The Highways Department (HyD) today (July 26) signed a contract with Bouygues Travaux Publics for the central tunnel under the Central Kowloon Route (CKR) project. The works mainly comprise the construction of an approximately 2.8-kilometre dual 3-lane CKR central tunnel; the construction of approximately 41 metres and 33m cut-and-cover tunnels in Yau Ma Tei and Ma Tau Kok respectively; the construction of a ventilation shaft, an adit and foundation for a ventilation building in Ho Man Tin; and other associated works. The forecast total of the costs is about $6.226 billion.
 
     The Director of Highways, Mr Jimmy Chan, said at the contract signing ceremony that the contract for the central tunnel is the highest value New Engineering Contract (NEC) adopting a target cost contract option awarded by the Government so far. The NEC emphasises mutual trust and co-operation between the contracting parties and has provisions to enhance cost effectiveness and reduce risk.
 
     The CKR will be a 4.7 km dual three-lane strategic trunk road in Central Kowloon linking the Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon with the road network of the Kai Tak Development and Kowloon Bay in East Kowloon. The CKR, anticipated to be commissioned in 2025, will relieve traffic congestion in the Central Kowloon road network. It is estimated that the journey time between Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay during peak hours will be reduced to about five minutes. A total of six works contracts including the present one have been awarded under the CKR project with a total value of about $23.2 billion.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

        In light of possible mass gathering activities in Yuen Long tomorrow (July 27), the Hospital Authority (HA) announces the following service arrangements today (July 26):
 
       The Yuen Long Donor Centre of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Centre (BTS), located at Yuen Long Landmark will be closed tomorrow. Blood donors can choose other donor centres. Please visit the BTS website www5.ha.org.hk/rcbts/hkindex.asp for details.
 
       In addition, service at the Yuen Long Shui Pin Wai Estate Community Nursing Centre of the New Territories West Cluster (NTWC) at Ying Shui House of Yuen Long Shui Pin Wai Estate will also be temporarily suspended tomorrow. The Centre has already contacted patients with appointments scheduled tomorrow for rescheduling arrangements.
     
     The NTWC has also arranged designated transportation and residences for staff in need. Clinical placements for student nurses in the five hospitals of the Cluster (Tuen Mun Hospital, Po Oi Hospital, Tin Shui Wai Hospital, Castle Peak Hospital and Siu Lam Hospital) has been rearranged.  Student nurses are not required to report for duty at the said hospitals this weekend.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Services), Mr Lam Ka-tai, and the Assistant Commissioner for Transport (New Territories), Ms Stella Lee, at a media session today (July 26):
       
Reporter: Chief Secretary, do you feel that the police had, sort of, succumbed to the threat made by rural communities in Yuen Long and that’s why they are banning the protest tomorrow? And is the government expecting any violent clashes tomorrow? And secondly, given the rather huge consensus in society that they want the government to set up a CoI to look into what happened in the past month, would the government consider revisit your decision? Thank you.
 
Chief Secretary for Administration: The police has already explained clearly yesterday the reasons why they objected to the application primarily on safety grounds and also in light of the local circumstances. No question of succumbing to any pressure at all. It’s always in the public interest, in overall safety of Hong Kong residents, particularly people living in Yuen Long. As you can see, Heung Yee Kuk and the District Council also expressed grave concern over the situation. So that’s why I am here. The appeal board is meeting at the moment, so irrespective of the outcome, as you can see we have taken a very serious attitude towards tomorrow’s move, whether there is a procession or not, we can’t rule out the possibility of a large number of people turning up. As I said, if the appeal board upholds the decision of the police, then the procession is not lawful. So I just remind participants that you know, do take this fully into account and also their own safety is very important. The second question is you asked about police performance basically, is that right?
 
Reporter: No, my second question was about- will the government revisit its decision …
 
Chief Secretary for Administration: Oh I see. The question of the CoI has been thoroughly explained before. We believe that it is better at this stage to pursue the idea through the existing mechanism of the Independent Police Complaints Council- the IPCC,  as this is an established mechanism operating on the basis of the findings of CAPO – Complaints Against Police Office. But I must say that we are fully aware of these public sentiments – a very strong body of opinion in the public sector urging the government to establish a commission. So we are engaged now, if I put it rightly, in a reflective process on the whole issue – put it this way. But our position has been explained clearly that we believe it is better to be done, pursued, through the existing mechanism.
  
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) 
 
 

     The Government today (July 26) promulgated the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy (Cancer Strategy) with a view to reducing the cancer burden of the local population and improving the quality of life and survivorship of cancer patients through setting work priorities and directions.
 
     Speaking at a press conference, the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said the Government is committed to stepping up the prevention and control of cancer. The Cancer Strategy is the first holistic plan for cancer prevention and control for Hong Kong. The goal is to reduce the hit rate of cancer, to provide effective and timely cancer screening and treatment to all in need, and to offer reassuring survivorship support services to survivors and their carers.
 
     "The Cancer Strategy focuses on the policy and the work on cancer prevention and control, which is in line with the Government's commitment in developing primary healthcare. Through people-oriented measures, allocation of resources and collaboration with community partners, we seek to enhance cancer prevention and to reduce the agony and anxieties among those who are affected by cancer," she said.
 
     Cancer is the top killer in Hong Kong. In 2018, cancer claimed over 14 000 lives (provisional figure), accounting for about one-third of the total deaths of the local population. In view of the overall rising trend in incidences of cancers and having regard to the World Health Organization's recommendations, international practices and local situations, the Cancer Coordinating Committee (the Committee) chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health, consolidated and enhanced a comprehensive strategy on cancer prevention and control.
 
     The directions laid down in the Cancer Strategy include reducing risk factors leading to cancer and providing evidence-based screening; seeking early detection and diagnosis; offering timely and effective treatment; strengthening survivorship support to cancer survivors; providing palliative and end-of-life care; investing in technology; enhancing the collaboration among relevant bureaux, government departments, the Hospital Authority, community organisations and civil society; as well as enhancing surveillance and research capabilities. The goal is to better prevent and control various cancers through these directions.
 
     Professor Chan said, "The promulgation of the Cancer Strategy is an important milestone in our united fight against cancer. It is neither the end nor the beginning. I would like to thank members of the Committee, a number of experts and professionals, various organisations and their representatives for their valuable insights and efforts. I hope the community would continue to support the implementation of the Cancer Strategy."
 
     Phased outcomes in the seven aspects of the Cancer Strategy, namely cancer surveillance, prevention and screening, early detection and diagnosis, timely and effective treatment, technology and support, survivorship and palliative care as well as cancer research, are expected to be achieved by 2025. The details are set out in the Annex.
 
     The Committee was established in 2001 comprising cancer experts and doctors from the public and private sectors, academics and public health professionals, to advise the formulation of strategies on cancer prevention and control, and steer the direction of work covering prevention and screening, treatment, surveillance and research.
 
     The Cancer Strategy is available at Food and Health Bureau's website (www.fhb.gov.hk/en/press_and_publications/otherinfo/190700_hkcs/index.html).

     A spokesperson for the Civil Service Bureau said that the Government received Report No. 61 of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service on the Grade Structure Review for the Veterinary Laboratory Technician (VLT) grade of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) grade of Department of Health (DH) today (July 26).

     "In view of the serious recruitment and retention difficulties faced by the VLT grade, the Government has invited the Standing Commission to conduct a grade structure review for the grade as well as the MLT grade which has similar job nature, grade structure and qualification requirements as those of the VLT grade. The Government is very thankful to the Standing Commission for the time and effort it has dedicated to this review," the spokesperson said.
    
     "The Government will examine the review findings and recommendations, and consult relevant stakeholders including the departmental management of AFCD and DH, as well as the staff side of the grades concerned," the spokesperson continued.

     "Upon receipt of the views of the stakeholders concerned, the Government will submit its recommendations on the way forward to the Chief Executive-in-Council for a final decision. The approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council will be sought should there be any change to the pay and grade structure of the abovementioned two grades," the spokesperson added.

     The Standing Commission advises and makes recommendations to the Government on the principles and practices governing pay, conditions of service and salary structure of non-directorate civil service (excluding judicial officers and disciplined services staff).