Tag Archives: China

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 a… read more

     The Education Bureau today (January 14) announced the appointment of the Chairman and members to the Quality Education Fund Steering Committee (QEFSC) for a term of two years, from January 16, 2020, to January 15, 2022.

     Dr Gordon Tsui Luen-on has been re-appointed as the Chairman of the QEFSC. Dr Tsui is an ex-officio member of the Education Commission and the Quality Education Fund Investment Committee.

     The following members have been appointed to the QEFSC:

* Mr Shek Wai-keung
* Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak

     The following members have been re-appointed to the QEFSC:

* Mr Chan Chi-wai
* Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
* Ms Joanne Fong Yee-man

     “I am confident that the Quality Education Fund (QEF) will continue to achieve outstanding results in the promotion of quality school education in Hong Kong,” said the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung.

     He also thanked the outgoing members, Ms Cecilia Lam Siu-ling and Dr Odalia Wong Ming-hung, for their valuable contributions to the QEFSC in the past years.

     The QEF was established in early 1998 with $5 billion in capital to fund community initiatives which promote quality education in Hong Kong. The QEFSC advises on the policies and operation of the QEF and also makes recommendations to the Fund’s Trustee on the awards of grants.

     Since its establishment, the Fund has supported over 10 800 projects with grants totalling around $5 billion. As at end-November 2019, the fund balance of the QEF (unaudited) was about $9.5 billion. read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, on the launch of the Community Care Fund Digital Television Assistance Programme today (January 14):

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: We are happy to announce today a scheme whereby we will provide assistance to those families still using analogue TVs, as we go into the full implementation of digital (TV) broadcasting by the end of this year. We have set out a plan that by December 1 this year, Hong Kong will move into the full implementation of digital (TV) broadcasting.

     A recent survey shows that despite a penetration rate (of digital TV) of 92 per cent, there are still around 100,000 households still using analogue TVs, among which we believe there might be more than 80,000 households, because of various reasons and largely of low-income or elderly households, are still sticking on analogue TVs. We intend to provide assistance to help these households in need to shift to digital TVs. The scheme that we are rolling out today, funded by the Community Care Fund, is to support these households by giving them either a set-top box, so that they can convert their analogue TVs into digital, or giving them a brand new TV set so that they can continue to enjoy watching TV at home.

     The programme is targeting at households of lower income or elderly families. We need to engage a partner to bring this service to them. The essence of the service is that with the help of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and their service units, eligible households will be helped with the applications. The final delivery of the scheme will be having these (digital TV) devices taken to their (the applicants’) homes and then be installed. We will also take this opportunity to bring back the old TVs for recycling as well as provide a (three-year) warranty period for the new TV sets. We hope this scheme would, on the one hand, bring Hong Kong into the full implementation of digital broadcasting, and on the other hand, give support to those who are not able to enjoy digital TV at this moment.

Reporter: Can you tell us more about the application procedures? How can people apply for the programme? Because many of them are elderly people and they may not be very familiar with the application system. Also, how confident are you that the people will be able to get a new TV or a set-top box on time before the switching off of the analogue TV in December?

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: We have set this timetable a bit of time ago that when it comes to December 1 this year, we will move on to the full digital TV broadcasting. With more than 10 months ahead and a very simple application procedure that we have laid out, and together with suitable publicity and the aid of the member service units of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, we believe we have sufficient time for aiding households who want to be benefited from the scheme. But of course, there might be families or households waiting for the last minute or not aware of the scheme. When December 1 comes, in case they cannot watch the analogue TV by then, I think they would be alerted immediately. That is why in addition to having more than 10 months ahead of the implementation day, there will be seven months (of application period) afterwards, so that any households who might not be able to receive digital TV after the D-Day would still be benefited from the scheme.

     Noting the background of these eligible households who might be families with elderly people or of lower-income, we wish to make sure that the entire services will be able to deliver to their homes. That is why we have arranged that after an application is successfully processed, either a set-top box or a brand new TV with two dimensions choices will be delivered to their homes with channels tuned properly. We will also take back the old ones plus provide warranty for the new devices. We hope that these arrangements will provide a better service for them.

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

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 is 105.6 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (January 15). 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;
– 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 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 about 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 diversions will be implemented from about 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;
– 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 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. read more