Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Police announced today (October 3) that special traffic arrangements will be implemented on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories from October 5 to 7 to facilitate the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hong Kong Island
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Tai Hang
————
To facilitate the holding of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, the following special traffic arrangements will be implemented from October 5 to 7.

A. Road closure

The following roads will be closed from 2pm to 11.59pm daily:

– Lai Yin Lane;
– Lin Fa Kung Street East;
– Lin Fa Kung Street West;
– Lily Street;
– Wun Sha Street;
– Ormsby Street;
– Brown Street;
– Warren Street;
– Jones Street;
– Lai Yin Street;
– School Street;
– King Street;
– Shepherd Street;
– Sun Chun Street; and
– Second Lane Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Moreton Terrace will be closed from 5pm to 11.59pm daily.

B. Traffic diversions

The following traffic diversions will be implemented daily from 5pm to 11.59pm:

– Traffic along westbound King’s Road cannot turn left to Tung Lo Wan Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Tung Lo Wan Road must turn left to Tung Lo Wan Drive; and
– Traffic along southbound Tung Lo Wan Drive must turn right to Moreton Terrace.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

All metered, motorcycle and disabled parking spaces on the above closed roads will be suspended daily from noon to 11.59pm.

Causeway Bay
——————–
A. Pedestrianisation

The following roads will be closed for implementation of a part-time pedestrian scheme from noon to 11.59pm on October 5 and 7, and from 4pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day:

– Lockhart Road east of Cannon Street;
– East Point Road; and
– Great George Street west of Paterson Street.

B. Road closure

(I) Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following roads may be closed from 7pm to 11.59pm on October 5 and 7, and from 7pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day:

– Sugar Street;
– Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street;
– Gloucester Road between Victoria Park Road flyover and Causeway Road, except for traffic from Tai Hang Road flyover heading to northbound Gloucester Road;
– Westbound Kingston Street between Gloucester Road and Paterson Street;
– Great George Street east of Paterson Street; and
– Hing Fat Street will be closed intermittently, except for franchised buses and green minibuses.

(II) If necessary, the following roads may be closed:

– Cleveland Street between Gloucester Road and Kingston Road;
– Eastbound Kingston Street between Paterson Street and Gloucester Road; and
– Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Gloucester Road.

C. Traffic diversions

Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following traffic diversions may be implemented from 7pm to 11.59pm on October 5 and 7, and from 7pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day:

– Traffic from Victoria Park Road flyover heading for southbound Gloucester Road must turn right to westbound Gloucester Road;
– Traffic along southbound Paterson Street must turn left to eastbound Kingston Street;
– Traffic along Cleveland Street cannot turn right to westbound Kingston Street; and
– Traffic along northbound Gloucester Road and northbound Tai Hang Road flyover cannot turn left to westbound Kingston Street.

D. Suspension of car parks and parking spaces

– All parking spaces at Hing Fat Street Public Car Park will be suspended from 5pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day, and from 7pm to 11.59pm on October 7, except for disabled parking spaces;
– Access to car parks at Great George Street will be restricted from 7pm to 11.59pm on October 5 and 7, and from 7pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day; and
– Disabled parking spaces along northbound Gloucester Road near Sugar Street will be suspended from 7pm to 11.59pm on October 5 and 7, and from 7pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day.

E. Suspension of public transport interchange

The Tin Hau Station Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from 7pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day.

F. Prohibition for learner drivers

The following roads will be prohibited to all learner drivers from 7pm to 11.59pm on October 5 and 7, and from 7pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day:

– Eastbound Leighton Road;
– Tin Lok Lane;
– Tung Lo Wan Road;
– Hing Fat Street;
– Electric Road between Wing Hing Street and Yacht Street;
– Northbound Morrison Hill Road;
– Hennessy Road east of Marsh Road;
– Tin Hau Temple Road between Fortress Hill Road and Causeway Road; and
– Causeway Road.

Aberdeen and Pok Fu Lam
————————————
To facilitate the holding of the Fire Dragon Dance, the following road closure will be implemented on October 6:

(I) The offside lane of Nam Ning Street between its southern junction with Chengtu Road and outside the Nam Ning Street Sitting-out Area will be closed from 6pm to 10.30pm.

(II) Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following roads will be intermittently closed from 4pm to 10pm:

– Tung Sing Road;
– Wu Nam Street;
– Lok Yeung Street;
– Aberdeen Main Road;
– Aberdeen Old Main Street;
– Sai On Street;
– Chengtu Road; and
– Nam Ning Street.

(III)  Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following roads will be intermittently closed from 4pm to 11.59pm:

– Pok Fu Lam Road near Pok Fu Lam Village, except for the fast lane;
– Chi Fu Road near Pok Fu Lam Village;
– Chi Fu Road flyover;
– Wah Fu Road; and
– Waterfall Bay Road.

Repulse Bay
—————–
A. Traffic arrangements

Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following arrangements may be implemented on October 6 and 7:

– South Bay Road south of South Bay Path may be closed if the car parks on South Bay Road are full, except for residents’ vehicles and public transports;
– Traffic on Beach Road may be diverted to northbound South Bay Road to leave the area if the car parks on South Bay Road are full, except for residents’ vehicles;
– Traffic along eastbound Repulse Bay Road cannot make a U-turn at the junction with South Bay Road; and
– Vehicles may not be permitted to wait along Repulse Bay Road outside the car park if it is full.

B. Suspension of parking spaces

The following parking spaces will be suspended from 4pm on October 6 to 6am of the following day:

– All metered and motorcycle parking spaces on Island Road, except disabled parking spaces; and
– All metered and motorcycle parking spaces on Beach Road.

Shek O
———
A. Road closure

Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following roads may be closed on October 6 and 7, except for residents’ vehicles, public transport services and vehicles with permit:

– Shek O Headland Road; and
– The access roads to the car parks in Shek O and Big Wave Bay (if the car parks are full).

B. Suspension of parking spaces

Sixteen parking spaces at the Shek O Beach Public Car Park will be suspended from noon on October 6 to 8pm of the following day.

New Territories
——————–
Tuen Mun
————-
The following roads will be intermittently closed daily from 5pm to 5am of the following day on October 6 and 7, except for authorised vehicles:

– Golden Beach Path;
– The unnamed access road leading to the public car park at Cafeteria Old Beach;
– Tsing Yan Street between Castle Peak Road and the entrance of the public car park at Kadoorie Beach; and
– The unnamed access road leading to the public car park at Butterfly Beach.

Tsuen Wan
—————
A. Road closure

The following roads will be closed from 5pm to 3am of the following day daily on October 6 and 7:

– Tai Mo Shan Road east of its junction with Route Twisk, except for residents’ vehicles; and
– Shing Mun Road between Pineapple Dam and the Main Dam.

B. Suspension of car park and parking spaces

From 5pm to 3am of the following day daily on October 6 and 7, Tai Mo Shan Country Park Car Park will be closed. Twenty-three metered parking spaces and other parking spaces at the car park will also be suspended.

Ma On Shan
—————–
Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following roads will be intermittently closed from 4.30pm on October 6 to 3am of the following day, except for residents’ vehicles:

– Ma On Shan Tsuen Road south of the turnaround;
– Yiu Sha Road north of its junction with Wu Kai Sha Road roundabout; and
– Yiu Sha Road from its junction with the unnamed road towards To Tau Wan Village.

The Police will implement appropriate arrangements subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of police officers on site.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Department of Health (DH) today (October 3) urged the public to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by adopting a healthy lifestyle and undergoing risk-based screenings to prevent breast cancer. The Government attaches great importance to cancer prevention and control work, including the launch of the Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme (BCSPP) in 2021. Among the breast cancer cases identified, the vast majority were at early stages, which shows that risk-based screening can enhance the recovery rate of breast cancer patients through early detection and treatment.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females and the third leading cause of cancer deaths among females in Hong Kong. In 2022, there were 5 182 newly diagnosed invasive female breast cancer cases, accounting for 28.6 per cent of all new cancer cases in women in Hong Kong. In 2023, the disease led to 834 deaths among women, accounting for 13.1 per cent of female cancer deaths. The DH has been promoting the adoption of a healthy lifestyle as primary prevention of cancer, including avoiding tobacco and alcohol, eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy body weight. The DH also promotes breast awareness and breastfeeding as ways to prevent breast cancer. Screening, as secondary prevention, enables the early detection and treatment of breast cancer and enhances the recovery rate,” said the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui.

Phase I of the BCSPP was launched in 2021. From 2021 to 2024, over 37 000 women aged between 44 and 69 at moderate and average risk have received breast cancer risk assessment. The Pilot Programme showed that 97 per cent of breast cancer cases identified through screening were at early stages (stage II or below). The breast cancer risk assessment and screening have been included as part of the services provided by the Woman Health Service and the Elderly Health Service in 2024.

Phase II of the BCSPP was launched in June 2025 to provide subsidised breast cancer screening services to female Hong Kong residents aged 35 to 74 who are at high risk of developing breast cancer (see Annex 1 for details). Eligible women can receive a high level of government subsidy for annual mammography (MMG) screening. Additional ultrasound will be arranged for those who are confirmed to carry specific genetic mutations. For Phase II of the BCSPP, the DH collaborates with three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through public-private partnership programmes. Eligible women may contact any one of the three NGOs’ designated clinics (see Annex 2) to make an appointment for assessment. Currently, all service providers do not charge any co-payment from the service users. As of September 28, over 800 women at high risk have undergone MMG screening, with more than 30 referred to specialists for follow-up due to abnormal screening results. The Government will evaluate the effectiveness of Phase II of the BCSPP in a timely manner and review the future development of breast cancer screening.

Meanwhile, to utilise resources more effectively and expand the multidisciplinary primary healthcare service network, the DH’s women health services provided at the Woman Health Centres and the designated Maternal and Child Health Centres are being integrated into the district health network of the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission). During the transition period of service integration, those who have already paid their annual fee and are still within the service period will continue to receive relevant services from the DH. The PHC Commission has commenced the integration of women’s health services this year in an orderly manner, whereby women’s primary healthcare services are provided through three service points named Women Wellness Satellites (WWS), which form a network with District Health Centres/Expresses (collectively DHCs) in 18 districts, and gradually replace the Woman Health Service of the DH.

Women aged 64 or below who wish to receive women’s health services must first register as members of the DHCs. The DHCs will arrange health risk and basic women’s health assessments as well as family doctor pairing, and arrange for them to receive services at WWSs as needed. For more information, members of the public can visit the WWS website. Those aged 65 to 69 will continue to receive services at the Elderly Health Centres of the DH. To address the preventive and screening needs of underprivileged groups, DHCs are in parallel arranging for women who are Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients or holders of valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges to receive the same preventive care and health promotion services for women at selected HA General Out-patient Clinics.

October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month every year to highlight the importance of screenings and promote healthy lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. The DH reminds the public that the symptoms of breast cancer at an early stage are often subtle. Women should familiarise themselves with the normal look and feel of their breasts. If any abnormal changes are noticed, such as lumps in the breast or armpit, dimpling or “orange-skin” appearance of the breast, changes in size or shape, and rash around, in-drawing of, abnormal discharge or bleeding from the nipple, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hongkong Post announced today (October 3) that a set of special stamps and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Aviation Development in Hong Kong” will be released for sale on October 21 (Tuesday).

Hong Kong’s airport plays an indispensable role in the successful development of Hong Kong into an international aviation hub. The first recorded flight at Kai Tak took place 100 years ago. Kai Tak later evolved into an airport and the passenger terminal of Kai Tak Airport was completed and commenced service in the 1960s. Though operating only with a single runway, Kai Tak Airport had become one of the busiest airports in the world by the 1990s. For long-term development, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) was relocated to Chek Lap Kok in 1998, and has since gradually expanded to have a dual-runway and now a three-runway system.

Moreover, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Airport Authority Hong Kong are pressing ahead with the Airport City development strategy, under which HKIA will be transformed into a node of various economic activities. Hongkong Post will issue a set of special stamps and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Aviation Development in Hong Kong” to feature the thriving aviation development in the city.

Official first day covers for “Aviation Development in Hong Kong” will be on sale at all post offices and Hongkong Post’s online shopping platform ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from October 6. This set of special stamps and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and ShopThruPost from October 21, while serviced first day covers affixed with the special stamps and postage prepaid picture cards (air mail) will be available at philatelic offices only.

A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on October 21 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.

Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The self-service library station located at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui will be suspended from 10pm on October 13 (Monday) to 8am on the following day to facilitate the periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations at the venue, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (October 3).

During the service suspension period, readers are welcome to use the book drop services of other public libraries including those at the MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong stations to return library materials. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833 or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The nomination period for the 2025 Legislative Council General Election will run from October 24 (Friday) to November 6 (Thursday).

     The Legislative Council General Election will be held on December 7. A total of 90 members, with 20 from geographical constituencies, 30 from functional constituencies and 40 from the Election Committee constituency, will be returned. The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) issued relevant gazette notices and uploaded relevant information to the election website (www.elections.gov.hk) today (October 3).

     “To run for a seat in a geographical constituency, a functional constituency or the Election Committee constituency, a nominated person must be a registered geographical constituency elector aged 21 or above. He or she must also have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for three years immediately preceding the date of his or her nomination, and must be a Chinese citizen who is a Hong Kong permanent resident with no right of abode in a foreign country,” a spokesman for the REO said.

     However, candidature in 12 functional constituencies is open to Hong Kong permanent residents who are not Chinese citizens or who have the right of abode in a foreign country. These constituencies are legal; accountancy; engineering; architectural, surveying, planning and landscape; real estate and construction; tourism; commercial (first); industrial (first); finance; financial services; import and export; and insurance.

     “A nominated person for the functional constituency election must be a registered elector for, or have a substantial connection with, the relevant functional constituency. For the Election Committee constituency election, a nominated person needs not be a member of the Election Committee,” the spokesman said.

     Details on the eligibility to be nominated as a candidate and disqualification from being nominated as a candidate and from being elected as a Member, as well as the requirements to be complied with by persons nominated as candidates, are set out in sections 37, 39 and 40 respectively of the Legislative Council Ordinance (Cap. 542).

     For the geographical constituency election, each nominated person needs to be subscribed by at least 100 but not more than 200 registered electors of the constituency concerned, and an elector may subscribe only one nomination of the geographical constituency in the capacity as an elector in respect of his/her own geographical constituency. Each nominated person for the geographical constituency election must also be subscribed by at least 10 but not more than 20 members of the Election Committee, which must include at least two but not more than four members from each of the five sectors of the Election Committee. A member of the Election Committee may subscribe only one nomination form of the geographical constituency election in his/her capacity as a member of the Election Committee.

     Each nominated person for the functional constituency election must be subscribed by at least 10 but not more than 20 registered electors of the constituency concerned and an elector may subscribe any number of nomination forms up to the number of seats in his/her functional constituency. Each nominated person for the functional constituency election must also be subscribed by at least 10 but not more than 20 members of the Election Committee, which must include at least two but not more than four members from each of the five sectors of the Election Committee. A member of the Election Committee may subscribe only one nomination form of the functional constituency election in his/her capacity as a member of the Election Committee.

     For the Election Committee constituency election, each nominated person must be subscribed by at least 10 but not more than 20 members of the Election Committee, which must include at least two but not more than four members from each of the five sectors of the Election Committee. A member of the Election Committee may subscribe only one nomination form of the Election Committee constituency election.
 
     The Electoral Affairs Commission has appointed Returning Officers for the 10 geographical constituencies, 28 functional constituencies and the Election Committee constituency to receive nomination forms and to handle other electoral matters. Notices for the election and the appointment of Returning Officers, with their office addresses, were also gazetted today and uploaded to the election website.

     The nomination forms may be obtained during ordinary business hours from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 9am to noon on Saturdays (except public holidays) beginning today at the two offices of the REO (8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, and Unit 2301-03, 23/F, Millennium City 6, 392 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon), or at the offices of the Returning Officers of the relevant constituencies. The nomination forms may also be obtained from any of the District Offices during their operation hours, or downloaded from the election website.

     A nominated person must submit the completed nomination form and an election deposit in person to the respective Returning Officer during the abovementioned ordinary business hours (except public holidays) within the nomination period. A deposit of $50,000 needs to be paid by each nominated person for the geographical constituency election. Each nominated person for the functional constituency election or the Election Committee constituency election has to pay an election deposit of $25,000. The spokesman reminded those nominated persons that they may consider lodging the election deposit by Faster Payment System (FPS) newly introduced this year (but attention should be paid to the transfer limit setting of the relevant account), or by cash and cashier orders to avoid any complications arising from a cheque not being honoured.

     “The nominated persons are advised to submit their nomination forms as early as possible to allow time to correct mistakes, if any, in the forms before the nomination deadline,” the spokesman added.

     Separately, the nominated persons must, in accordance with the requirements of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC), complete and return the Eligibility Review Supplementary Information Form (SIF). The SIF is distributed together with the nomination forms and can be downloaded from the election website. Nominated persons should put the completed SIF in a separate and sealed envelope and hand it in person together with the nomination form to the office of the Returning Officer within the nomination period for onward transmission to the CERC Secretariat. Nominated persons can also submit the completed SIF to the CERC Secretariat directly as soon as possible but no later than 5pm on November 6 through any of the following means:

1. email to cerc_secretariat@cerc.gov.hk;
2. fax to 2505 0673; or
3. return to the drop-in box of the CERC Secretariat at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.

     Copies of the nomination forms are available for public inspection at the offices of the Returning Officers during ordinary business hours after the start of the nomination period. Members of the public may also inspect copies of all nomination forms of the functional constituency elections and the Election Committee constituency election at the REO office in Kwun Tong.

     For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) today (October 3) reminded members of the public that in anticipation of a large number of grave sweepers heading to the cemeteries along Cape Collinson Road in Chai Wan before and after the Chung Yeung Festival, the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented there to facilitate their visits to the cemeteries.

A. Special traffic arrangements
 

• Temporary prohibited zone

The section of Cape Collinson Road to the east of Lin Shing Road (i.e. the left-turning movement from Lin Shing Road to Cape Collinson Road leading to the Chinese Permanent Cemetery) will be temporarily designated as private car and light goods vehicle prohibited zone from 7am to 3pm daily from October 11 to November 16. All private cars and light goods vehicles, except those with permits, will be prohibited from entering the prohibited zone.
 

• Road closures

In connection with the implementation of road closures at Cape Collinson Road and its vicinity by the Police, except for the exempted vehicles, Lin Shing Road and Cape Collinson Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 7am to 5pm on the specified dates.
 

B. Public transport services
 

• The following special bus services will be operated on the specified dates and the bus services will be strengthened depending on the passenger demand and traffic conditions.

• CTB routes 8X, 9 and 780 and cross harbour routes 106, 118 and 606, and GMB route 18M will be strengthened subject to passenger demand.

Before and after the Chung Yeung Festival, adjustments to the extent of road closures, traffic control measures and public transport diversions will be made by the Police depending on the actual traffic conditions in the areas.

Grave sweepers are advised to plan their journey early and allow more travelling time. If they would like to go to the cemeteries along Cape Collinson Road in Chai Wan outside the above-mentioned road closure periods, they should use public transport services as far as possible. They can take GMB routes 16A, 16M, 16X or 18M at Chai Wan MTR Station to Cape Collinson Road, or take CTB route 9 at Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus to Shek O Road near Cape Collinson Road. Grave sweepers heading to the Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium may also make use of the escalators and pedestrian access route connecting San Ha Street at Chai Wan (near Chai Wan MTR Station Exit A) and the said columbarium.

Before and after the Chung Yeung Festival, the TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Cape Collinson Road, Lin Shing Road and Wan Tsui Road in Chai Wan will be busy. Motorists are advised not to drive to the congested and affected areas, and should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion and observe the instruction given by the Police.

Members of the public are advised to be alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television. They may also visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) or use the mobile application “HKeMobility” for the latest traffic and public transport information.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Inland Revenue Department announced today (October 3) that starting from October 6, 2025, the new annual rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates will be 0.2583 per cent against the current rate of 0.3417 per cent, i.e. the new rate will be $0.0215 per month per $100.
 
Tax Reserve Certificates bear simple interest, and interest is calculated monthly (including part of a month) from the date of purchase to the date of payment of tax. Interest is only credited when certificates are used to pay tax, and no interest is due where the principal value of a certificate is repaid to its holder.
 
The rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates is reviewed every month based on the average prevailing interest rate for the 12-month time deposit for $100,000 to $499,999 offered by the three note-issuing banks.
 
The new rate will apply to all certificates purchased on or after October 6, 2025. Certificates purchased before October 6, 2025, will continue to earn interest at the rates prevailing on their respective purchase dates. Below is a summary of the interest rates for the past periods:
 

Interest will cease to accrue after 36 months.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3