Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate the holding of Well Wishing Festival in Lam Tsuen during the Lunar New Year period. A. Road closure and traffic diversions &nbs… read more
The Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO) announced today (February 1) the results of the fourth round applications to the Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme in 2018-19.
The PPR Funding Scheme aims to promote public policy research and provide evidence-based research to facilitate public policy discussion. Applications are accepted throughout the year. For the fourth round exercise in 2018-19, PICO received 21 applications. On the advice of an assessment panel, PICO has decided to support six projects with total funding of about $3.2 million.
Applications to the PPR Funding Scheme are assessed by an assessment panel, chaired by and comprising experienced academics, who will take into account comments of reviewers who are academics and experts outside the panel in considering the applications. Each application is considered on its merits and relevance to public policy development in Hong Kong. A declaration of interests system is in place to ensure that the assessments are fair and impartial.
Details of the funded projects have been uploaded to PICO’s website (www.pico.gov.hk/en/PRFS). read more
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Central District (Extension) Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
“The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide developments and redevelopments in the Central District (Extension) area,” a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (February 1).
The Planning Scheme Area (the Area), covering an area of about 46.70 hectares, is bounded by the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Extension to the east, the Connaught Road Central/Harcourt Road corridor to the south, Connaught Place and Airport Railway Hong Kong Station to the west and the waterfront to the north.
About 14.34 hectares of land is zoned “Open Space”, which includes the waterfront promenade that extends from Man Yiu Street, existing Memorial Garden, Tamar Park and the open space reserved to the north of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
About 5.23 hectares of land is zoned “Comprehensive Development Area” for commercial development which extends from Statue Square and the Hongkong Bank Building towards the waterfront.
About 0.36 hectares of land is zoned “Commercial” and is currently occupied by Citic Tower at Lung Wui Road.
About 5.77 hectares of land is zoned “Government, Institution or Community” (“G/IC”) for the provision of government, institution and community facilities serving the needs of the local residents and/or a wider district, region or the territory. It is also intended to provide land for uses directly related to or in support of the work of the Government, organisations providing social services to meet community needs, and other institutional establishments. Apart from the Central Government Offices and the Legislative Council Complex at the former Tamar Basin, the existing High Block and Low Block of the City Hall Complex, City Hall Car Park and the City Hall Annex Building are also zoned “G/IC”.
About 8.42 hectares of land is zoned “Other Specified Uses” for specified purposes, which includes military uses, waterfront-related commercial and leisure uses, piers and associated facilities and elevated walkway.
The Area also provides land to accommodate essential strategic infrastructure. On the approved OZP, about 11.32 hectares of land is shown as “Road” to provide land for the above-ground road network.
The approved Central District (Extension) OZP No. S/H24/9 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Hong Kong District Planning Office, the Central and Western District Office and the Wan Chai Home Affairs Enquiry Centre.
Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed at the Board’s website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: No open or closed meetings of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Committees will be held in the LegCo Complex during the week from February 4 to&nbs… read more
The Transport Department (TD) today (February 1) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon to facilitate the Lunar New Year Fireworks Display on the second day of the Lunar New Year (February 6).
The arrangements will mainly include:
(A) Traffic arrangements
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Road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases on Hong Kong Island from about 1pm at Tramway Lane outside Garden Road Peak Tram Lower Terminus, Wan Chai District, Central District, the Peak and the section of Island Eastern Corridor westbound between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street. Road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases in the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan in Kowloon from about 6pm until the crowd is dispersed and road closures are lifted.
(B) Public transport services arrangements
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1. Bus and green minibus (GMB) services
In connection with the road closure, some bus and GMB stops will be suspended or relocated. Bus and GMB routes operating in the affected areas will also be temporarily diverted, while the service of some routes may be strengthened subject to passenger demand.
2. MTR services
From 8pm to 11pm, the services of Island Line and Tsuen Wan Line will be strengthened with a three-minute headway and the services of Kwun Tong Line will be strengthened with an about four-minute headway; from 8.30pm to 11.30pm, the services of Tseung Kwan O Line will be strengthened with a four-minute headway.
3. Tramways service
Normal holiday service will be operated and the frequency of the tram service will be strengthened to meet passenger demand if necessary.
4. Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System
The service of Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System will be extended to 2am on February 7.
5. Cross-boundary coach services
The terminus of the cross-boundary coach services between Wan Chai and Huanggang at the Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from about 6.30pm until the road closure is lifted. A temporary terminus will be provided at Hennessy Road eastbound underneath O’Brien Road footbridge.
6. Ferry services
Ferry companies will temporarily adjust the services to facilitate the holding of the celebration event.
Due to extensive road closure, the TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of the affected areas will be significantly congested. Motorists are advised to be patient in case of traffic congestion and follow police instructions.
In addition, other ad-hoc traffic and public transport measures, including additional road closures, traffic diversions, alteration and suspension of public transport services may be implemented by the Police depending on actual traffic and crowd conditions in the areas.
Members of the public who plan to go to the affected areas are advised to use public transport services as far as possible, particularly the railway services, and avoid driving to the affected or congested areas unless necessary. They should plan their journey early and use alternative routes to avoid delays. Public transport commuters are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions, suspension and relocation of stops. Moreover, members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television.
Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are available at TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk). For further queries, please call 1823. read more