The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 22) released the latest grading of water quality of nine gazetted beaches that are open for swimming.

     Five beaches were rated as good (Grade 1) and four as fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:    
 

Grade 2 beaches are:   
  

     Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach and Golden Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain.  Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend.  The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

     The Transport Department today (March 22) announced that two auctions of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on April 6 (Saturday) and 7 (Sunday), in Meeting Room S421, L4, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, respectively.

     "A total of 320 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public sale at each auction. The lists of marks have been posted at the department's website, www.td.gov.hk," a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(a) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:

(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.
 
(b) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(c) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(d) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(e) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the visiting Kaohsiung City Mayor, Mr Han Kuo-yu, this morning (March 22) and hosted a lunch for him at Government House. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, were also present.
 
     Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Han's first trip to Hong Kong after his assumption of office to attend an agricultural product promotion event in the afternoon and conduct other visits. She pointed out that Hong Kong and Taiwan have frequent trade, economic and people-to-people exchanges and that the two places are major trading partners and sources of tourists for each other. Hong Kong is an international financial, trade, transportation and logistics centre where many Taiwanese enterprises have established a presence, covering financial services, innovation and technology, catering and consumer products, to leverage Hong Kong's advantages to open up the Mainland and overseas markets. Mrs Lam said she welcomes more high-quality agricultural and fisheries products to be exported from Kaohsiung to Hong Kong, or re-exported via Hong Kong to other places in the future. She also expressed the hope that Mr Han's visit will promote further exchanges between Hong Kong and Kaohsiung, presenting more room for co-operation.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

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     The Government announced today (March 22) the appointment of Mr Kwan Chuk-fai as the new Chairman of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) Committee and the appointment of the new Vice-Chairman and 12 new members, as well as the re-appointment of five incumbent members, for a new term until March 31, 2021.

     The new Vice-Chairman is Dr Raymond Chan Kwok-hong, while the 12 new members are Miss Amy Chan Lim-chee, Mr Alan Cheung Yick-lun, Mr Alan Chow Ping-kay, Dr Fan Ning, Ms Amy Fung Dun-mi, Dr Vivian Lou Wei-qun, Miss Yanice Mak Wing-yan, Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing, Mr Anthony Wong Kin-wai, Miss Joanna Wong Kwan-chiu, Ms Wong May-kwan and Mr Wong Wai-kit. They come from different sectors (see annex).

     Mr Kwan Chuk-fai served the CIIF Committee as a member from 2005 to 2011 and as Vice-Chairman from 2017. He has rich experience in the business sector and has been providing invaluable support in spearheading the development of social capital in the community. Dr Raymond Chan Kwok-hong is currently a member of the CIIF Committee and also a founding member of the CIIF's SC.Net. Their current Vice-Chairmanship and membership have been extended to April 30, 2019, respectively before taking up the appointments as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman with effect from May 1, 2019. The appointment of the 12 new members will take effect on April 1, 2019.

     The five members re-appointed are Mr Dennis Chan Wan-pan, Ms Josephine Lee Yuk-chi, Mr Leo Tam Ka-ming, Dr Wong Tak-cheung and Mr Yuen Sui-see. The re-appointment will take effect on April 1, 2019.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, welcomed the appointments and said he was pleased to see new members coming from a wide range of sectors, which demonstrated the cross-sectoral collaboration that the CIIF seeks to promote.

     Dr Law paid warm tribute to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Lam Ching-choi, for his sterling contribution and outstanding leadership in developing the CIIF as an effective vehicle for building social capital and community networks. He also thanked the nine outgoing members for their distinguished service and devotion to the CIIF. They are Dr Raymond Chen Chung-i, Mr Jimmy Chiu Lap-kee, Mr Chow Yick-hay, Mr Jacky Ip Kam-shing, Dr Kee Chi-hing, Ms Irene Leung Pui-yiu, Mr Wilfred Ng Sau-kei, Ms Jo Ngai Yee-shan and Dr Ting Wai-fong.

     The CIIF was established in 2002 to promote social capital development through encouraging mutual support in the neighbourhood, community participation and cross-sectoral partnership. The CIIF Committee is tasked to handle applications for funding under the CIIF and advise the Government on the administration of the CIIF as well as the development of social capital in Hong Kong.

     The membership list of the CIIF Committee, with effect from May 1, 2019, is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Mr Kwan Chuk-fai

Vice-Chairman
—————-
Dr Raymond Chan Kwok-hong

Members
———-
Miss Amy Chan Lim-chee
Mr Dennis Chan Wan-pan
Dr Eliza Cheung Yee-lai
Mr Alan Cheung Yick-lun
Mr Alan Chow Ping-kay
Dr Fan Ning
Ms Amy Fung Dun-mi
Ms Lam Pik-chu
Ms Josephine Lee Yuk-chi
Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing
Dr Vivian Lou Wei-qun
Miss Yanice Mak Wing-yan*
Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing
Mr Leo Tam Ka-ming
Mr Anthony Wong Kin-wai
Miss Joanna Wong Kwan-chiu*
Ms Wong May-kwan
Dr Wong Tak-cheung
Mr Wong Wai-kit
Mr Yuen Sui-see

* Appointed through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth.