Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 31) that the arena and two squash courts of Praya Street Sports Centre in Islands District, to be designated as a temporary shelter operated by the respective District Office of the Home Affairs Department, will be temporarily closed from 11pm today until further notice.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, held a joint press conference today (August 31) on the Government’s work to cope with Super Typhoon Saola. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; the Director of Highways, Mr Jimmy Chan; the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung; the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Angela Lee; the Director of Drainage Services, Ms Alice Pang; the Director of Buildings, Ms Clarice Yu; the Director of Hong Kong Observatory, Dr Chan Pak-wai; the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations) , Mr Wong Chun-yip; and the Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section of Development Bureau, Miss Kathy Ng, also attended. Following is the transcript of remarks of the press conference:
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today concluded his visit programme in Singapore where apart from calling on the Minister for Manpower and the Minister for Home Affairs, he toured a smart prison in the Lion City.
In the morning, Mr Tang called on Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng and exchanged views on initiatives regarding attracting talent and related visa facilitation matters concerning the two places.
Mr Tang then met Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam and officers at the Internal Security Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs to share opinions and ideas about the work of police, correctional services and fire services.
In the afternoon, Mr Tang visited the headquarters of the Singapore Prison Service and was briefed on enhancing prison management and rehabilitation services such as assisting persons in custody to acquire further studies and receive counselling services through the use of technology.
He then visited Institution S1A of the Changi Prison Complex and Selarang Park Community Supervision Centre to learn about technology applications at local prisons.
Mr Tang returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
As some coastal low-lying areas may be affected by the storm surge brought by the Super Typhoon Saola, the Director of Drainage Services, Ms Alice Pang, inspected the coastal low-lying or windy areas with higher risks to understand the progress of the Drainage Services Department’s (DSD’s) measures for coping with the storm surge today (August 31).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
With Super Typhoon Saola approaching Hong Kong and the risk of landslides caused by heavy rain, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department today (August 31) reminded the public to be aware of the risk of landslides during typhoon.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Hong Kong Observatory will issue the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 between 2am and 5am tomorrow and classes of all schools will be suspended on the same day.
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki made the announcement at a press conference this afternoon after chairing an inter-departmental meeting to discuss the contingency plans in response to the approach of Super Typhoon Saola.
Additional police officers, firefighters, rescue personnel and hospital staff will be deployed as the Government stands ready to handle any emergencies that may arise due to the massive storm.
Apart from emphasising that all relevant departments have to remain on high alert, make full assessments and prepare contingency plans, Mr Chan stressed that they must also prepare early in terms of manpower and equipment.
The 29 temporary shelters operated by the district offices opened their doors starting at 8pm tonight for people in need.
The Chief Secretary appealed to citizens to take precautions to prevent wind damage, stay home during the inclement weather and pay attention to government updates during typhoon-related news.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Police today called on people to stay vigilant against seditious rumours on the Internet and not to participate in any illegal activities.
The force made the appeal after it took note of the recent spreading of online rumours to mourn for the so-called “831 incident”, inciting others to adopt soft resistance or take relevant actions sometime today.
It reiterated that the so-called “831 incident” has been proven a fabrication. It was a lie manipulated by people with ulterior motives to attack the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and smear Police, attempting to achieve their political objectives by breaching public peace.
Apart from stressing that Police must discharge their duties in accordance with the law to safeguard the society, the force added that disrupters’ plots are doomed to fail.
It stressed that the Internet is not an unreal world that is beyond the law. As far as the existing legislation in Hong Kong is concerned, most of the crime-prevention laws in the real world are applicable to the online world.
Police emphasised that it will take resolute enforcement actions against any illegal acts and added that no one should defy the law.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DEVB and Qianhai Authority sign Letter of Intent on Collaboration (with photos)
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The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality (Qianhai Authority) today (August 31) signed a Letter of Intent on Collaboration (LOI) to further enhance the exchanges and co-operation between enterprises and professionals in architectural and engineering industries in the two places, so as to foster high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) together. The LOI was signed by the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, and Deputy Director-General of the Qianhai Authority Mr Xie Huihui. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Lau said that Hong Kong and Qianhai are the core engines driving the development of the GBA. The two places have been co-operating closely in various fields to build the GBA into an internationally renowned bay area, contributing to national development. At present, Hong Kong enterprises and professionals in architectural and engineering industries can acquire equivalent qualifications on the Mainland through a simple registration system to provide services in Qianhai. Early this year, the Qianhai Authority launched a number of architectural projects, and the consultancy service contracts were awarded to architectural firms and quantity surveying consultancy firms from Hong Kong, demonstrating the successful implementation of the registration system. The LOI promotes the establishment of a project database to assist Hong Kong enterprises in obtaining the latest information on development in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone. It also facilitates the establishment of a regular mechanism for personnel exchanges between the two places, to assist Qianhai in building a construction management system that aligns with international standards. The DEVB will continue to maintain close communication with the Qianhai Authority with a view to bringing more development opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises and professionals in Qianhai.
Ends/Thursday, August 31, 2023Issued at HKT 20:45
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Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun and delegates of the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services today visited elderly service facilities in Guangzhou and Foshan as they continued their Greater Bay Area trip.
This morning, Mr Sun went to an elderly apartment in Guangzhou to learn about how an integrated approach to medical and elderly care facilitates ageing in the community.
Afterwards, the delegation departed for Foshan to call on a retirement community there which in addition to providing residential care also links with a neighbouring hospital to support residents’ health needs.
In late July, the Social Welfare Department relaxed its eligibility criteria for operators under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong, via which it helps elderly people in Hong Kong to retire in other Greater Bay Area cities. Mr Sun said the relaxation allows private operators with satisfactory track records to take part, adding that the scheme now covers both elderly people awaiting subsidised care places and those in the queue for subsidised nursing home places.
He expressed hope that the relaxations to the scheme will attract experienced and proficient Hong Kong operators to offer residential care services in the nine bay area cities on the Mainland.
With Super Typhoon Saola approaching Hong Kong, Mr Sun cancelled a scheduled visit to Zhaoqing and brought forward his return to Hong Kong this afternoon.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government today released its Green Bond Report 2023, which sets out how the proceeds raised from the issuance of green bonds, including the inaugural tokenised green bond issued this year, are being allocated, as well as the expected environmental benefits of the projects financed.
The Government has so far issued green bonds totalling close to US$22 billion in value to fund various green projects in Hong Kong.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the report provides comprehensive and detailed information on the green bonds issued, helping investors and the public to understand the positive environmental impacts of projects that are funded, and encouraging them to participate in investing in a greener Hong Kong.
He added: “This also fully demonstrates our commitment to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a regional and international green and sustainable finance hub.”
The proceeds raised through issuances of green bonds have been fully allocated to or earmarked for green projects. These include a district cooling system for Tung Chung New Town Extension (East), a three-dimensional air pollution monitoring network, the Kai Tak Sports Park, and the replacement of the storm-detecting weather radar at Tai Mo Shan.
Click here for the report.