The Transport Department (TD) published a Gazette notice today (July 5) to invite applications for passenger service licences for the operation of five packages of 12 public light bus (scheduled) routes (green minibus routes) in the New Territories, Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island.

     The five packages are:

(1) between Tsing Yi Public Pier and Princess Margaret Hospital;
     between Wong Nai Tau andWan Tau Tong;
     between Shek Mun and Wan Tau Tong; and
     between Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier and Wan Tau Tong;

(2) between Po Lam and Chun Cheong Street;
     between Po Lam and Kowloon Bay; and
     Haven of Hope Hospital and Po Lam Public Transport Interchange (Circular);

(3) between Hung Shui Kiu (Hung Yuen Road) and Tin Shui Wai (Tin Tan Street);
     Hung Shui Kiu (Hung Yuen Road) to Long Ping Station (Circular); and
     between Yuen Long (Fung Cheung Road) and Kong Tau Tsuen;

(4) Sheung Wan (Hollywood Road) to Caine Road (Circular);

(5) between Choi Hing Court and Kai Tak.

     Application forms are obtainable free of charge from the following offices:

(a) TD New Territories Regional Office, 7/F, Mongkok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Kowloon; and
(b) TD Hong Kong Licensing Office, 3/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong.
     
     Applicants should refer to the details of the public light bus (scheduled) routes and "Guidance Notes for Applicants" attached in the application form when completing the application form.

     Completed application forms must be submitted in a plain white envelope sealed and marked on the outside of the envelope with "Application for Passenger Service Licence(s) in Respect of the Packages of Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Routes Gazetted in July 2019" and placed in the TD Tender Box located at the reception counter of the TD Headquarters at 10/F of South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, before noon on August 16 (Friday). Applications by any other means or submitted late will not be considered.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 5) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Deep Water Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, St Stephen's Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach, Pui O Beach, Upper Cheung Sha Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Tong Fuk Beach in Islands District; and Clear Water Bay First Beach Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:

     The Communications Authority (CA) today (July 5) announced the creation of a new localised wireless broadband service (LWBS) licence for the administrative assignment of up to 400 MHz of spectrum in the 26 GHz band (24.25 – 27.5 GHz) and 28 GHz band (27.5 – 28.35 GHz) on a geographically sharing basis (Shared Spectrum) to facilitate the development of innovative wireless communications services based on fifth generation (5G) or other advanced mobile technologies.

     A spokesperson for the CA said, "The Shared Spectrum under the LWBS licence will be assigned on a geographically sharing basis, for use in different specified locations such as university campuses, industrial estates, the airport and technology parks. It may also be used to support fixed wireless access or smart city applications. Assignees may each deploy the Shared Spectrum as assigned to provide localised network coverage in their specified locations having aggregate specified areas of not exceeding 50 square kilometres."

     The spokesperson continued, "The arrangement aims to encourage the development of innovative services and applications with use of 5G technologies, including those underpinning the smart city initiatives. The services to be provided with the use of the Shared Spectrum under the LWBS licence would be distinct from conventional public mobile services, and would in general be confined to wireless data-centric communications for specific groups of users."

     The validity period of the LWBS Licence is five years and may be extended at the discretion of the CA for a further period of up to five years. The annual licence fee for the LWBS Licence consists of a fixed fee of $100,000, and variable fees based on the number of base stations and LWBS devices in use and the amount of spectrum assigned. 

     Invitation for submission of applications for the LWBS Licence will be launched in a couple of weeks. To facilitate the introduction of innovative services as technologies evolve and demands arise, applications for assignment of the Shared Spectrum may be submitted at any time after the commencement of the application process, and the administrative assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

     Owing to the maintenance works on the flag poles and the podium at the Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai, the flag-raising ceremony scheduled at 8am today (July 5) will be suspended.

     The Director-General of the Air Traffic Management Bureau (ATMB) of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Mr Che Jinjun; the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Simon Li; and the President of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chan Weng-hong, attended the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region Air Traffic Management Planning and Implementation Tripartite Working Group (TWG) high-level meeting in Hangzhou today (July 4). They were briefed on the work progress of the Airspace Management Technical Sub-group and the Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) Technical Sub-group under the TWG, and discussed measures to enhance the efficiency of airspace management and regional ATFM in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). 

     At the meeting, the senior management of the three parties agreed that progress has been made in a number of areas since the last meeting in September 2018. Firstly, with regard to airspace optimisation and air traffic management enhancement, the Airspace Management Technical Sub-group has just accomplished the first stage of Fast Time Simulation (FTS) work of modelling and simulation of the airspace and air traffic in the GBA with the use of the FTS software. Based on the current airspace operation integrating with the flight data, a model was constructed with a high degree of resemblance to the genuine ones. In the next stage, the TWG will make use of the FTS software to carry out assessment and analysis and will complete the simulation work this year. The TWG will formulate specific measures to further optimise airspace and air traffic management based on the results of the assessment and analysis.

     The TWG is also committed to adopting a multi-pronged approach to improve the efficiency of ATFM in the region. Since the full utilisation of Route M503 last year, the overall capacity of the air routes between Hong Kong and Shanghai Pudong International Airport has been enhanced. In addition to the strengthening of the ATFM coordination mechanism, the on-time performance of flights departing from Hong Kong to the Mainland has shown improvement. The TWG will continue to study the gradual increase in the usage rates of air routes connecting Hong Kong, Macao and eastern region of the Mainland and improve the ATFM coordination mechanism to cater for inclement weather affecting an extensive area, so as to meet the growing demand for air traffic in the region in the long run.

     Mr Li said that the TWG has made encouraging progress in various aspects. With the support of the CAAC ATMB, the TWG will continue to take forward ATM enhancement measures to progressively achieve the ultimate target runway capacity of 102 air traffic movements per hour under the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport and support a sustainable development of other airports in the region, and promote the healthy development of the air transport industry in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, so as to achieve greater synergy in the GBA's airspace and create an airport economic area with mutual benefit and international influence.