The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 30) appealed to members of the public to keep venues clean and mind their safety while celebrating New Year's Eve.
 
     The LCSD will work with other government departments to implement a series of measures on New Year's Eve to maintain cleanliness and safety at LCSD venues including Tamar Park, Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Salisbury Garden, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Avenue of Stars, Middle Road Children's Playground, Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden and Urban Council Centenary Garden, where large crowds are expected to participate in countdown and celebration activities.
 
     An LCSD spokesman said, "Our staff, together with law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will step up patrols and take action against littering, illegal hawking and vandalism of public property.
 
     "People are urged to keep places clean and tidy while celebrating New Year's Eve. Defacing and damaging public property is prohibited at all venues. People should take away all their belongings when departing the venues and should not leave trash behind. Those who litter will be liable to a fine of $1,500.
 
     "In crowded areas, people should remain calm and be mindful of their own safety," he added.
 
     The public announcement systems at the HKCC will also broadcast anti-littering and crowd management messages in Cantonese, Putonghua and English on a regular basis during the holiday.

     Police today (December 30) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Aberdeen.

     Chan Tsz-wa, aged 32, went missing after she left her residence in Wah Fu Estate on December 26 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.5 metres tall, 55 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a pair of rimless glasses, a grey jacket, grey trousers, white shoes and carrying a black rucksack and a green recycle bag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040, 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 30) reminded the public to take note of the special traffic and transport arrangements to be implemented on New Year's Eve (December 31) to facilitate holiday celebrations. Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services as far as possible.

     Depending on the crowd situation, road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases from 2pm on New Year's Eve in Central, Wan Chai North and Causeway Bay. There will also be road closure arrangements in the vicinity of Victoria Park for the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo. Roads in the vicinity of the main shopping and entertainment areas are expected to be busier than usual before the holiday.

     The MTR Island Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, Tung Chung Line, East Rail Line (except to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau), Ma On Shan Line, West Rail Line, South Island Line and Light Rail Routes 505, 507, 610, 614P, 615P, 706 and 751 will operate around the clock on December 31.
 
     Some bus and minibus services will be extended or augmented on New Year's Eve. Hong Kong Tramways and the Central to Mid-Levels escalator and walkway system will also provide extended services. In addition, the ferry service between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui will be extended.

     The public are advised to make use of public transport and avoid driving to busy areas. If driving is necessary, motorists are advised to drive with care and patience and should be aware that on-street parking spaces will be suspended due to road closures and traffic diversion arrangements. Pedestrians are advised walk on the pavement, pay attention to road safety, be considerate and patient, observe traffic lights and follow advice or instructions given by the Police.

     The TD reminds the public that many public transport passengers are expected to travel via the land boundary control points during the holiday period. Cross-boundary passengers are advised to plan their journeys in advance and consider making their journeys during non-peak hours. As the waiting time for public transport services may be longer than usual if traffic is busy at the control points, passengers should remain orderly and heed advice from police on site and staff of the public transport service operators concerned. 

     The TD and the Police will closely monitor local and cross-boundary traffic during the holidays and take appropriate action as necessary. 

     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements on New Year's Eve will be available at the department's website (www.td.gov.hk).

     The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a Staff Report today (December 30) which, substantiated by a more detailed analysis, reinforces its assessment of Hong Kong's economic and financial positions published on December 4, 2019, following the conclusion of the annual Article IV consultation.
 
     Affirming Hong Kong's position as a global financial centre and a regional trading hub with one of the most open economies in the world, the IMF recognises that Hong Kong continues to maintain its competitiveness in the financial sector which is marked by the free movement of capital and information, a simple tax system, a sound regulatory system, the rule of law and quality professional services. The IMF notes that Hong Kong is well placed to address both cyclical and structural challenges given its significant buffers, despite weakened economic activity and mounting headwinds on the growth outlook. The IMF welcomes the Government's recent introduction of fiscal stimuli to support the economy. It also supports the Government's three-pronged approach to containing housing market risks and increasing housing affordability. The IMF commends Hong Kong for its strong regulatory framework and prudential supervision, which helps ensure the resilience of the financial sector and safeguard financial stability. The IMF also reaffirms its long-standing support for the Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS) as an anchor of financial stability for Hong Kong. 
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "We welcome the IMF's recognition of the robust policy frameworks and ample buffers we have built over the past years, which stand us in good stead to weather the challenges ahead. The Government stands ready to make use of our fiscal buffers to support the economy as and when needed."
 
     The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "The IMF's assessment once again confirms the robustness of our financial system and its resilience to potential shocks. We also welcome the IMF's unequivocal endorsement of the LERS and its smooth functioning."
 
     The IMF Mission visited Hong Kong from October 23 to November 4, 2019, to conduct the annual IMF Article IV consultation. The Concluding Statement of the Mission's assessment was published on December 4, 2019. The Staff Report was considered and endorsed by the IMF Executive Board on December 13, 2019.
 
     The IMF's press release on the Staff Report is attached in the Annex. The Staff Report can be accessed from the websites of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (www.fstb.gov.hk) and the IMF (www.imf.org).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson reminds members of the public today (December 30) that 13 general out-patient clinics (see table below) under the HA will continue to provide services on the New Year holiday this Wednesday (January 1). Members of the public requiring medical consultation may make advance bookings for an appointment through the telephone appointment system as usual.
 
     The Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments in public hospitals will also operate as usual during the holiday to serve patients with urgent medical needs. Amid the winter service surge at public hospitals and the expected increase in A&E attendance on the first working day following the holiday, A&E departments will accord priority treatment to patients with critical and emergency conditions as assessed under the established triage system, while semi-urgent and non-urgent patients might have to wait longer for consultation.
 
     HA appeals to the public for their understanding and co-operation while waiting for consultations. Non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultations at general out-patient clinics, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals. To help find the appropriate family medicine doctor and related clinic service of their choice, the public are welcome to browse the Primary Care Directory of the Food and Health Bureau at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk .
 
     To facilitate public understanding of public hospital services during the winter surge, HA has launched a designated page on its website (www.ha.org.hk/goto/wintersurge/en) and also the mobile app "HA Touch" to provide some key information including A&E waiting times, A&E attendances, medical in-patient bed occupancy rates and a hyperlink to the websites of private healthcare services.

Public holiday clinics
 

 
Consultation hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm