â€‹In view of the recent strong earthquake that occurred in Sagaing Region of Myanmar, which resulted in serious casualties and infrastructure damage, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been working in close communication with the Consulate General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, and has co-ordinated and collected a batch of emergency relief supplies in response to the urgent needs of the disaster-stricken areas. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended a donation ceremony at Hong Kong International Airport today (April 3) to hand over the relief supplies to the Consul-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, and immediately arranged for their delivery to the disaster-stricken areas to meet the immediate needs of the people affected.

     Over 20 tonnes of relief supplies, including key items such as food, drinking water, medical kits and temporary accommodation materials were collected swiftly and in accordance with the specific needs of the disaster-stricken areas through the co-operation and co-ordination of different government departments. A portion of the relief supplies were donated by the local community.

     Mr Chan remarked that the HKSAR Government fully supports disaster relief for the earthquake in Myanmar, and the supplies carry the HKSAR's support and blessings to the disaster-stricken areas. He expressed his sincere hope that the relief efforts will tide local people over this period of difficulties so that they can resume a normal life as soon as possible. Mr Chan added that the HKSAR Government will continue to monitor the latest situation in Myanmar closely and provide further support as needed.

     Also attending the ceremony were the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; and the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming.

     The HKSAR Government has activated the Disaster Relief Fund mechanism previously and has liaised closely with various relief organisations. It has given in-principle approval for grants totalling about $30 million to seven organisations. All seven organisations have extensive experience in implementing disaster relief projects. A list of the organisations with the grants approved is in the Annex.   

     The HKSAR Government will continue its close contact with the organisations concerned to ensure early confirmation of the detailed relief programmes to provide necessary and appropriate assistance to people affected, help the disaster-stricken areas overcome difficulties and resume a normal life as soon as possible.

      

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (April 3) that, as advised by airlines, mail delivery services to Germany previously impacted by a strike at the airports have returned to normal.

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (April 3) that, as advised by the postal administration of Canada, mail delivery services previously impacted by the strike of postal workers have returned to normal.

     With the long weekend of Ching Ming Festival holiday approaching, Hong Kong Customs today (April 3) reminded members of the public and travellers not to bring "space oil drug" into or out of Hong Kong in order to avoid breaching the law and incurring criminal liabilities.
 
　　To step up the control of the "space oil drug", the Government has listed etomidate, the main ingredient of the "space oil drug" and its three analogues (metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate) as dangerous drugs.
 
　　A spokesman for Hong Kong Customs said, "With the long weekend of the Ching Ming Festival holiday approaching, we will take more stringent enforcement actions against cross-boundary trafficking of the 'space oil drug' and other narcotics activities. Hong Kong Customs will not tolerate drug trafficking criminals and will bring them to justice."
 
　　Drug trafficking is a serious offence. Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million. The maximum penalty upon conviction for possession of dangerous drugs is imprisonment for seven years and a fine of $1 million.
 
    With a view to enhancing enforcement efficiency, Customs has incorporated etomidate and its analogues into the databases of raman spectrometers and ion scanners to increase frontline personnel's capability in detecting the "space oil drug". Customs will continue to work closely with Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies to stringently combat cross-boundary drug trafficking activities. 

    Members of the public are urged to report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) and online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

     The Transport Department (TD) today (April 3) reminded members of the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in phases from this Friday to Sunday (April 4 to 6) to facilitate the holding of the triathlon event in Central and Wan Chai districts.
 
1. Road closures
 

• From 10am on Friday (April 4) to about 6pm on Sunday (April 6), the section of Expo Drive between Legislative Council Road and Expo Drive Central will be temporarily closed; and
• From 1am to about 2pm on Saturday (April 5) and from 1am to about 6pm on Sunday (April 6), road closure and diversion measures will be implemented in the vicinities of the Central Harbourfront and Wan Chai North (Yiu Sing Street, Lung Wo Road, Lung Hop Street, Lung Tat Path, etc). The slip road of eastbound Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel from Wan Chai heading to North Point will also be temporarily closed during the above period.

 
2. Public transport arrangements

     To tie in with the road closure arrangements in the vicinity of Central Harbourfront, the departures of cross-harbour bus route nos. H1S and H2 heading to Central will be temporarily diverted to operate via Connaught Road Central in the following time periods until the closed road is reopened to traffic:
 

• from the first departure on Saturday (April 5) to about 2pm; and
• from the first departure on Sunday (April 6) to about 6pm.

     During the road closure in Central Harbourfront, the bus stop on Man Yiu Street near Two International Finance Centre will be temporarily suspended.
 
     Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services as far as possible to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delays. During the event, the TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation. The Police may adjust the traffic arrangements subject to the prevailing crowd and traffic conditions in the areas. Members of the public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or the "HKeMobility" mobile application.
 
     For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD website (www.td.gov.hk), its mobile application "HKeMobility" or passenger notices issued by the relevant public transport operators.