The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (July 24).

     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
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Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
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Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:
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Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     The tender result for the site on Cheung Man Road, Chai Wan for development under the Private Subsidised Sale Flat Pilot Scheme was announced today (July 24). By the tender closing last Friday (July 19), the Government had received one tender, which was rejected as the tendered premium did not meet the Government's reserve price for the Site.
 
     The Government is committed to providing more subsidised housing and enriching the housing ladder to meet the public's home ownership aspirations. To this end, the Government announced the policy framework of the Pilot Scheme in the middle of last year for private developers to participate in the development of subsidised sale flats (SSFs), with a view to enhancing the overall development capacity by leveraging market forces. There are two approaches for development under the Pilot Scheme, namely the public tendering approach and the private land approach. The Government indicated earlier that three sites would be put up for tender in batches from 2023/24 onwards under the public tendering approach, and the Site is the first one put up for public tender with the tender invitation on March 28 and the tender closing on July 19 this year.
 
     "The policy framework of the Pilot Scheme has been formulated upon overall consideration of various factors, including provision of more choices of SSFs for the public, positioning of private SSFs in the housing ladder, attractiveness to private developers, etc., and has also reflected the views of stakeholders. The key parameters of the Pilot Scheme have been clearly set out under the policy framework, and relevant requirements have been reflected in the land sale conditions. We believe that the arrangements have already provided sufficient incentives for developers' participation while ensuring flat quality.
 
     "Of a moderate scale of development, the Site would enable the provision of not less than 700 private SSFs. Pursuant to the policy framework of the Pilot Scheme, the flats are to be sold at 65 per cent of the market prices (i.e. at a discount of 35 per cent), which has been taken into account in the Lands Department's assessment of the reserve price for the Site. Having regard to its urban location and close proximity to an MTR station, we consider the Site suitable for developers to participate in the development of private SSFs under the Pilot Scheme," a Government spokesman said.

     As with other land sale sites tendered by the Government, tenderers' bids are influenced by a myriad of factors, such as how individual tenderers assess the market conditions and the attractiveness of the site, as well as their corporate positions and development strategies.
 
     "The Government will continue to provide more subsidised housing and enrich the housing ladder. We will also keep in view the market development, and review in due course if there is a need to adjust some of the key parameters of the Pilot Scheme as well as future tender arrangements for sites under the Pilot Scheme. We will also continue to encourage private developers to participate in the Pilot Scheme under the private land approach," the spokesman said.

     The Lands Department announced today (July 24) that one tender received for the sale of a residential site in Chai Wan Inland Lot No. 185 on Cheung Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, had been rejected, as the tendered premium did not meet the Government's reserve price for the Site. The tenderer was Able Best Limited (parent company: Able Engineering Holdings Limited).

     The Site is disposed of in the open market under the established mechanism. The Government will not sell a site if no bid reaches the reserve price as assessed by the Government's professional valuers. This is in the interest of protecting public revenue. The reserve price is set on the day of tender closure, so that the latest market conditions are taken into account.

     The Government will not speculate on the considerations behind the bids placed by tenderers. Bids are influenced by a myriad of factors, such as how individual tenderers assess the attractiveness of the site and the market conditions, as well as their corporate positions and development strategies.

     The Site has an area of about 5 213 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes. The minimum gross floor area for private residential purposes is 30 016 sq m and the maximum gross floor area for private residential purposes that may be attained is 41 704 sq m. The maximum gross floor area for non-industrial (excluding private residential, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes is computed according to the relevant special condition in the Conditions of Sale. Both the total gross floor area and that for non-industrial (excluding private residential, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes shall include the gross floor area of Government Accommodation, being a day care centre for the elderly and a centre for home care services for frail elderly persons, to be constructed by the purchaser under the Conditions of Sale. Not less than 700 residential units shall be developed within the lot under the Private Subsidised Sale Flats Pilot Scheme. The tender closed on July 19.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital (HKBH) made the following announcement today (July 24):
 
     An 89-year-old male patient in a medicine ward of HKBH was confirmed to carry Candida auris on July 19. In accordance with the prevailing guideline, HKBH has conducted contact tracing and found two more male patients, aged 83 and 84, carrying Candida auris. The three patients are now being treated in isolation with stable condition.
 
     The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
 
1. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned.
 
     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
 
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 is is 106.4 (same as yesterday's index).