Lo was previously the Senior Advisor (Hospital Development Plan) of the Health Bureau, who provided advice to the Bureau on project management and delivery strategy of the Hospital Development Plans and other healthcare infrastructure projects as well as facility management of the HA's healthcare infrastructure.
 
     Mr Lo had served in various government bureaux and departments in his capacity as Director of Water Supplies, Director of Drainage Services, Project Manager/Major Works of Highways Department, Assistant Director (Administration) of Civil Engineering and Development Department and Principal Assistant Secretary (Works) of Development Bureau. He has extensive management experience and in-depth knowledge of a diversified portfolio of public capital works and infrastructure assets, successfully meeting the challenges encountered and delivering quality services to the community.
 
     The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, and Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko, congratulate Mr Lo on his appointment and wish him every success in taking up the new role and leading the team to strengthen the authority to cope with the challenges in various capital works projects.

  

     The Transport Department (TD) today (March 5) reminded members of the public that in anticipation of a large number of grave-sweepers heading to the cemeteries along Cape Collinson Road in Chai Wan during the period before and after the Ching Ming Festival, the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented there to facilitate their visits to the cemeteries.
     
A. Special traffic arrangements
 
(i) Temporary prohibited zone
 
     The section of Cape Collinson Road to the east of Lin Shing Road (i.e. the left-turning movement from Lin Shing Road to Cape Collinson Road leading to the Chinese Permanent Cemetery) will be temporarily designated as private car and light goods vehicle prohibited zone from 7am to 3pm daily from March 9 to April 28. All private cars and light goods vehicles, expect those with permits, will be prohibited from entering the prohibited zone.
 
(ii) Road closures
 
     In connection with the implementation of road closures at Cape Collinson Road and its vicinity by the Police, except for the exempted vehicles, Lin Shing Road and Cape Collinson Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 7am to 5pm on the specified dates.
      

 
B. Public transport services
 
(i) The following special bus services will be operated on the specified dates and the bus services will be strengthened depending on the passenger demand and traffic conditions.
 

 
(ii) Services of CTB route Nos. 8X, 9 and 780 and cross harbour route Nos. 106, 118 and 606, and GMB route No. 18M will be strengthened subject to passenger demand.
 
     During the period before and after the Ching Ming Festival, adjustments to the extent of road closures, traffic control measures and public transport diversions will be made by the Police depending on the actual traffic conditions in the areas.
      
     Grave-sweepers are advised to plan their journey early and allow more travelling time. If they would like to go to the cemeteries along Cape Collinson Road in Chai Wan outside the above-mentioned road closure periods, please use public transport services as far as possible. They can take GMB route Nos. 16A, 16M, 16X or 18M at Chai Wan MTR Station to Cape Collinson Road, or take CTB route No. 9 at Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus to Shek O Road near Cape Collinson Road. Grave-sweepers heading to the Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium may also make use of the escalators and pedestrian access route connecting San Ha Street at Chai Wan (near Chai Wan MTR Station Exit A) and the said columbarium.
      
     During the Ching Ming Festival period, the TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Cape Collinson Road, Lin Shing Road and Wan Tsui Road in Chai Wan will be busy. Motorists are advised not to drive to the congested/affected areas, and should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion and observe the instruction given by the Police.
      
     Members of the public are advised to be alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television. They may also visit the TD website (www.td.gov.hk) or use the mobile application "HKeMobility" for the latest traffic and public transport information.

     The three-day 6th World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Canine Forum hosted by Hong Kong Customs opened today (March 5). The opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho; and the WCO Director for Compliance and Facilitation, Mr Pranab Kumar Das.
      
     The Global Canine Forum is an important WCO global event, which has been held biennially since 2011, focusing on sharing of best practices and exchange of skills in the utilisation of canines in customs work.
      
     At the opening ceremony, Mr Tang welcomed over 90 participants from about 40 customs administrations for joining the Forum in Hong Kong, which is being held in Asia for the first time. He highlighted the pivotal roles of detector dogs in supporting customs enforcement duties as well as promoting anti-drugs message to young people.
      
     Ms Ho, in her remarks, elaborated on the significant developments of the Hong Kong Customs Canine Force in recent years, namely establishing a canine breeding centre, attaining the status as a WCO Regional Dog Training Centre, developing the Smart Collar and the Smart K9 Management System, etc. 
      
     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Das encouraged participants to make the best use of the Forum to share expertise and foster actions to improve Customs operations. He also thanked Hong Kong Customs for its consistent support to the international Customs community by hosting this event.
      
     About 150 guests, including delegations from the Mainland and overseas, officials of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Consuls-General, foreign Customs attachés and local working partners, attended the opening ceremony.

          

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements to facilitate the holding of a golf tournament at Fanling Golf Course from March 8 (Friday) to March 10 (Sunday).

A. Crowd safety management measures

     As a large number of people is expected, crowd management measures will be implemented at Fanling Golf Course area to maintain public order and safety.
    
     Members of the public are advised to exercise patience and tolerance, follow the instructions of the Police on site, and take heed of directional signs and announcement at scene.

B. Special traffic arrangements

Traffic diversions
———————

     Depending on traffic conditions, the following traffic diversions may be implemented in the morning during the tournament:

– Traffic along westbound Fanling Highway cannot enter Sheung Shui Roundabout via Exit 9, except for public service vehicles;
– Traffic along westbound Po Kin Road cannot turn left to southbound Fan Kam Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Castle Peak Road – Kwu Tung cannot turn right to southbound Fan Kam Road; and
– Traffic along southbound Po Shek Wu Road turning to Sheung Shui Roundabout cannot enter southbound Fan Kam Road, except for public service vehicles.

     The above mentioned vehicles will be diverted to westbound Fanling Highway via Sheung Shui Roundabout and make a U-turn at Pak Shek Au, then travel along eastbound Fanling Highway to Sheung Shui Roundabout direction, and will be instructed to enter Sheung Shui Roundabout for southbound Fan Kam Road via Exit 9.

     Traffic along northbound Fan Kam Road cannot turn right to the public car park at the Old Course of the Fanling Golf Course and Po Kin Road.

     Depending on traffic conditions, the following traffic diversions may be implemented in the afternoon during the tournament:

     Traffic along northbound Fan Kam Road must turn right to Po Kin Road.

Restrictions on pick-up/drop-off
—————————————

     During the tournament, taxis cannot pick-up/drop-off passengers outside Fanling Golf Course and along Fan Kam Road. Passengers heading for Fanling Golf Course may alight at Ching Shing Road.

     The organiser will provide shuttle bus services and designate parking areas for motorists. For details, please visit the event website (www.livgolf.com/events/hong-kong-2024).

     Any vehicles found illegally parked at Fanling Golf Course area during the tournament will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
 
     Motorists are advised to avoid using Fan Kam Road near Fanling Golf Course during the tournament to reduce congestion. Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Members of the public are urged to take heed of instructions of police at scene.