The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (July 12) that from July 27 (Saturday) to September 23, 2019 (Monday), Hong Kong residents born in 1964 or 1965 should apply for a new smart identity card in person at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC). The SIDCCs will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).
 
     The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart identity cards in person at SIDCCs during their specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in Hong Kong. Employers of foreign domestic helpers should also arrange for their helpers to apply for the new identity cards during the latter's specified periods.
 
     Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. To make an appointment booking via the Internet or to download the mobile application, please scan the attached QR codes. The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the Internet or mobile application in order to enjoy faster service. Applicants need to bring along their existing smart identity cards when they proceed to the SIDCCs.
 
     For this replacement exercise, the ImmD is implementing a new caring arrangement under which eligible applicants may bring along up to two family members or friends aged 65 or above to replace their smart identity cards together during the same visit.
 
     For Hong Kong residents born in 1966 or 1967, their specified period for identity card replacement will end on July 26, 2019 (Friday). Those who have not applied for the new identity card should do so as early as possible in order to avoid a last-minute rush. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.
 
     For details of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the enquiry hotline 2824 6111.
 
Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

     Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 12) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, the lifesaving services at Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District have been suspended until further notice.

     First aid services will be maintained at the beach.

     Members of the Land and Development Advisory Committee (LDAC) were briefed by the Civil Engineering and Development Department on the work done and planned by the inter-departmental Climate Change Working Group on Infrastructure (CCWGI), and by the Development Bureau (DEVB) on the development of the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) in Hong Kong in a meeting held in the afternoon on July 11.
 
     Members noted that the CCWGI, formed in June 2016 under the directive of the Steering Committee on Climate Change chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, had been co-ordinating efforts among works departments in combating adverse effects of climate change on government infrastructure. The CCWGI had revised the parameters on sea level, rainfall and wind speed for the design of government infrastructure in the relevant design standards, taking into account the findings of the Fifth Assessment Report published by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2013 and the Paris Agreement in 2015. The CCWGI had already commissioned several consultancy studies, including a strategic study to identify the scope of enhancement works in strengthening the resilience of existing government critical infrastructure, and will soon conduct further studies covering a frequency analysis of extreme sea levels and sensitivity checks on the potential impact on the coastal government critical infrastructure if hit directly by simulated super typhoons. Members welcomed the Government's timely initiative in commencing the relevant reviews and studies, and agreed that continuous efforts should be made, including conducting more in-depth studies to predict the adverse effects of climate change and exploring the extent to which the findings and follow-up measures might be applied to private developments.
 
     The DEVB aims to roll out the CSDI for public use by the end of 2022, and the 3D digital map will be made available in phases from late 2019 to 2023, subject to funding approval from the Legislative Council Finance Committee for the $300 million earmarked in the 2019-20 Budget. Members were briefed on the benefits of the CSDI in terms of open and transparent data, and its ability to boost the digital economy, enhance data-driven decision-making in the Government, spur innovation and improve quality of life for the community. They welcomed the CSDI initiative and said they would like the project to be taken forward as quickly as possible and supported the DEVB's application for funding from the Legislative Council. Taking note of the CSDI's initial focus on spatial data owned by the DEVB's family of departments, Members supported the need to diversify data sources to include data that is highly relevant to citizens' daily lives such as data related to welfare services units and real-time public transport information. They also highlighted the need to engage stakeholders in the early stage, to ensure web accessibility and user-friendliness, and to address concerns over data privacy and intellectual property. These views will be taken fully into account by the DEVB as it continues to develop the CSDI.

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 said today (July 12) that because of an oil spill, the red flag has been hoisted at Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. The beach has been closed until further notice. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Government gazetted today (July 12) the proposed road improvement works at Container Port Road South and Tsing Yi Road in Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. The proposed works serve to enhance the efficiency of the existing roundabouts and their associated road networks, which will improve the traffic conditions in meeting future traffic demand.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Kwai Tsing Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, 
2/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices Building, 
166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories

District Lands Office, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing, 
10/F, Tsuen Wan Multi-storey Carpark Building, 
174-208 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories

     The gazette notice, scheme, plans and location plan will be available at
www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.

     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau's drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than September 10, 2019.