Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (March 26):
 
Reporter: Mrs Lam, is the Government likely to drop the tunnel toll motion and any obstacles that the officials and the administration are encountering on this matter now? Secondly, an official from Taiwan did say it may issue a travel alert to Hong Kong if Hong Kong goes ahead with the extradition law amendment. Would you take it as a warning in a legitimate way to even change the plans that the Government is proposing now?

The Chief Executive: As far as the Government’s position on the rationalisation of cross-harbour traffic through the three tunnels, since my announcement in the Policy Address last October, for over four, five months, the Secretary for Transport and Housing and his colleagues have made huge efforts to explain, to clarify, to address concerns and also lately to introduce an additional improvement by setting up the smart traffic fund. At the end of day, if members of the Legislative Council for various reasons could not support the current proposal, then what we could do as the Government is to respect that particular decision. But what I’m saying is that should not be interpreted as a means of Government weakening her governance because this is a very practical way of taking forward things that have been bothering people for a long time. As to what will then happen with the traffic congestion in Hong Kong, you have to wait a while. We will find an opportunity, an early opportunity, to give a detailed account of the present situation and the future measures that we will adopt to address this traffic congestion problem.

     As far as the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance amendments are concerned, I do not wish to comment on any particular comments made by external parties, except to say that we are doing it really to ensure public safety and to ensure justice is done. So, we will continue with our work. The Secretary for Security has run round various chambers and organisations to listen to their views and concerns. When we are in a position to announce what then will happen, as far as the legislative amendments are concerned, we will do so in an early opportunity. 

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (March 27). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp outside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Vehicles from eastbound Queen’s Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen’s Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen’s Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen’s Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

1. Road closure
     
     The following roads will be closed from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen’s Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– Eastbound Queen’s Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic on southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces
     
     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site. read more

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 (Ma… read more

     The Intellectual Property Department (IPD) announced today (March 26) that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IP Australia to strengthen mutual co-operation in the field of intellectual property (IP).

     Under the MOU, Hong Kong and Australia would pursue co-operation in a wide range of areas including exchange of information in different aspects of IP protection and commercialisation and capacity building in patent examination; sharing of experience in the operation of the international trade mark registration system, promotion of dispute resolution to resolve IP disputes and development of information technology systems for management of examination and grant of IP rights.

     The Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, said, “I am confident that this collaborative initiative would inspire and bring about more joint IP undertakings in future. As Hong Kong will soon roll out the “original grant patent” system and we are also taking steps to implement the Madrid Protocol in the coming years, IP Australia’s rich experience in conducting substantive patent examination and establishing an international trade mark registration system under the Madrid Protocol would be invaluable to us. The signing of the MOU will strengthen the working relationship and foster the collaboration between us and IP Australia in various areas of common interest.”

     The IPD has been taking a wide range of measures to promote IP commercialisation and IP trading in Hong Kong, and to enhance Hong Kong’s position as an IP trading hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The IPD has also been sparing no efforts in enhancing the IP regime of Hong Kong to meet its socio-economic needs.

     Recognising the important role of IP in promoting creativity and technological innovation and driving economic growth, Hong Kong and Australia both have robust IP protection regimes and comprehensive measures to support IP utilisation. As Hong Kong and Australia are both members of the IP Rights Experts Group of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the IPD and IP Australia have a long history of collaboration on the patent and trade mark fronts. The MOU consolidates the foundation for such co-operation between the two places and takes such co-operation to new heights. read more

     A villager of Kar Wo Lei Tsuen in Tuen Mun, using videos captured by a security monitoring system at the village, reported cases of two dump truck drivers illegally depositing mud debris near the village to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). The dump truck drivers together with the relevant contractor were fined a total of $36,000 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (March 26) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).

     In November last year, the EPD received the videos from the villager reporting that some people had unloaded mud debris from dump trucks on government land in Kar Wo Lei Tsuen in Tuen Mun, posing danger and inconvenience to pedestrians and causing environmental hygiene problems. The department successfully traced the dump truck drivers involved in the two cases of illegal construction waste disposal, and the contractor who hired them, based on the dump trucks’ number plates captured by the videos and testimony provided by the villager. The department instigated prosecutions against the persons involved in accordance with the WDO after collecting evidence.

     The EPD spokesman reminded contractors and members of the transportation sector that they must properly deliver construction waste as well as commercial and industrial (C&I) waste to the government waste management facilities in accordance with the law. Otherwise, they could be prosecuted. Under the WDO, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. A maximum fine of $500,000 and six months’ imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.

     The spokesman urged members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness any illegal disposal of construction waste as well as C&I waste. They can record videos or take photos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111. read more