Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (November 7). 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.

     Yee Chung Logistic Company Limited and Hung Hing Electronic Commerce Limited illegally imported and stored waste printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are classified as chemical waste, respectively. They were convicted and fined a total of $71,500 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (November 6) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
      
     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that during a blitz operation this April, EPD officers raided a recycling site at Shek Wu Wai in Yuen Long which illegally stored waste PCBs. The waste PCBs, which are classified as chemical waste, were placed at the open space of the recycling site with a total weight of about 6 tonnes and an estimated total export value of $600,000. Following the clues obtained from the investigation, EPD found that the importer concerned illegally imported the chemical waste from Korea into Hong Kong without a permit. The importer also transported the chemical waste without a waste collector licence. The EPD subsequently prosecuted the importer, Yee Chung Logistic Company Limited, and the recycler, Hung Hing Electronic Commerce Limited, in accordance with the WDO and the Regulation after evidence gathering.
      
     The spokesman stressed that dismantled PCBs, LCD monitors and cathode ray tubes are hazardous e-waste, containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste and must be properly handled. Otherwise, it will pollute the environment and pose a risk to the health of relevant trade practitioners and the general public. The EPD will continue to combat illegal collection, storage, handling or import of hazardous e-waste. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD's website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

    

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the Guangzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (HRSSGZ) today (November 6) signed a memorandum of co-operation to enhance collaboration in the development of electrical and mechanical (E&M) talent in both places.
 
     Witnessed by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary of Party Leadership and Director of the HRSSGZ, Mr Guo Zhiyong; and the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Alfred Sit, the memorandum was signed by the Deputy Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Pang Yiu-hung, and the Deputy Director of the HRSSGZ, Mr He Shilin. The area of collaboration includes experience-sharing platforms, internship opportunities and training courses on advanced technology development and applications for the E&M sector in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
 
     Addressing the signing ceremony, Mr Sit said he was delighted the EMSD and its counterpart in Guangzhou had accomplished the co-operation agreement. The memorandum will facilitate more in-depth and extensive co-operation in personnel training in the area of refrigeration and air conditioning, mechatronics, lift maintenance, new energy applications and vehicle maintenance. He also expressed the hope that the professional exchanges will enhance the service quality and standards of the E&M sector and promote sustainable development and energy saving in both Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
     This is the second memorandum of co-operation signed between the EMSD and relevant departments in Guangzhou on strengthening collaboration in training of E&M personnel, after the agreement reached with the Guangzhou Industry and Trade Technician College in June this year.

    

     â€‹Two annual marine pollution response joint exercises, code-named Oilex 2018 and the Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Exercise 2018, were conducted by various government departments this morning (November 6) off Pearl Island, Tuen Mun, to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters.
      
     In the test scenario, an oil tanker collided with a container vessel, leading to fuel oil leaking from the tanker and five containers loaded with acetone solution falling into the sea. The five containers drifted in the nearby waters and leaked acetone solution. In the joint exercises, response groups were tasked to contain and clean up the spilled oil and chemicals to prevent damage to the environment and nearby facilities.
      
     In the exercises, various participating parties took a series of simulated response actions. On the tanker anchored to the south of Pearl Island, a salvage team transferred fuel oil from the damaged tank and patched up the leak so as to stop further oil leakage at source. At the same time, an oil combat team deployed floating barrier booms to encircle the tanker and set up barrier booms near the tanker to prevent the spill from spreading. The exercise also simulated the spraying of oil dispersant and sea water from pollution control vessels and a Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopter onto oil on the sea surface, as well as the use of oil skimmers and other equipment. Simultaneously, a shoreline cleaning team conducted a shoreline oil clean-up drill at a beach to the east of Pearl Island.
      
     In combating the simulated HNS spill, the response groups lifted the damaged containers out from the sea, and sprayed seawater on the sea surface to disperse the plume caused by the acetone solution and expedite the dilution of acetone solution.
      
     The joint response exercises were co-ordinated by the Marine Department (MD) and the Environmental Protection Department. The participating government departments and organisations included the Fire Services Department, the GFS, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Government Laboratory and the Civil Aid Service, as well as several oil companies and Hong Kong Response Limited.
      
     The response exercises not only provided hands-on experience for response members, but also helped relevant parties to adopt an effective emergency response strategy for preventing pollution according to the properties and extent of the spilled substances.

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 in a female ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following update today (November 6):
 
     One more 54-year-old patient in the ward has presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patient and the test results were positive to Parainfluenza Virus Type 3. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation and is in a stable condition.
 
     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.