The Transport Department (TD) today (October 30) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Causeway Bay this Saturday and Sunday (November 3 and 4) to facilitate the holding of public parades.

     The special traffic and transport arrangements mainly include:

November 3 (Saturday)
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* From about 7.30pm to 10pm, the section of Yun Ping Road between Lan Fong Road and Kai Chiu Road and the section of Kai Chiu Road between Yun Ping Road and Lee Garden Road will be closed. During the holding of the event, the Police may adjust the traffic diversion and road closure arrangements whenever necessary.

November 4 (Sunday)
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* From about 2.15pm, Great George Street, the section of Kingston Street westbound between Paterson Street and Gloucester Road and the section of Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street will be closed. During the holding of the event, the Police may adjust the traffic diversion and road closure arrangements whenever necessary.

* During the road closure period, Citybus route A11, New World First Bus route 2, cross harbour routes 102, 106 and 307, and green minibus route 25 will be temporarily diverted. The public transport operators concerned will arrange publicity to inform passengers of the arrangements.

* The public light bus stands at Sugar Street and Paterson Street, and the taxi stands at Paterson Street will be suspended during the road closure period.

* Car parks within the road closure areas will be suspended. Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the special traffic arrangements specified above will be towed away by the Police without prior notice.

     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Causeway Bay will be significantly congested. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of the Police. Members of the public planning to go to the affected areas are advised to use public transport as far as possible.

     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television.

     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are now available on the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk).

     Two Chinese restaurants located at Lo Tak Court in Tsuen Wan emitted cooking fumes and caused environmental nuisance to nearby residents. The restaurants were convicted on October 23 and today (October 30) respectively by Fanling Magistrates' Courts for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) and were fined a total of $16,000.
      
     During the investigation of a complaint this January against the cooking emissions of a restaurant, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) found that the two restaurants concerned emitted excessive cooking fumes which affected nearby residents. The EPD then issued statutory notices under the APCO requesting them to take measures to abate the cooking fumes and odour nuisance by the deadline. The two restaurants had failed to comply with this requirement by the specified date and continued to emit visible cooking fumes, which violated the requirements of the statutory notices. The EPD then prosecuted the restaurants concerned and continued to follow up on the cases. The emission levels of the two restaurants had been improved noticeably this month.
      
     According to the APCO, restaurant operators should adopt effective remedial measures to abate excessive cooking fume emissions within a specified time limit upon receipt of a statutory notice. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.
      
     An EPD spokesman reminded members of the food business that they should properly design and install appropriate and effective air pollution control equipment in the kitchens of food premises. They should also arrange for experienced technicians to clean, check and repair the equipment regularly to ensure no visible fumes or odours are emitted, so as to avoid causing air pollution and nuisance to the public.

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 (LCSD) announced today (October 30) that Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District will reopen on November 1 (Thursday). The beach was temporarily closed earlier for clearance of debris and fallen trees as well as repairs of the shark prevention net and beach facilities after the typhoon.

     Fifteen beaches under the LCSD have been reopened recently. They are Butterfly Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Golden Beach and Kadoorie Beach in Tuen Mun District; Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach in Tsuen Wan District; Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach, Pui O Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District; and Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District.

     Meanwhile, other gazetted beaches in Southern, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts, including Deep Water Bay Beach which is normally open all year round, will remain closed until further notice as much longer time is needed for repairing beach facilities and damaged shark prevention nets or clearing debris due to the severe damage brought about by the typhoon earlier. Red flags have been hoisted at these beaches.

     The LCSD reminds members of the public not to go to the beaches that are temporarily closed, and not to swim or participate in other activities at those beaches for the sake of safety.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 is 105.9 (same as yesterday's index).

     The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) today (October 30) launched the Regulated Air Cargo Screening Facilities (RACSF) Scheme for facilitating the establishment and operation of air cargo security screening facilities at off-airport locations, and invited interested parties of the air cargo industry to enrol in the Scheme.

     To enhance the level of aviation security in view of the rising threats of terrorism around the globe, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has issued a new policy direction whereby one way to strengthen air cargo security, apart from enhancing the Regulated Agent Regime, is to have all air cargo subject to security screening by June 30, 2021.

     "Hong Kong is in full support of and has the obligation to meet the ICAO aviation security requirements. The Government has been working closely with the air cargo industry in enhancing the air cargo security regime to meet the new international aviation security requirements," a CAD spokesman said.

     Security screening of air cargo in Hong Kong now primarily takes place at the cargo terminals of the airport. To meet the new ICAO requirement and in view of Hong Kong's high volume of cargo throughput, Hong Kong's air cargo screening capacity has to gradually increase over the next few years. It is therefore necessary to allow the security screening of air cargo at off-airport locations.

     "Following trade consultation, we have introduced the RACSF Scheme, which is a new initiative to enable and regulate air cargo screening at off-airport locations. The establishment of off-airport screening facilities will enable air cargoes to be screened at the existing warehouses or similar premises of the air cargo industry before such cargoes are transported to the airport for loading onto aircraft," the spokesman said.

     The operation of off-airport air cargo screening facilities has to meet specific security requirements in terms of screening equipment, training and supervision of screening personnel, site security and so on. There are also security requirements to observe insofar as post-screening handling and transportation are concerned.

     More information about the RACSF Scheme, including the application form, is available from CAD's website (www.cad.gov.hk/english/icao2021.html). Interested parties can now submit applications to the Aviation Security Section of the Airport Standards Division of the CAD by one of the following methods:

– by mail to: Level 5, Office Building, Civil Aviation Department Headquarters, 1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong
– by fax to: 2362 4257
– by e-mail to racsf@cad.gov.hk

     The deadline for submitting applications for the initial stage is December 31, 2018.

     "Parties interested in operating off-airport air cargo screening facilities are encouraged to submit applications by the deadline of the initial stage. This is to enable the parties to secure early acceptance by the CAD," the spokesman said.