Miss Fiona Chau assumes the post of the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), London, today (March 17), succeeding the outgoing Director-General, Mr Gilford Law. As the representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government based in London, Miss Chau will be responsible for promoting Hong Kong's bilateral relations with the United Kingdom and eight other countries, namely Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia and Sweden.
      
     Miss Chau said, "I am honoured to take up this position and look forward to working with our partners from different sectors to promote the core strengths, the international competitiveness, the vast business potential and the cultural diversity of Hong Kong, with a view to strengthening the economic, commercial and cultural ties between Hong Kong and the nine countries under the purview of the office."
      
     Miss Chau joined the Government in 1989. She served in the Trade Officer Grade before joining the Administrative Service in 2014. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Trade and Industry Department, the HKETO in Washington DC, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the former Food and Health Bureau and the HKETO in Brussels. Before assuming the post of the Director-General of the HKETO in London, Miss Chau was the Principal Assistant Secretary in the Development Bureau, overseeing the urban renewal policies.

  

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 today (March 17) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     The fire danger situation today (March 17) is red and fire risk is extreme. The countryside is extremely vulnerable to fire. If you are planning to spend the day in the countryside, please take pre-cooked food for a picnic and take all measures to prevent hill fires. The penalty for lighting fires illegally in the countryside is $25,000 and a year's imprisonment.
 

     Police are investigating a murder case in Sha Tin this afternoon (March 16) in which a man died.

     At 5.25pm, Police received a report that a man was assaulted by another two men with knives outside 3A Lai Wo Lane. The assailants then boarded a taxi and fled.

     Police officers sped to the scene and located a 52-year-old man. Sustaining multiple injuries, he was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 6.08pm.

     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

     Active investigation by the Regional Anti-Triad Unit of New Territories South is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1259.

     In response to media enquiries on noise control during events held at the Kai Tak Arena, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 16) gave the following response:

     The EPD and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have not imposed any restrictions on the operating hours of events held at the Kai Tak Arena, nor have they placed any limitations on activities extending beyond midnight.

     Events held at the Kai Tak Arena (including sports events or music performances) are conducted indoors with central air conditioning. Therefore, the assessment in the EIA report concluded that noise levels would not exceed the limits.

     The EPD also conducted noise measurements near the venue during rehearsal concerts. The results showed that the noise reduction facilities installed at the venue are effective and meet the performance expectations outlined in the EIA report, with noise levels complying with legal standards.