Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced toda… read more
The Government has, with effect from today (January 24), opened a specified section of road within the frontier closed area (FCA) near Lin Ma Hang Village in Sha Tau Kok, by exempting the requirement to apply for a closed area permit for the public travelling by green minibus passing through this section of road, with a view to facilitating travel for members of the public and tourists to Lin Ma Hang Village and Robin’s Nest Country Park.
A spokesman for the Security Bureau stated, “Robin’s Nest Country Park was established in November last year. Having considered public views on opening the relevant section of road within the FCA near Lin Ma Hang Village and after careful study of the feasibility, the Government decided to implement special arrangements to open the relevant road portion.”
The Hong Kong Police Force published in the Gazette today that, pursuant to section 38A(1) of the Public Order Ordinance, the requirement to apply for a closed area permit would be exempted for any person travelling to and from Lin Ma Hang Village by green minibus passing through the road within the FCA between Wang Lek and the entrance of Lin Ma Hang Village. Starting from today, members of the public and tourists can take green minibus No. 59K (Sheung Shui Station – Lin Ma Hang) from Sheung Shui MTR Station to reach Lin Ma Hang Village through the relevant section of road within the FCA. After alighting, members of the public can visit tourist attractions such as MacIntosh Forts and Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine directly via the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail and can continue towards the direction of Sha Tau Kok via the Robin’s Nest Country Trail to enjoy the scenery around Yan Chau Tong and Shenzhen Wutong Mountain.
“We hope this measure can facilitate visits by members of the public and tourists to Robin’s Nest Country Park and nearby areas for sightseeing and experiencing Hong Kong’s rich geological features and historical heritage,” the spokesman said. The spokesman added that this exemption is only applicable to persons travelling by green minibus through the relevant section of road within the FCA and does not apply to private vehicles, taxis or other vehicles without a valid closed road permit, or to members of the public using other means of travel such as walking or cycling.
“In fact, there are various ways to visit Robin’s Nest Country Park, not limited to the above road within the FCA. Members of the public and tourists may choose other transportation means and routes, including New Territories green minibus No. 55K (Sheung Shui Station – Sha Tau Kok), KMB bus No. 78K (Sheung Shui Station – Sha Tau Kok), or KMB bus No. 277A (Lam Tin Station – Sha Tau Kok), to arrive at the Tam Shui Hang stop of Sha Tau Kok Road (Shek Chung Au), and then to the entrance of the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail through Shan Tsui Village Road. Public transport operators will closely monitor passenger demand and reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to enhance frequency according to actual passenger growth,” the spokesman said.
For more information on Robin’s Nest Country Park, please visit the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk) or the Enjoy Hiking website (www.hiking.gov.hk).
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, concluded his visit to Davos, Switzerland, yesterday (January 23, Davos time). He attended thematic meetings at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting and met with political, business and financial leaders from around the globe.
In the morning, Mr Chan participated in a discussion session titled “Stemming Financial Fragmentation” and served as one of the panelist’s. The session focused on addressing the risks of financial fragmentation amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Mr Chan noted that while geopolitics may subject regional and global financial markets to greater volatility, Hong Kong boasts a robust financial system and strong buffer, maintains a free and open business environment, and steadfastly upholds the linked exchange rate system. A recent survey conducted by a foreign chamber of commerce in Hong Kong revealed that international investors and companies remain optimistic about the city’s business prospects. He emphasised that Hong Kong’s financial markets have undergone remarkable transformation on various fronts, including the stock market and asset and wealth management business which have achieved significant growth since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is actively embracing financial innovation, including the development of digital assets, with appropriate regulations in place to promote the responsible and sustainable growth. In response to questions, Mr Chan stated that China’s economy is steadily advancing, with solid progress towards high-quality development. The country is also committed to accelerating high-level openness and mutually beneficial cooperation as its national policy.
Later, Mr Chan participated in a thematic meeting organised by the Giving to Amplify Earth Action launched by the WEF, where he spoke on promoting investment in climate projects. He noted that Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, plays to its strengths as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”: on one hand, Hong Kong provides financial support for green and transition projects through its comprehensive financial services; on the other hand, it actively seeks to facilitate cooperation among the public, private and philanthropic sectors. Examples include hosting international conferences such as “Wealth for Good in Hong Kong”, which brings together decision-makers from global funds (including family funds) to promote synergies between global wealth and climate projects, thereby fostering impact investments. Through these efforts, Hong Kong seeks to make greater contributions to regional and global sustainable development.
Mr Chan also continued his meetings with various political and business leaders yesterday. He held bilateral discussions with the Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, Mr Khalid Al-Falih, and the Minister of Finance of Egypt, Mr Ahmed Kouchouk, respectively. During these meetings, they exchanged views on international and regional landscapes, and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral investment and trade relations. Mr Chan said that Hong Kong actively seeks to develop trade relations with “Global South” countries, and extended invitations to the Ministers to lead business delegations to Hong Kong to explore mutually beneficial cooperation opportunities.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan met with the President and the Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton, Ms Jenny Johnson, to discuss the business expansion plans of the international fund group in the region. They also exchanged views on the current global economic and financial market landscapes.
Mr Chan is scheduled to depart from Switzerland today (January 24, Davos time) and will return to Hong Kong on Saturday morning (January 25, Hong Kong time).
Police arrested four men, aged 20 to 29, in Tuen Mun and at the Hong Kong International Airport for murder and wounding yesterday (January 22) and today (January 23). Investigation revealed… read more
The western section of the East Coast Boardwalk underneath the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) in North Point will open to the public at 6am this Sunday (January 26). It will connect the East Coast Park Precinct (ECP) and the North Point Promenade (NPP), extending the connected harbourfront to North Point from Kennedy Town on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, with a total length of 11 kilometres (km).
The Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Chairman of the Harbourfront Commission, Mr Ivan Ho; the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong; the Project Manager (South) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, Mr Victor Chan; and the District Officer (Eastern), Mr Simon Chan, officiated at the opening ceremony of the western section of the Boardwalk today (January 23). Mr Wong said that the Boardwalk is a signature harbourfront enhancement project of the Government and an important part connecting the Island North harbourfront. He expected that the Boardwalk would become a new landmark for the public and visitors to enjoy a variety of activities and appreciate the unique glamour of Victoria Harbour.
The Chairman of the Harbourfront Commission (HC), Mr Ivan Ho, said that the Boardwalk represents an important milestone in harbourfront development. The construction of the Boardwalk was not a simple process but a success of concerted discussions among the Government, the HC and the public over a decade , balancing the views expressed by sectors of the community. He mentioned that, as the final piece of puzzle to link up the harbourfront on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, the Boardwalk is of great significance to the connection of the harbourfront and provides more possibilities for harbourfront development in future.
The Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong, said that to overcome technical difficulties such as height restrictions, narrow waterways, and lack of land access, the engineering team had introduced a number of innovative elements to construct the Boardwalk, including adopting prefabricated boardwalk decks, thereby reducing the construction period and costs, and effectively enhancing construction safety.
With a total length of about 2.2km, the Boardwalk is divided into the eastern and western sections. It is a critical harbourfront facility defining the shoreline of Hong Kong Island North by ingeniously utilising the space underneath the IEC. The Boardwalk’s western section to be opened soon has a length of about 1.1km, of which some 700 metres serve to link the ECP and the NPP, while the remaining 400 metres comprise the enhanced NPP. The Boardwalk’s eastern section will connect Hoi Yu Street in Quarry Bay from the NPP and is expected to be completed progressively in the second half of this year. Upon the full opening of the Boardwalk, there will be a continuous harbourfront of some 13km long, spanning from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan.
The Boardwalk will be a ‘harbourfront shared space’, with a shared path where the public may carry out various activities such as walking, jogging and cycling, thereby creating a vibrant and diverse atmosphere. In addition, an exclusive pedestrian walkway is also available side-by-side to provide an additional option for pedestrians. Another feature of the Boardwalk is the movable bascule bridge and the movable swing bridge, introduced for the first time in Victoria Harbour. These bridges allow vessels to access the coastal waters bounded by the Boardwalk when necessary, maintaining accessibility of the Boardwalk while accommodating operational needs. Other facilities along the Boardwalk include cascade seating for watching the sunset, a play area, fitness equipment, and a fishing platform. The Tong Shui Road Public Pier has also been preserved and revitalised, while the NPP has been enhanced to include more open areas and leisure facilities. The western section of the East Coast Boardwalk will open 24 hours a day, except for the movable swing bridge, which will open from 6am to 11pm.
There are three access points to the western section of the Boardwalk (see Annex), namely: (1) through Tong Shui Road (about a 3-minute walk from Exit A1 of North Point MTR Station); (2) through Provident Garden and the movable swing bridge; or (3) through the Watson Road entrance to the ECP and the passageway (about a 15-minute walk from Exit A of Fortress Hill MTR Station).
