The Department of Health (DH) today (November 20) announced that owing to disruptions in transportation services, some DH clinic services will be affected. The department will try its best to resume normal service as soon as possible.
 
     If those with appointments may not be able to attend their scheduled consultation due to possible traffic disruptions at various districts, they can call the clinics to reschedule the appointments later. There is no need to worry and rush for the consultation appointments.

     Please visit the following website for the information of DH clinics: www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc.html.

     â€‹The Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) of the Social Welfare Department has created a Facebook page for the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project (3E Project) (@MCOR.3EProject) to enhance public understanding of the project.
      
     The Facebook page introduces social enterprises funded by the 3E Project on a regular basis and disseminates messages on 3E Project-related marketing activities and promotional offers. It offers a platform for social enterprises to reach out to the public.
      
     Meanwhile, the website of the Office (www.mcor.swd.gov.hk) has been revamped and now supports responsive web design. The contents and graphics will adjust automatically to fit various devices. Furthermore, members of the public may "like" their favourite social enterprises funded by the 3E Project and look for products and services provided by them and other rehabilitation service units using the search function.
      
     Through the payment of grants as seed money to applicants, the 3E Project aims to support bona-fide charitable non-governmental organisations to set up small enterprises to create work opportunities for persons with disabilities through a market-driven approach. Since the launch of the 3E Project in 2001, around $127.4 million has been granted for setting up 124 social enterprises in four areas, namely food and catering, retail, professional and cleaning services.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (November 20) appealed to members of the public to pay attention to the traffic situation and the latest public transport service arrangement this morning before starting their journey.

     As at 6am today, the latest public transport situation is as follows:

(I) MTR

     All MTR lines maintain services today. Except the Airport Express Line, the train service will end at 11pm.

     Hung Hom and University stations are closed. Entrances/Exits at some stations will also be closed. Train services may be suspended or adjusted due to incidents. Members of the public are advised to continue to stay tuned to the latest traffic news.

     From start of service, East Rail Line service will be provided between Mong Kok East and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau stations (not stopping at University Station). Free shuttle bus service running between Tai Po Market and Kam Sheung Road stations will be arranged during morning and evening peak periods.

     West Rail Line service will end at East Tsim Sha Tsui Station.

     Light Rail Route 751P is substituted by Route 706. Routes 614, 614P, 751 and 761P will be diverted. Route 751 will not stop at Chestwood and Yau Oi stops.

(II) Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnel

     Due to the damage to the facilities of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT), the tunnel cannot be reopened within a short period of time. To assist members of the public to commute, the TD has co-ordinated with franchised bus and ferry operators to strengthen the following services:

(a) Cross harbour bus services include the following eight routes operating via the CHT will be rerouted to the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) or the Western Harbour Tunnel (WHC):

Routes via the EHC
1) Route 101X: Kwun Tong (Yue Man Square) – Kennedy Town (Central and Western District)
2) Route 108: Kai Yip (Kowloon City) – Braemar Hill (Eastern District)
3) Route 111: Ping Shek (Kwun Tong) – Central
4) Route 115: Kowloon City Ferry Pier (Kowloon City) – Central
5) Route 116: Tsz Wan Shan (Wong Tai Sin) – Quarry Bay (Eastern District)
6) Route 118: Cheung Sha Wan (Sham Shui Po) – Siu Sai Wan (Eastern District)
7) Route 182: Yu Chui Court (Sha Tin) – Central

Route via the WHC
8) Route 118P: Cheung Sha Wan (Sham Shui Po) – Siu Sai Wan (Eastern District) (peak-only service)

(b) Special free ferry services include the following two routes:

(1) Between Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier and Wan Chai Public Pier (near Golden Bauhinia Square); and
(2) Between Ma Tau Kok Public Pier in Kowloon City and Wan Chai Public Pier (near Golden Bauhinia Square).

     The service hours of the two routes are from 7am to 7pm with a headway of 30 minutes during peak hours. To meet the demand and provide alternative for passengers, franchised bus operators will arrange special departures (Route 115) at Kowloon City Ferry Pier Bus Terminus via the EHC to Central.

(c) Special Bus Route 6M will run between Kowloon City Ferry Pier Bus Terminus and Ho Man Tin Station (Circular) (via To Kwan Wan Road) during peak hours for passengers to interchange with MTR.

(III) Bus services in New Territories East

     In view of the closure of University Station of East Rail Line, the TD has strengthened the bus services from Tai Po and Ma On Shan to urban areas and arranged the following feeder buses for passengers to interchange with MTR:

(1) Route 82D: Pak Shek Kok/Science Park – Tai Wai Station (peak hours only)
(2) Route 274S: Wu Kai Sha – Tai Po Market Station (via Pak Shek Kok/Science Park) (service will be available from 9am to 7pm from November 21)

     As traffic conditions and railway services may change within a short period of time, the TD urges commuters using public transport services to allow more travelling time and plan their journey in advance. Details of the latest traffic news are available at TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/home/index.html) or mobile application "HKeMobility".

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     "The Social Welfare Department announces that as there are still uncertain factors affecting the roads and traffic conditions, members of the public are advised not to take their children or family members to child care centres, centres providing after school care programmes, elderly services centres or day rehabilitation units including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres and day activity centres today (November 20). These centres will, however, remain open during their normal operating hours to serve those whose families cannot provide alternative care for them. Members of the public who have the need for the services mentioned may contact the service units concerned in advance."

     There were online rumours that stampede occurred during the operation in Yau Ma Tei on November 18, resulting in mass injuries. Police clarify that no stampede occurred during the period.

     In fact, thousands of rioters hurled bricks and petrol bombs at Police officers at that time, and the situation was pressing. Police conducted dispersal operation after reinforcement, and a number of fleeing rioters fell down on Pitt Street near Yau Ma Tei MTR Exit. Police swiftly controlled the scene and arrested 213 persons, 30 of them claimed to be sick and were sent to hospital. The situation at scene does not match with the stampede rumour.