Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that with the successive completion of various new government buildings, the Government Property Agency has indicated that it will reduce the leasing of private premises for office accommodation in order to save public money. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of private premises currently leased by various bureaux and government departments for office accommodation, and the rental ranges of these premises, together with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory;
 
(2) whether the authorities have formulated plans to relocate from the private premises mentioned in (1); if so, of the details (including the relocation dates and the addresses of the new offices); if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) given that the 2017 Policy Address proposed the redevelopment of the three government buildings on the Wan Chai waterfront, and that according to the Public Accounts Committee Report No. 69, the authorities are required to construct nine replacement buildings for 28 bureaux and departments, as well as the Judiciary, of the specific progress to date of the relocation plan (including how many government departments have yet to move out), and the expected timeframe for completing the entire relocation plan?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted the Government Property Agency (GPA), our reply to the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Lau is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) The Government’s policy is to accommodate offices in government-owned premises as far as possible. Leasing private premises for use by departments will only be considered if government-owned premises are unable to meet their locational requirements or operational needs. GPA conducts an accommodation review annually. To reduce rental expenses, GPA will relocate leased offices to government-owned premises, as well as relocate leased offices with higher rent to private premises with lower rent, having regard to the departments’ operational needs and cost-effectiveness.
 
     Information on private premises leased by government bureaux and departments (B/Ds) for use as government offices is set out at Annex. In 2025-26, the Government plans to relocate 26 leased offices to government-owned premises or private premises with lower rent, and is expected to save approximately $130 million annually in rental expenses (including management fees and air-conditioning charges). To avoid affecting negotiations with private property owners, we are unable to provide details of the relocation plans.
 
     GPA will continue to review rental levels and explore ways to control rental expenses with B/Ds, including relocating offices to suitable government-owned premises or private premises with lower rent as far as possible.
 
(3) The Government plans to relocate the three government buildings at the Wan Chai waterfront and construct nine buildings in other areas to relocate those existing government offices. The latest progress is as follows:
 
(a) The West Kowloon Government Offices in Yau Ma Tei, the Government Data Centre Complex and the Treasury Building in Cheung Sha Wan, the Inland Revenue Centre in Kai Tak, and the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O have been completed and are in operation;
 
(b) The Tseung Kwan O Government Offices will soon be completed and are expected to commence operation progressively from the second half of this year; and
 
(c) As for the remaining three reprovisioning projects, namely the Drainage Services Tower in Cheung Sha Wan, the Water Supplies Department Building and Correctional Services Headquarters Building in Chai Wan, and the District Court Building in Causeway Bay respectively, the Government aims to complete the relevant construction works by 2026. read more

     The International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ISTIF) of the Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Hong Kong Conference will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 6 and 7. Under the theme of “Transitioning Towards the Future: Powered by Science, Technology and Innovation”, the forum will explore how to capitalise on Hong Kong’s unique advantage of being connected to the Mainland and the outside world, and how to foster global co-operation in the field of innovation and technology (I&T).

     Focusing on global innovation issues, the ISTIF is one of the world’s major platforms for high-level I&T co-operation and exchanges. Previously held in Macao, Guangzhou and Zhuhai, the ISTIF will be held in Hong Kong for the first time. Cohosted by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), the ISTIF affirms Hong Kong’s advantages of being highly internationalised and the gateway to both China and the world.

     With an expected attendance of more than 800 top experts, scholars and political and economic leaders from Hong Kong and abroad, the ISTIF will strive to deepen regional and international I&T collaboration, further enhance Hong Kong’s position in the international I&T field, and accelerate the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T hub. Hong Kong will fully utilise its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, and make good use of its strengths to create a high-quality international science and technology event to inject new impetus to the I&T development in the country as well as the world.

     The Hong Kong Forum, with theme “Leveraging the Advantages of Connecting with Both the Mainland and the World to Foster Global Innovation and Technology Collaboration”, will be staged on June 7, inviting renowned experts as well as political and business leaders from different fields to explore how Hong Kong can fully leverage its unique advantages of internal and external connectivity to promote efficient collaboration among the Government, industry, academia, research and investment, with a view to fostering global collaboration and I&T development.

     In addition, sessions of sub-fora, cutting-edge dialogues and roundtables will be held during the two-day conference, inviting former foreign heads of state and leaders, senior representatives of international organisations, renowned scientists and university academics, entrepreneurs and start-ups from Hong Kong and abroad, as well as youth leaders from various countries, to share their insights on the hottest issues in the I&T field, such as:
 

• Youth Leadership for an Intelligent, Green and Inclusive Future;
• The Arrival of the Quantum Age;
• Innovation Clusters: Promoting the Integration of Innovation Chain and Industrial Chain;
• The Reshaping and Disruption of Life Sciences;
• From “Internet Plus” to “AI Plus”;
• Technological Innovation in Financial Services: The Role of Patient Capital;
• Mobility in the Future;
• Global Science and Technology Governance for Good, for Justice, for Openness, and for Inclusiveness; and
• Science and Technology Innovation: Driving Sustainable Development and Accelerating the 2030 Agenda.

 
     For details of the ISTIF and guest lists, please refer to www.bfa-istif.cn/ISTIF.aspx?lang=EN&tid=2025&tyid=3.

     Headquartered in China, the BFA is an international organisation initiated by 29 Asia-Pacific countries to promote Asia’s economic integration and address global challenges. Since 2019, the ISTIF is held to strengthen global governance of science and technology, promote international science and technology innovation and co-operation, guide the formulation of rules for new technologies and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. read more

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 toda… read more

     â€‹The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, will depart for Chongqing this afternoon (June 4) to attend the National Event on the Environment Day 2025 to be held tomorrow (June 5).
      
     June 5 is the Environment Day. The National Event on the Environment Day is a large-scale environmental protection publicity event jointly organised by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Central Office of Spiritual Civilization Construction, and the people’s government of the province/municipality directly under the Central Government of the organising place each year that day. This year, the event will be held in Chongqing.
      
     The theme of the Environment Day 2025 is “Beautiful China, I am a Pioneer”. The National Event this year will showcase the achievements in promoting the construction of Beautiful China Pilot Zones across the country and advocate for the active participation of the public in the construction of a beautiful China.
      
     Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong in the evening tomorrow. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, will be the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology.  read more

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (June 4). The arrangements will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

     The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from 50 minutes before the start of the first race for day racing, or from 6pm onwards for night racing:

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp outside the 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 the HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Traffic along 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 for 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

     The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

1. Road closure

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside the 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 the 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 the HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

– 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;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along 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 for day racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm for night racing respectively.

     All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.

     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. read more