Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (March 20). 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.

     Hong Kong residents intending to travel abroad during Easter holidays are reminded to apply early for travel documents.

     An Immigration Department spokesperson said the processing time for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport applications is normally 10 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and general holidays) after receipt of all necessary documents, the application fee and a photograph. Applications in respect of children under 11 years old not holding a Hong Kong permanent identity card normally take 14 working days. As regards applications submitted by post, via drop-in-box or online, processing might take two to three more working days. Applications for a replacement passport due to loss, damage or change of personal data should be made in person, and the processing time may be longer.

     Eligible applicants aged 11 or over may submit HKSAR passport applications at the self-service kiosks at Immigration Headquarters and at all six Immigration branch offices during office hours.

     The spokesperson emphasised that a request for urgent issue of an HKSAR passport will only be entertained in justifiable circumstances. Normally, no priority will be granted to pleasure trippers.

     Applicants who wish to apply for or collect travel documents in person are encouraged to make prior appointments through the Internet (www.gov.hk/tdbooking) or the 24-hour hotline (2598 0888).

     HKSAR passport application forms and information leaflets on application procedures and the requisite documents are available at Immigration Headquarters and Immigration branch offices. For details and application forms, please visit the website (www.gov.hk/passport). Further application details for an HKSAR passport are also available at the Easy Access of the Immigration Department YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/immdgovhkchannel). Enquiries can also be made by telephone (2824 6111), fax (2877 7711) or email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).

     At present, 165 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders. Some places require visitors to have a passport with validity of at least six months.

     Moreover, in order to allow greater travel convenience for HKSAR passport holders, the Immigration Department has co-operated with Korea, Singapore, Germany, Australia and Thailand where eligible HKSAR passport holders may use the automated immigration clearance services there. For detailed information, please visit (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/automated_clearance.html).

     Before travelling abroad, Hong Kong residents can use the Registration of Outbound Travel Information (ROTI) service to register their contact details and itinerary. The information they provide allows the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department to contact and assist them in an emergency outside Hong Kong. For more information on ROTI, please visit (www.gov.hk/roti) or call (852) 183 5500. Residents who need assistance while outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the AHU at (852) 1868.

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 (March 19) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, in Tbilisi, Georgia, yesterday (March 18, Tbilisi time) emphasised Hong Kong's strengths as a key business matching platform for Georgian enterprises seeking and forging strategic partnerships. Speaking at a seminar and networking dinner entitled "Hong Kong IN: Exploring New Business Opportunities", Mr Yau said that given Georgia's prime location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe and Hong Kong's edge on various fronts including in having a deep pool of professional talents, Hong Kong and Georgia enjoy a wealth of opportunities to further strengthen connections and achieve synergy under the Belt and Road Initiative.

     Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the seminar was one of the highlights of the three-day visit programme to Tbilisi by a Hong Kong and Guangdong business and professional delegation. It attracted the attendance of over 100 local business leaders and representatives of chambers of commerce.

     "Hong Kong and Georgia share a vision in becoming trading and logistics hubs between East and West in Asia and the Caucasus respectively. Our partnership particularly on this front can allow us to complement each other in capitalising on our traditional strengths, realising our vision, and co-benefiting from new opportunities under the Initiative," Mr Yau said.

     "Hong Kong has a deep pool of world-class talent in maritime and logistics services, engineering, architecture, surveying, urban planning, accounting, law, consulting, etc, who are well versed in cross-border deals. With ample experience in planning, implementing and managing international projects, and resolving legal matters and business disputes, our professionals can certainly provide high-quality services, and contribute valuable business knowledge across regional and international boundaries to Georgia," he added.

     He further pointed out that Hong Kong and Georgia have enormous prospects for further bilateral trade under the Initiative. The Hong Kong-Georgia Free Trade Agreement signed last year entered into force this February. It gives Hong Kong better access not only to Georgia's market, but also opens the door to the vast markets in the greater Eurasian region, and all the way into Eastern Europe and further. With Hong Kong's unparalleled knowledge of the Chinese market as well as Asian consumer needs and tastes, Hong Kong can help Georgia's exporters promote Georgian products to emerging markets in China and other Asian countries.

     Prior to the seminar, Mr Yau met with the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mr George Kobulia, to learn about Georgia’s latest government policies and economic development plans as well as the overall investment and business opportunities in the region.

     In the afternoon, the delegation attended a briefing on investment opportunities in Georgia, where they were briefed on the latest infrastructure projects and co-financing opportunities in Georgia.

     Mr Yau will continue his visit in Tbilisi today (March 19, Tbilisi time). He will meet with the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia and senior government officials of Georgia, and lead the delegation to visit some development projects in Tbilisi.

        

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, has accepted the invitations to visit Conghua in Guangzhou and Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of Exhibition Raceday at Conghua Racecourse and the 20th China Development Forum respectively.
      
     Mrs Lam will depart for Conghua in Guangzhou in the afternoon this Friday (March 22) and attend the opening ceremony of the first Exhibition Raceday to be held by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in collaboration with the Conghua District Government at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse the next day. Opened in August last year, the Conghua Racecourse is an important collaboration between Hong Kong and Guangdong. When Guangzhou hosted the Asian Games in 2010, to facilitate overseas horses to take part in the Games in the Mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with its experience in the organisation of horseraces and enforcement of stringent animal and plant quarantine measures over the years, implemented the first Specific Equine Disease-free Zone in the Mainland in Conghua jointly with the relevant Mainland authorities and the Guangdong Provincial Government, the standard of which was recognised internationally.  The Hong Kong Jockey Club later developed the Asian Games equestrian venue into the current Conghua Racecourse, providing high-quality facilities for horse training. The racecourse is now an important support base for the sport of horse racing in Hong Kong.
      
     Mrs Lam will depart for Beijing from Guangzhou in the evening on March 23 and attend the 20th China Development Forum on March 24 and 25. The theme of this year's forum is "Greater Opening-up for Win-Win Cooperation". Mrs Lam will speak at a session on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The China Development Forum has been hosted annually by the Development Research Centre of the State Council 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, global business community and international organisations as well as the academia at home and abroad. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on March 25.
      
     During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive.