The Government published in the Gazette today (January 25) the Waterworks (Amendment) Regulation 2019 to adjust 25 fees for services specified in Schedule 1 of the Waterworks Regulations (Cap. 102A) made pursuant to the Waterworks Ordinance (Cap. 102).

     The services cover the following categories:

1. Fees for making a connection to the mains and installing (including reinstatement of the ground surface) the part of a fire service or inside service on land held by the Government for pipes of any size up to and including 40 mm in diameter;
2. Fee for reconnecting a fire service or inside service;
3. Fee for providing and installing a meter;
4. Fee for providing a meter;
5. Fee for resealing a fire service or meter;
6. Fees for testing a meter or a private check meter (including removal and refixing);
7. Fees for the issuance, renewal and examination of plumber’s licence;
8. Fee for the issuance of fishing licence;
9. Fees for the examination of a water sample;
10. Fee for each attendance for collection of any sample or samples; and
11. Fee for providing additional copy of examination report.

     "In line with the 'user pays' principle, it is Government's policy that fees and charges should in general be set at levels adequate to recover the full cost of providing the services. In order to achieve full cost recovery gradually and to avoid a steep fee increase, the existing 25 fees for services that are non-livelihood related will be increased by about 6.2 per cent to 31.6 per cent," a spokesman for the Development Bureau said.

     The Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on January 30. Subject to approval by negative vetting, the revised fees will come into effect on March 29.

     The Government gazetted today (January 25) the proposed bonded vehicular bridge and associated road works outside the Airport Island to provide a new road link between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port for the transfer passengers at HKIA.
 
     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
 
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
Islands District Office Main Office,
20/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
Islands Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (Tung Chung),
1/F, Tung Chung Post Office Building,
6 Mei Tung Street, Tung Chung,
Lantau Island, Hong Kong
 
Islands Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (Mui Wo)
G/F, Mui Wo Government Offices,
2 Ngan Kwong Wan Road, Mui Wo,
Lantau Island, Hong Kong
 
Islands Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (Cheung Chau)
G/F, 22 San Hing Street,
Cheung Chau, Hong Kong
 
District Lands Office, Islands,
19/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan will be available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.
 
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau's drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than March 26, 2019.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate of medical wards in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (January 24, Davos time) called on senior financial officials of other regions to forge closer ties on economic and trade co-operation with Hong Kong while attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

     This morning, Mr Chan held separate meetings with the Minister for Finance and the Public Service of Australia, Mr Mathias Cormann; and Chile's Minister of Finance, Mr Felipe Larraín Bascuñán. He expressed Hong Kong's interest in pursuing comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreements with these countries to bolster bilateral trade and investment activities.

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan discussed with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform of Ireland, Mr Paschal Donohoe, the latest developments of the global economy and other items of mutual interest.
 
     Mr Chan said he was pleased to see Mr Donohoe again following their previous meeting in Ireland last year. He pointed out that Hong Kong, as an international financial and trade centre, is an excellent gateway for Irish enterprises to enter the market in the Mainland of China. He welcomed them to leverage on Hong Kong to expand their reach.

     Mr Chan also attended a gathering of financial leaders under the World Economic Forum which focused on financial technology and building agile and stable financial systems.

     Yesterday (January 23, Davos time) joined by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, Mr Chan met with the UK's Secretary of State for International Trade, Dr Liam Fox, to explore ways to further strengthen bilateral trade.
 
     Mr Chan remarked that Hong Kong and the UK have strong and long-standing ties and are close trading and business partners. He looked forward to forging closer economic and trade ties with the UK, including exploring the possibility of a free trade agreement in future.

     Mr Chan will leave Switzerland tomorrow (January 25, Davos time) and return to Hong Kong in the morning this Saturday (January 26, Hong Kong time).

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (January 24, Davos time) continued to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. She met with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and attended a series of events and delivered speeches yesterday and today on Hong Kong’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

     This morning, Mrs Lam met with the Prime Minister of Vietnam . Mrs Lam said she was pleased to meet Mr Nguyen again following their meeting last November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea. Mrs Lam said ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam on the economic and trade fronts have grown stronger in recent years and that along with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which will take effect in the months to come, the business and professional services sectors are set to be presented with more opportunities. To strengthen people-to-people bonds between the two places, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has recently decided to grant visa-free access to holders of Vietnamese diplomatic and official passports. She expressed the hope that the Vietnamese Government would actively consider to provide greater convenience to Hong Kong people travelling to Vietnam for business or vacations.

     Accompanied by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, Mrs Lam also attended a breakfast meeting organised by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited in the morning. Mrs Lam introduced to the participants from investment banks and financial corporations the latest developments of Hong Kong’s financial services, in particular the various initiatives rolled out by the current-term Government to further advance financial development and the unique position of Hong Kong in the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

     After the breakfast meeting, Mrs Lam and Mr Yau joined the third Belt and Road Davos Forum hosted by Tsinghua  University, the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and co-organised by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government. In her opening address, Mrs Lam said Hong Kong has been performing unique functions in the process of the reform and opening up of the country in the past 40 years, and will continue to contribute proactively to the Belt and Road Initiative, including the promotion of the five areas of connectivity  under the Belt and Road Initiative, namely policy co-ordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds.

     At noon yesterday, Mrs Lam attended a seminar to discuss with dozens of major private and institutional investors from around the world economic growth trends and future development potential in Asia. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam attended the WEF special address sessions by the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Ms Angela Merkel, and the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Wang Qishan.

     Mrs Lam then, accompanied by Mr Chan, met with the Chairman of Julius Baer Group, Mr Daniel Sauter, to exchange views on the development of the asset and wealth management industry in Hong Kong. In the evening, Mrs Lam attended a reception on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area hosted by a Hong Kong enterprise. She briefed the participants on various favourable conditions for the development of the Greater Bay Area, especially the support of the Central Government, the closer links between cities and the people-to-people bonds in the region. The Vice Minister of Transport, Mr Dai Dongchang, and the Mayor of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Wen Guohui, also addressed the reception. Mrs Lam, Mr Chan and Mr Yau then attended the China Night banquet which was organised by WEF for the Chinese participants of Annual Meeting.

     Mrs Lam is continuing her visit to Davos this afternoon.