The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, March 25, 2019 is 103.2 (down 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, March 23, 2019 was 103.3 (up 0.2 against last Friday’s index). read more
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is once again holding Green Recycling Day (GRD) activities upon the conclusion of the Hong Kong Flower Show. The GRD programme will be held today and tomorrow (March 25 and 26) with an aim of reinforcing green measures and reducing waste, and reflects the LCSD’s commitment to implementing green measures for environmental protection in its large-scale events.
Officiating at the GRD launch ceremony today at the Victoria Park showground were the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Cherry Tse; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; and the Chairmen or representatives of the 18 District Councils.
The LCSD has been adhering to the guidelines stipulated in the guidance booklet on waste reduction and implementing related measures each year to enhance the environmental performance of the flower show. This year, the LCSD has implemented a series of green measures, appealing to all stakeholders including exhibitors, contractors, volunteers and the public to apply the 3R concept – “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” – for waste management.
More than 300 volunteers were recruited to assist in separating and collecting reusable and recyclable materials at the showground for waste reduction today. They are students from tertiary institutions, green ambassadors, green volunteers, youth ambassadors and volunteers from the LCSD, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and commercial organisations.
As in previous years, flowers suitable for replanting and landscape displays suitable for reuse will be relocated to LCSD parks and amenity areas for public enjoyment.
To encourage greening in the community, flowers suitable for replanting are also distributed via the “Give the Flowers a New Home!” Jockey Club Flower Replanting Scheme to schools, environmental groups and non-governmental organisations. This year, about 28 000 potted plants were distributed to some 150 participating organisations.
Pots of the theme flower Chinese hibiscus that are suitable for replanting have also been distributed to the public at the Sugar Street entrance to the park. Around 5 000 pots of Chinese hibiscus were distributed today.
A variety of green measures were implemented at different stages of the flower show. During the preparation phase, the stakeholders were provided with guidance on waste reduction. Exhibitors were encouraged to use recyclable materials with environmentally friendly elements in their display designs. While cleaning up their exhibits, they were reminded to take back reusable materials and to separate the resources properly before delivering them to appropriate collection points. Volunteers were also recruited and trained to assist in green measures, enhancing the message of environmental protection and offering assistance to the stakeholders for recyclables collection at these points.
During the show period, QR codes were displayed at the showground for visitors to access relevant information on the show. Visitors were also encouraged to bring their own bottles, utensils and bags. Three-colour waste separation bins were placed for collection of waste paper, metals and plastics, with green ambassadors on hand to guide the public.
In collaboration with the Environmental Campaign Committee and the Environmental Protection Department, free lending of 12 500 items of reusable tableware was also arranged for the showground daily to reduce the use of disposable tableware. Apart from food waste collection points, clean recycling stations were also added to enhance clean recycling of plastic bottles, aluminium cans and glass bottles. Recyclables Collection Points have facilitated the collection of different recyclables including carton boxes, plastic flower pots and other plastics, soil, metals, wooden planks and more in addition to wilted flowers.
The wilted plants collected are being delivered to the Animal Waste Composting Plant in Ngau Tam Mei for recycling into useful organic compost.
At the GRD launch ceremony today, winners of “Highest Popularity Garden Plot Award of 18 Districts” and “Best Local Characteristic Garden Plot Award of 18 Districts” were also announced, with both awards going to Southern District. These awards were launched this year and members of the public could vote via QR codes on-site or vote online during the show period. Moreover, the three awards for the green stalls, namely the Environmental Efficiency Award of Green Stalls, the Best Education Award of Green Stalls and the Best Design Award of Green Stalls, went to Green Power, the Wong Tai Sin District Council and the Kwai Tsing District Council respectively.
This year’s flower show has enhanced environmental protection measures and encouraged the community to make concerted efforts under the slogan “Green Flower Show for All”.
The Transport Department (TD) today (March 25) announced that a new function on the subsidy enquiry website of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme (subsidy-enquiry.ptfss.hk) will be introduced on April 1 (Monday) so t… read more
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, this morning (March 25) attended the China Development Forum 2019 organised by the Development Research Centre of the State Council at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing and delivered a speech at the session on “The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: A Rising Star in the Global Economy”.
Elaborating on the characteristics of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development from a global economy perspective in her speech, Mrs Lam quoted the three “unprecedented circumstances” surrounding the Greater Bay Area development as described by the Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, in his remarks at the second plenary meeting of the Greater Bay Area Leading Group. He said that the high-level support and commitment to the Greater Bay Area by the Central Government is unprecedented; the response of the three governments and various sectors in the three places is highly enthusiastic; and the Greater Bay Area will take on an unprecedented historic role in the country’s further reform and opening up. She emphasised that Hong Kong will faithfully uphold the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” and leverage on the city’s clear and compelling strengths. Citing Hong Kong’s strengths in finance and innovation and technology as examples, Mrs Lam said Hong Kong can play an active role in the Greater Bay Area development.
The Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, and the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai-on, also spoke in the session. Together with Mrs Lam, they answered questions from the participating guests. The session on the Greater Bay Area was one of the eight sessions in this year’s forum, demonstrating the Greater Bay Area’s key status in the national development.
Mrs Lam yesterday (March 24) attended the forum’s opening ceremony and listened to the keynote speech delivered by Mr Han. She also attended various sessions with different guest speakers and the forum’s 20th Anniversary Welcome Banquet. Vice President Wang Qishan attended the dinner to welcome guests from different places.
The China Development Forum has been hosted annually since 2000 with the aim of “Engaging with the World for Common Prosperity”. The forum serves as a pivotal platform for dialogues between leaders of the Central Government, the global business community and international organisations as well as academia at home and abroad. The theme of this year’s forum is “Greater Opening-up for Win-Win Cooperation” and the event is being held for three consecutive days (from March 23 to 25) in Beijing.
Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.
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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 25) that the Hong Kong Flower Show’s distribution of Chinese hibiscus to members of the public on Green Recycling Day has concluded. Members of the public are advised not to go to the venue for collection of flowers. read more