The Transport Department (TD) today (December 30) said that in view of the likely upsurge in the number of visitors to Lantau Island for leisure and outings during the upcoming New Year holiday, the TD urged members of the public to use public transport and avoid driving private cars to Tung Chung town centre as far as possible.

     According to the TD's observation, the traffic flow to Lantau Island last Sunday (December 27) had significantly increased as compared with that during typical weekends. Most of the journeys were leisure trips made by private cars which brought an extra traffic load to areas in the vicinity of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel (TM-CLK Tunnel) and Tung Chung town centre.

     The TD appealed to members of the public that there is no need to rush to drive their private cars to Lantau Island via the newly commissioned TM-CLK Tunnel and that they should use public transport as far as possible. As the parking spaces in Tung Chung town centre are limited, motorists can consider booking a parking space and parking their cars at the car parks at the Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Sunny Bay and Hong Kong Disneyland and interchange with MTR or bus services to Tung Chung. They are also strongly advised to secure a parking space before making a trip.

     The TD has requested relevant public transport operators, including the MTR and franchised bus companies, to closely monitor the change in passenger demand and consider strengthening services whenever necessary. The Police will step up traffic direction and diversion in the Tung Chung area, and will take rigorous enforcement action against illegal parking.

     For the latest traffic news, public transport and parking information, please visit the TD's homepage (www.td.gov.hk) or mobile App "HKeMobility".

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) learned that a Bureau typist has tested positive for COVID-19 on December 29.

     The typist is responsible for providing supporting services on the 23rd floor of the West Wing of the Central Government Offices in Tamar and does not have contact with members of the public in her daily work. She last performed her duties on December 17. She conducted COVID-19 testing on December 2 and 12 and the results were negative. She wore surgical masks while performing her duties and properly maintained social distancing with people she had contacted. Her body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening during work.

     The typist is a close contact of a positive case which was confirmed on December 25. She conducted a test on December 24 and the test result was negative.

     Cleaning and disinfection operations have been conducted at the concerned workplaces. In view of the positive testing result on December 29, the CEBD has arranged for colleagues on duty with the typist on December 17 to work from home. They will undergo COVID-19 testing.

     The CEDB has been concerned about the COVID-19 epidemic all along and has strictly implemented various disease prevention measures. The CEDB will continue to maintain close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection. It has also reminded its staff to pay attention to personal hygiene and stay vigilant, and if feeling unwell, to seek medical advice and inform the bureau as soon as possible.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 30) reminded members of the public that the Yau Ma Tei Multi-storey Car Park will be fully closed and cease operation permanently from January 1, 2021 (Friday), in order to facilitate the construction of the Central Kowloon Route by the Highways Department.
 
     Starting from noon on December 31 (Thursday), no entry of vehicles for hourly parking will be allowed by the Car Park contractor, while holders of valid monthly parking tickets can continue to enter and park their vehicles at the Car Park until its closure. All Car Park users are reminded to remove their vehicles from the Car Park before the closure time. Any vehicles found parked in the Car Park after 12.01am on January 1, 2021, will be towed away. Owners or drivers of the vehicles concerned should pay the appropriate parking and towing fees.
 
     Notices have been displayed in the Car Park to inform users of the closure arrangements.
 
     Motorists can use TD's mobile application "HKeMobility" to locate the car parks and on-street parking spaces in the Yau Ma Tei, Jordan and Mong Kok areas, and obtain the real-time parking vacancy information of some of the car parks, in order to find suitable parking spaces.

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (December 30) that 19 non-official members have been appointed to the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) for a term of two years from January 1, 2021.

     The new non-official members are Professor Chu Lee-man, Mr John Ho Kin-chuen, Professor Anthony Leung Kwan, Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet, Dr Charles Wong Man-sing and Mr Yiu Vor. The re-appointed non-official members are Dr Paul Barber, Mr Chan Yun-cheung, Professor Chau Kwai-cheong, Professor Leslie Chen Hung-chi, Mr Kingsley Choi Lim-cho, Mr Mark Duntemann, Mr Kevin Eckert, Dr Billy Hau Chi-hang, Mr Evans Iu Po-lung, Mr Patrick Lau Hing-tat, Dr David Lau Tai-wai, Mr Ian Shears and Dr Wong Fook-yee.

     A spokesman for the DEVB said, "The UFAP comprises both local and overseas experts from different fields including urban forestry, plant science, engineering and landscape architecture related academics, professionals and experts, and will provide advice on urban forestry polices and initiatives from multiple perspectives."

     The spokesman also expressed his gratitude to Ms Cecilia Cheung So-mui, Mr Frank Rinn and Dr Wang Xiaoming, the three outgoing non-official members of the UFAP. 

     Appointed by the Secretary for Development, members of the UFAP advise the DEVB on urban forestry management strategies and an applied research and development regime, as well as positive capacity building initiatives for the arboriculture and horticulture industry.

     The membership of the new term of the UFAP is set out below: 

Chairman
———–
Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, DEVB
 
Non-official members                              
———————–
Dr Paul Barber                                  
Mr Chan Yun-cheung           
Professor Chau Kwai-cheong
Professor Leslie Chen Hung-chi      
Mr Kingsley Choi Lim-cho
* Professor Chu Lee-man
Mr Mark Duntemann
Mr Kevin Eckert                  
Dr Billy Hau Chi-hang               
* Mr John Ho Kin-chuen
Mr Evans Iu Po-lung                 
Mr Patrick Lau Hing-tat             
Dr David Lau Tai-wai     
* Professor Anthony Leung Kwan      
Mr Ian Shears
* Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet    
Dr Wong Fook-yee
* Dr Charles Wong Man-sing
* Mr Yiu Vor
 
Official members
——————
Head of Tree Management Office, DEVB
Representative of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Representative of Highways Department
Representative of Housing Department
Representative of Leisure and Cultural Services Department
 
* New non-official members

     The Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) administered by the Food and Health Bureau today (December 30) invited applications for investigator-initiated research projects and health promotion projects.

     The HMRF aims to build research capacity and to encourage, facilitate and support health and medical research to inform health policies, improve population health, strengthen the health system, enhance healthcare practices, advance standard and quality of care, and promote clinical excellence, through the generation and application of evidence-based scientific knowledge derived from local research in health and medicine. It also provides funding support to evidence-based health promotion projects that help people adopt healthier lifestyles by enhancing awareness, changing adverse health behaviours or creating a conducive environment that supports good health practices.

     The HMRF will consider applications in the following broad areas:
 

1. public health, human health and health services (e.g. primary care, non-communicable diseases, Chinese medicine, etc.);
2. prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases, in particular emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases;
3. advanced medical research in specific fields including paediatrics, neuroscience, clinical genetics and clinical trials; and
4. health promotion that facilitates mobilisation of local resources to promote good health and prevention of illness in the community.

     Applications from locally based tertiary institutions, hospitals, medical schools, non-governmental organisations and other appropriate centres, units and services are invited. Collaboration with local or non-local organisations is encouraged. Higher priority for funding will be given to proposals addressing this year’s thematic priorities, which are infectious diseases, primary healthcare and non-communicable diseases, mental health, cancer and implementation science.

     The normal grant ceiling is $1.5 million per project with a grant duration not exceeding three years. Each principal applicant is allowed to submit one application (either a new or a resubmission of an application). The principal applicant should be based in a Hong Kong organisation throughout the project period and be employed by the administering institution at the time of submitting the application.  

     Applications will be subject to two-tier peer review. The vetting will take into account scientific merit, local relevance and translational potential/value of the proposals, capacity of the administering institutions, sustainability of health promotion projects, the track record of applicants, value for money of the proposals and research ethics, where applicable.

     Completed electronic application forms should be submitted via the electronic Grant Management System (eGMS) (rfs.fhb.gov.hk/eGMS) on or before April 30, 2021 (6pm Hong Kong time). Briefing cum Grant Skills Training Workshops and eGMS training sessions, to be held in January – March 2021, are now open for registration.

     Details of the updated thematic priorities, application-related materials and the workshops can be downloaded from rfs.fhb.gov.hk. Enquiries can be made by e-mail to rfs@fhb.gov.hk.