The Town Planning Board announced today (February 11) that the Chief Executive in Council has referred the approved Tseng Lan Shue Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) and the approved Tsing Yi OZP to the Board for amendment to reflect the latest land use proposals.

     Each OZP incorporating the respective amendment(s) will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.

     The Tseng Lan Shue OZP and the Tsing Yi OZP were last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in March 2006 and March 2020 respectively.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 11) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming (see Note).       
   
     Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

 
     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: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that all gazetted beaches were closed from December 10, 2020, until further notice.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, February 11, 2021 is 100.2 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     In view of the latest developments of the epidemic situation, offices of the Education Bureau (EDB) will fully resume normal public services from next Thursday (February 18).
     
     A spokesman for the EDB said today (February 11) that all Regional Education Offices, the Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres, the School Places Allocation Section, the Qualifications Framework Secretariat, the Teacher Registration Team and other service units will resume normal public services starting from next Thursday.

     In light of the need for epidemic prevention and control, all offices will carry out targeted measures to reduce flows of people and social contact. Members of the public are encouraged to receive the services they need by phone, post and electronic means. 

     The following public facilities of the EDB will remain closed to the public temporarily until further notice:

– Hong Kong Teachers' Centre, Central Resources Centre and Young Achievers' Gallery located at Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Coin Carts will resume service with effect from February 18 (Thursday), and will visit the following locations between February 18 and 21:
 

 
     The service schedules of the two Coin Carts for the period between February 18 and May 23 have also been posted on the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) website (coincollection.hkma.gov.hk).
 
     In compiling future service schedules, the HKMA will arrange the Coin Carts to visit locations in the schedules cancelled during the period between December 2, 2020 and February 17, 2021, subject to approval by relevant authorities.