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SCED meets with textiles and garment sector on improvements to electoral system of Hong Kong (with photos)

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, today (April 9) briefed representatives from the textiles and garment sector on the amended Annex I to the Basic Law on Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Annex II to the Basic Law on Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and its Voting Procedures as approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

     At the meeting, Mr Yau reiterated the necessity and urgency of improving the electoral system, highlighting its importance to creating a stable business environment and ensuring Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. He called on them to fully support the relevant amendments.

     Mr Yau stressed that by improving the electoral system, the excessive politicisation in society and the internal rifts that have torn Hong Kong apart can be effectively mitigated, thereby enhancing the governance capability of the HKSAR. The HKSAR will then be able to focus on addressing economic and livelihood issues, and developing the economy to achieve long-term prosperity and stability through leveraging its unique advantages and the staunch support of the Central Authorities.

     Mr Yau will give briefings for the telecommunications, broadcasting, film and performing arts, and publishing sectors on the relevant amendments next week.

Photo  Photo  
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East Asia

Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 9) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).
 
     Thirty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:

Big Wave Bay Beach* Lo So Shing Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Middle Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Pui O Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Repulse Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach* Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach* Silverstrand Beach*
Discovery Bay South Bay Beach
Golden Beach* St Stephen’s Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach* Stanley Main Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach* Tong Fuk Beach
Kadoorie Beach Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
 
Grade 2 beaches are:
Approach Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Butterfly Beach* Lido Beach*
Casam Beach* Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Castle Peak Beach Ting Kau Beach
 
Grade 3 beach is:
Anglers’ Beach  
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Butterfly Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
 
     “The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” an EPD spokesman said.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has resumed lifeguard services at 15 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from April 2.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service. read more

East Asia