The Joyful Reading Carnival organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) will be held tomorrow and on Sunday (March 2 and 3) at the Stars Atrium, 1/F, Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill, where members of the public, in particular kindergarten and primary school students, are welcome to participate and share the joy of reading in a diversified way.
      
     Through the event, the EDB is bringing together the efforts of the community, business and education sectors and related stakeholders of non-governmental organisations, home-school co-operation parties, professional organisations and government departments to provide a variety of interesting and reading-related games and activities with an aim to encourage parent-child reading and create a fun-filled, enjoyable reading atmosphere.
      
     The two-day Carnival will feature an array of reading-related activities on the stage and in booths, ranging from reading games and storytelling to school performances and meet-the-authors sessions. The venue will be turned into a reading hub with a reading zone in the centre and a display of books on themes such as "Chinese history and culture", "STEM education", "Healthy living", "Moral education" and "Nature and living". Members of the public will be able to share the joy of reading at ease.
      
     There will also be a line-up of reading experts and authors, including the General Secretary of the Family Development Foundation, Ms Shirley Loo, and artist and writer Christine Cappio Cheung, to talk with the audience about their valuable reading experience and insights.
      
     In addition, the event will showcase a newly produced series of celebrity videos on reading, featuring the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Ingrid Yeung; the Mok Hing Yiu Professor of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Joseph Sung; Ms Loo, who is also a parent-child relationship and parenting educator; former President of the Legislative Council Mr Jasper Tsang; early childhood educator Ms Ponny Shum; the Chairman of the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, Mr Henry Tong; Hong Kong high jump team member Cecilia Yeung; and playwright Chong Mui-ngam. They will discuss aspects of their reading experience and recommend good books to arouse public interest in reading.
      
     Some winning entries of the Joyful Reading Award Scheme will also be screened to recognise students' and schools' achievements and efforts in promoting reading.
      
     Members of the public are urged not to miss the chance to share the joy of reading this weekend. More details can be found at the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/4-key-tasks/reading-to-learn/reading-activities/2019/Joyful-Reading-Carnival.html).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, March 1, 2019 is 103.2 (up 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) today (March 1) reminded Hong Kong residents born in 1985 or 1986 to apply for a new smart identity card in person at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) on or before March 30. The SIDCCs will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).
 
     To avoid a last-minute rush, eligible applicants are advised to apply for the new smart identity card as early as possible. They may make an appointment booking via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making an appointment booking through the Internet or mobile application in order to enjoy a faster registration process.
 
     Eligible applicants may also bring along up to two family members or friends aged 65 or above to replace their smart identity cards together during the same visit to an SIDCC. Applicants should bring along their existing smart identity cards when they proceed to SIDCCs to apply for the new smart identity card.
 
     If eligible applicants are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.
 
     For details of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (March 2).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island to facilitate grave sweepers, and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements and pedestrian safety during Ching Ming Festival.

Chai Wan
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A. Road closure

Phase I

     Vehicles will be allowed to use Cape Collison Road east of Lin Shing Road from 7am to 6pm daily on March 3, 16, 23 and 30, April 13, 19, 20, 22 and 28, and May 1. Special traffic arrangements in Phase II may be implemented when necessary.

Phase II

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6.30pm daily on March 10, 17, 24 and 31, April 6, 14 and 21:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for green minibus (GMB) route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M, 16X and 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate; – Northbound Lin Shing Road, except for GMB route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

     Depending on traffic condition, taxis and public light buses (PLBs) may be allowed to enter Lin Shing Road and turn right to Cape Collinson Road.

     Special traffic arrangements in Phase III may be implemented when necessary.

Phase III

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 7pm daily on April 5 and 7:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

B. Traffic diversions

     In connection with the above road closures, the following roads will be re-routed:

– Cape Collinson Road between its slip road to Crematorium and Shek O Road will be re-routed one-way westbound; and
– Eastern section of Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road will be re-routed one-way westbound.

C. No parking

     No parking will be permitted along the following roads:

– Cape Collinson Road;
– Lin Shing Road;
– Shek O Road between Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre and Tai Tam Road;
– Wan Tsui Road;
– The lay-by along Shek O Road; and
– The lay-by along Tai Tam Road between Shek O Road and Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir.

     Taxis, PLBs and private cars cannot enter Lin Shing Road for Cape Collinson Road, except for vehicles gaining access to Wan Tsui Estate. They will be allowed to drop off passengers at the PLB stand on Fei Tsui Road near the junction with Wan Tsui Road.

     PLBs cannot pick up/set down passengers along Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Lin Shing Road.

     Depending on traffic conditions, PLBs may not be allowed to enter Tai Tam Road from Chai Wan Road.

Pok Fu Lam
———–
     
     Consort Rise between Victoria Road and Bisney Road will be re-routed one-way southbound from 7am to 5pm daily on March 23, 24, 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14.

Aberdeen
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     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14:

– Peel Rise in the vicinity of the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery; and
– the slip road from Shek Pai Wan Road leading to the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the above areas may be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.