Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (February 20). 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;
– Vehicles from 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 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 arrangements will be implemented from 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;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic on 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.

     A business seminar featuring senior government officials and business and legal executives on the business opportunities that Hong Kong offers has highlighted the city's strategic roles and advantages in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The seminar was held in Miami today (February 19, Miami time) by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) and Invest Hong Kong and was the first of its kind in the city. 

     In the opening, the Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Mr Eddie Mak, said that with Hong Kong's deepening economic integration with the Mainland, the Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative offer enormous potential in trade, investment and commerce for US businesses.

     In 2017, Florida exported US$738 million worth of goods to Hong Kong, making the city the third largest Asian export destination for the Sunshine State.

     Mr Mak pointed out that Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" arrangement, along its rule of law and independent judiciary, free market mechanism, low tax regime and free flow of capital and information, makes it the ideal international city to connect the Mainland with the rest of the world, including Florida and other parts of the US.

     The speakers described business opportunities emerging in Hong Kong and Mainland China for southern Florida companies as well as possibilities for Asian companies to invest in assets and other opportunities in Miami-Dade County. They also shed light on how to plan for international expansion and how to access existing resources when going overseas. They included the Chair of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Ms Penny Shaffer; the President of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Mr Mike Finney; the Managing Partner of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, Mr Thomas G Travis; the President of Swire Properties Inc, Mr Kieran Bowers; and the Vice President of Enterprise Florida, Mr Z Joe Kulenovich.

     The seminar was followed by a Chinese New Year reception hosted by HKETONY. Welcoming guests, the Director of HKETONY, Ms Joanne Chu, highlighted the various opportunities Hong Kong has to offer to the various business sectors, including financial services, innovation and technology, professional services, logistics and the creative industries.

      

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     The Marine Department today (February 20) reminded masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in Hong Kong waters to proceed at a safe speed and exercise extreme caution because restricted visibility of less than 2 nautical miles has been reported.

     Appropriate sound signals shall be made when underway or at anchor. All vessels must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea.

     Also, when radar is used without the benefit of adequate plotting facilities, the information obtained from the equipment is rather limited and should be construed accordingly.

     Visibility reports are broadcast by the Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) on VHF channels 02, 12, 14, 63 and 67.

     In the event of an accident, a report shall be made immediately to the VTC at Tel: 2233 7801.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department held the Urban Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza tonight (February 19) in celebration of the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival. The carnival enhanced the festive mood for visitors with its spectacular lantern displays and a variety of activities.
 
     Colourful lanterns are lighting up the piazza, providing popular spots for photo-taking and creating a joyful ambience. The highlight is 11 palace lanterns with convex and concave shapes and a revolving lantern crafted by a local master. The illustrations on the lanterns are the creative work of local illustrator Stella So, and are inspired by the Chinese zodiac and intangible cultural heritage items of Hong Kong such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, Cantonese opera, the Hong Kong-style milk tea-making technique and more.

     Another thematic display, "Glittering Peacocks in Full Bloom", which runs until February 24, showcases eye-catching peacock lanterns including a giant peacock lantern over 5 metres tall and 15 metres long, with long glittering tail which forms an archway between two pools.
 
     Carnival-goers are also enjoying a series of performances and activities including spectacular ethnic songs, dances, martial arts, a circus show, anecdotes and a lantern riddle quiz corner. Demonstrations of Chinese folk crafts such as Xiguan copperware making, Luxi murals, juci (ceramic repair), guqin making and dough figurine crafting are also being well received.

    

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) held a reception in Jakarta, Indonesia, tonight (February 19) to celebrate Chinese New Year with the Indonesian political and business circles, academia, the media and community groups. 

     Addressing the guests, the Director-General of HKETO Jakarta, Mr Law Kin-wai, said that relations between Hong Kong and Indonesia are becoming closer than ever. He encouraged the Indonesian business sector, entrepreneurs and professionals to grasp the many opportunities offered by Hong Kong in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. Mr Law said these two national initiatives, together with the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), would serve as engines to further propel regional economic growth.

     The event was graced by the presence of the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Mr Lim Jock Hoi; the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Xiao Qian; the Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, Mr Huang Xilian; and the Regional Director of Southeast Asia and South Asia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Peter Wong. Nearly 300 distinguished guests joined the event in celebration of this traditional festival.

     HKETO Jakarta will also host Chinese New Year receptions in Medan and Surabaya, Indonesia, next week.