The Task Force on Professional Development of Teachers submitted its report to the Education Bureau (EDB) today (March 26).
      
     The Task Force has reviewed the current state of play regarding teachers' professional development. After extensive consultation with stakeholders, an in-depth study and much deliberation over the past year or so, the Task Force has made a total of 18 recommendations, which include the establishment of a Professional Ladder for Teachers to be further steered by the Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals (COTAP), implementation of the "all-graduate teaching force" policy, enhancement of the manpower arrangements for senior teachers and vice-principals, enhancement of the ranking arrangements of vice-principals and principals of primary schools and principals of secondary schools, and establishment of commendation schemes at multiple levels to acknowledge teachers with outstanding performance. Of them, the Government, having regard to the views of the Task Force, has earlier undertaken to implement the all-graduate teaching force policy in public sector primary and secondary schools in one go in the 2019/20 school year.
      
     The Chairman of the Task Force, Dr Carrie Willis said, "The Task Force envisages that establishing the Professional Ladder for Teachers in Hong Kong will deepen the positive impact of the policies on teachers' professional development that have been implemented so far, open up new directions for promoting the professional growth and development of teachers, enhance public recognition of the teaching profession and raise its professional status."
      
     She added that the Task Force recommended a series of multi-faceted strategies aimed at supporting the establishment of the Professional Ladder for Teachers, which she believed would vigorously steer those in the teaching profession towards continuously renewing their professional knowledge and skills, upholding their professional values and conduct and scaling up their professional capacity and management effectiveness, and ultimately provide students with a quality education to better prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
      
     Having received the report, the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung said, "Since it was set up in November 2017, the Task Force has actively engaged different stakeholders in thoroughly reviewing the professional development of teachers in Hong Kong. The report has far-reaching influence on the promotion of professional development of our teachers and enhancement of their professionalism and professional status. I deeply thank the Chairman, Dr Carrie Willis, and all the members of the Task Force, for their hard work and contribution to the review. The Education Bureau will study the report carefully and put the feasible recommendations into practice."
      
     The full review report can be viewed on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/teacher/report-tftpd/index.html).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

Exchange Fund Bills Tender Results
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning April 1:
 

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (March 26):
 
Reporter: Mrs Lam, is the Government likely to drop the tunnel toll motion and any obstacles that the officials and the administration are encountering on this matter now? Secondly, an official from Taiwan did say it may issue a travel alert to Hong Kong if Hong Kong goes ahead with the extradition law amendment. Would you take it as a warning in a legitimate way to even change the plans that the Government is proposing now?

The Chief Executive: As far as the Government's position on the rationalisation of cross-harbour traffic through the three tunnels, since my announcement in the Policy Address last October, for over four, five months, the Secretary for Transport and Housing and his colleagues have made huge efforts to explain, to clarify, to address concerns and also lately to introduce an additional improvement by setting up the smart traffic fund. At the end of day, if members of the Legislative Council for various reasons could not support the current proposal, then what we could do as the Government is to respect that particular decision. But what I'm saying is that should not be interpreted as a means of Government weakening her governance because this is a very practical way of taking forward things that have been bothering people for a long time. As to what will then happen with the traffic congestion in Hong Kong, you have to wait a while. We will find an opportunity, an early opportunity, to give a detailed account of the present situation and the future measures that we will adopt to address this traffic congestion problem.

     As far as the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance amendments are concerned, I do not wish to comment on any particular comments made by external parties, except to say that we are doing it really to ensure public safety and to ensure justice is done. So, we will continue with our work. The Secretary for Security has run round various chambers and organisations to listen to their views and concerns. When we are in a position to announce what then will happen, as far as the legislative amendments are concerned, we will do so in an early opportunity. 

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (March 27). 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.

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 26) that the shark prevention net at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, has been repaired and the beach has been reopened.

     The beach was temporarily closed earlier on for shark prevention net maintenance work.

     However, due to big waves, the red flag is still hoisted at the beach. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.