Author Archives: hksar gov

     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said today (February 19) that the EPD has signed the first funding agreement under the Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) to provide funding support for the TWGHs to carry out pre-construction activities for revitalising the Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill.

     The spokesman explained that the scheme aims to provide funding for eligible non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) or national sports associations (NSAs) to develop recreational facilities or other suitable and innovative beneficial uses at restored landfills. The TWGHs proposes to revitalise the Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill into a camp site-cum-green education ground, with major facilities including camping grounds, green exhibition and activity facilities, a plant-maze adventure zone and an outdoor recreational platform. Subsequent to the TWGHs’ completion of a technical feasibility study for the project in 2018, the EPD signed the funding agreement with the TWGHs on February 18, 2019, to provide funding for the pre-construction activities for the project, including site investigation, detailed design and tender documentation. On completion of the pre-construction activities, the EPD will follow the established procedures to seek funding approval for the capital works of the project from the Legislative Council.

     Regarding the revitalisation project at the Ma Yau Tong Central Landfill proposed by the Christian Family Service Centre (CFSC), the CFSC completed the detailed proposal and found that the estimated capital costs of the project had exceeded the costs estimated during the application stage as well as the ceiling of the $100 million capital grant under the scheme. The CFSC has decided not to pursue the project further and has formally informed the Steering Committee on Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme of its decision.

     The EPD will review the operational and implementation experience of Batch 1 of the scheme, which covers the requirements of basic infrastructure/public utilities and possible beneficial uses at individual restored landfills, the roles of the Government and NPOs/NSAs in constructing and managing the facilities, and application and assessment procedures, with a view to introducing enhanced measures for Batch 2 of the scheme and assisting future applicants in proposing diverse modes of collaboration or operation. The review is expected to be completed in 2019 and Batch 2 of the scheme will be launched as soon as possible. In the meantime, the EPD will also explore feasible interim uses at restored landfills to better utilise land resources.

     To expedite the development of suitable facilities at restored landfills, the Government has earmarked $1 billion under the Capital Works Reserve Fund to set up the Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme for application by NPOs or NSAs. To take the scheme forward, the Government established the Steering Committee to advise the Government on the operational arrangements of the scheme and to assist in assessing the funding applications and monitoring the progress of approved projects. After detailed consideration of all applications for Batch 1 of the scheme in accordance with the established assessment procedures and criteria, the Steering Committee selected two NPOs, namely the TWGHs and the CFSC, to develop detailed proposals to revitalise the Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill in Sai Kung and the Ma Yau Tong Central Landfill in Kwun Tong respectively in 2017.

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     The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) will reopen this November. As a prelude to the reopening, the “Sig. Tune for HKMoA: Creative Music Programme” will provide a cross-disciplinary learning and creative opportunity for young and talented people to make their debut as composers. The programme has received an enthusiastic response with 194 applications. A total of 21 participants selected by an adjudication panel consisting of the programme’s music mentor, Chiu Tsang-hei, and curators of the HKMoA, will take part in the audition in the hope of proceeding to the next stage. They will then become mentees of Chiu and write the signature tunes (Sig. Tunes) for the new image of the HKMoA and its four core collections.
 
     The audition will be held at the HKMoA on March 16 (Saturday). The 21 selected participants will perform or play a two-minute work expressing the theme “world of contrasts”. The final result will be announced immediately after the audition, and at least four participants will be selected to join the mentorship programme in the next stage.
 
     The selected participants in the audition will become mentees of Chiu in the half-year mentorship programme and receive professional music training. They will also learn from museum curators about the four core collections, namely Hong Kong Art, Chinese Fine Art, Chinese Antiquities and China Trade Art.
 
     The training will help inspire the participants’ creation of Sig. Tunes, which will be played and recorded by professional musicians, and broadcast at the reopening exhibition of the HKMoA and through various media channels.
 
Shortlisted candidates (in alphabetical order of surname):

	Name
1	Boo Chun-kit
2	Chan Chi-long
3	Chan Hon-chi Jane
4	Chan Man-him
5	Chanvititkul, Phasura
6	Cheung Man-che
7	Hau Yu-kin
8	Hui Hoi-ling
9	Lau Ka-ho
10	Leung Yan-ting Tiffany
11	Szeto Tsz-chun
12	Olivia Cordelia Oi-yan, To
13	Tong Ka-long
14	Tse Wai-sum
15	Tung Chi-wai
16	Wong Hoi-tung
17	Wong Tsz-sum
18	Wong Yee-lai
19	Yeung Sin-tung Jessie
20-21	Blue Terra (a duo, members are Chin Yuen-lai and Lam Chit-ting Martin)

 
     For details about the programme, please visit the museum’s website hk.art.museum/en_US/web/ma/whatsnew06.html or Facebook page www.facebook.com/hkmuseumofart. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
     
     The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) discussed the proposal to increase penalties for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward and was briefed by the Government on the latest traffic situation of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link (CWB) today (February 19).
      
     Currently, it is illegal for a person to drive or use a motor vehicle for carriage of passengers for hire or reward without meeting prescribed conditions, and third-party risks insurance for the vehicle concerned may be invalidated. The Government has been taking a multi-pronged approach comprising enforcement, education and publicity in combating such illicit acts.
      
     With the increasingly widespread use of online-hailing platforms, illegal hire services making use of such platforms have become more prevalent in recent years. To strengthen the deterrent effect for better protection of the safety of passengers and other road users, the Government proposes to increase the penalties for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward.
      
     The TAC Chairman, Professor Stephen Cheung, said, “Members supported the proposal, and noted that in proposing the penalties the Government sought to increase the deterrent effect of the offence while upholding the proportionality of the proposed penalty level, having regard to the severity of the contravention and the penalties for offences of similar nature.”
      
     In addition, Members were briefed by the Government on the traffic situation of CWB since its stage 1 commissioning, as well as the traffic arrangements upon its full commissioning. The road link joining the CWB to the Rumsey Street Flyover westbound will be commissioned on February 24, signifying the full commissioning of the CWB.
      
     “Members noted that since the stage 1 commissioning of the CWB, the Transport Department (TD) has implemented various temporary traffic measures to facilitate motorists’ choice of appropriate routes and to divert the additional traffic induced due to the outstanding road link. The TD will continue to monitor the situation closely and implement measures such as enhancing road signages, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of the CWB upon its full commissioning, thereby bringing convenience to motorists,” Professor Cheung said. read more

     According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department today (February 19), the provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population was 7 482 500 at end-2018, representing an increase of 69 400… read more

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for December 2018 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 19) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In December 2018, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods decreased by 7.4% over December 2017. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 8.7%.

     Comparing 2018 with 2017, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods increased by 4.9%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods increased by 5.9%.

     Comparing the fourth quarter of 2018 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods decreased by 3.9%. Concurrently, the volume of imports of goods decreased by 5.4%.

     Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

     Comparing December 2018 with December 2017, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 2.0%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.0%.

     As regards price changes in 2018 over 2017, the prices of total exports of goods increased by 2.4%. Concurrently, the prices of imports of goods increased by 2.6%.

     Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.

     The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2017, the index remained virtually unchanged in December 2018, whereas it decreased by 0.1% in 2018 as a whole.

     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

     Comparing December 2018 with December 2017, double-digit decreases were recorded for the total export volume to India (-33.1%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (-11.0%). Concurrently, the total export volume to Japan and the USA decreased by 4.9% and 2.9% respectively. On the other hand, the total export volume to the Netherlands increased by 26.5%.

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to the Netherlands, the Mainland, Japan and the USA increased by 3.9%, 2.7%, 2.5% and 2.0% respectively. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 4.4%.

     Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.

     Comparing December 2018 with December 2017, double-digit decreases were recorded for the import volume from Taiwan (-29.1%) and Japan (-15.1%). Concurrently, the import volume from the Mainland and Singapore decreased by 6.4% and 1.5% respectively. On the other hand, the import volume from the USA increased by 0.5%.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Japan, the Mainland, Singapore and the USA increased by 3.0%, 2.5%, 2.1% and 1.0% respectively. On the other hand, the import prices from Taiwan decreased by 0.9%.

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the December 2018 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp?productCode=B1020006).

     Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918). read more