Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
Question: (3) We will explore pedestrian connectivity improvement scheme between the proposed station of the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak and the captioned two hospitals, such as the addition of cover or travellator, on facilities including the existing footpath of the Kai Tak Bridge. In the process, we will have to consider the impact of the improvement scheme on the existing facilities, including relevant carriageways, footpaths and public facilities, and assess the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
Question:
It has been reported that the HKGAI V1 large model, which was released in February this year by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI) funded by the Government’s InnoHK research clusters, is the first large language model generated in Hong Kong based on the full parameter fine-tuning of DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, and continuous training, marking a major breakthrough in the field of local AI. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the development and operating costs of the HKGAI V1 large model, and how such costs compare with the development and operating costs of other similar models;
(2) as it is learnt that AI technology has been actively applied around the world in recent years, whether the Government has compared the effectiveness of the HKGAI V1 large model with that of the AI large models developed in other regions; if so, of the results;
(3) as it is learnt that HKPilot (i.e. a generative AI document processing copilot application), which is the large language model version developed by HKGAI, has been put on trial use in more than 70 government departments at present, of its initial effectiveness and the relevant data (e.g. the amount of costs that can be reduced and the extent of benefits that can be enhanced);
(4) as it is learnt that neighbouring regions (including a number of Mainland cities) have started to deploy DeepSeek large models in the field of government services to create “AI civil servants” to take up some of the work originally undertaken by manpower, how the SAR Government will make use of the HKGAI V1 large model to assist the Government in enhancing government efficiency and reducing manpower expenditure, so as to improve the quality of government services; and
(5) of the Government’s specific plans and performance targets for realizing the extensive application of the HKGAI VI large model, including (i) the specific timetable for opening up the model for public use, (ii) how it will enrich the application scenarios in the long run so as to apply and popularize the technology, (iii) how it will make the best use of the model to benefit people’s livelihood, and (iv) how it will make use of the model to assist in promoting the upgrading and transformation of Hong Kong’s industry structure?
Reply:
President,
The reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng is as follows:
(1) and (2) The Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI), set up in 2023 with the funding support of the AIR@InnoHK research cluster focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies, specialises in the research and development (R&D) of generative AI technology, with the goal of building Hong Kong’s self-developed AI foundation models and ecosystem. HKGAI is currently conducting R&D on a series of open-source foundation models, including a local large language model (LLM) and a generative AI document processing copilot application (HKPilot) based on this LLM.
According to the information provided by HKGAI, its locally developed LLM has been specifically optimised for Hong Kong’s cultural and linguistic environment as well as safety, which enables the LLM to possess not only capabilities similar to other outstanding LLMs in the market, but also excels in handling localised application scenarios.
The estimates of R&D and operating expenditure of HKGAI is around $235 million. We do not maintain the breakdown related to the development costs of individual models or applications.
(3) and (4) HKPilot which is now at the R&D stage is mainly used for document processing tasks such as drafting, translation, and summarisation of documents. In order to help HKGAI further train up and optimise its LLM, the Government started using the HKPilot from mid-2024. The Digital Policy Office (DPO) has invited all bureaux and departments (B/Ds) to arrange government personnel of different grades to participate in the pilot programme. Currently, the DPO does not have information related to cost reduction or efficiency improvement from the pilot.
In February 2025, HKGAI updated its locally developed “HKGAI V1” LLM based on DeepSeek technology, and is integrating the model into the HKPilot to further enhance its document processing capabilities, while allowing pilot use by government staff and collecting their user feedback. The DPO will continue to co-ordinate B/Ds to gradually increase the number of government personnel participating in the pilot programme. In the longer term, the application will help reduce the manpower required for government personnel to handle general document processing tasks, allowing manpower to be deployed to other areas of need.
(5) As mentioned above, HKGAI is making every effort to optimise its LLM and applications such as HKPilot, and aims to launch to the market a chatbot “HKChat” developed on the basis of its LLM for public use this year. HKGAI will conduct testing on the cybersecurity and stability of related systems before the official launch of HKChat, including inviting third-party experts to conduct audits. On the other hand, HKGAI’s LLM has the potential to develop and support practical applications in other professional fields (such as law and environmental protection). HKGAI will formulate an overall strategy and timetable for releasing the LLM and the applications for use by various sectors in the community.
Regarding employees’ compensation insurance (commonly known as labour insurance), will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of cases recorded by the Labour Department (LD) in which employees died as a result of accidents arising out of and in the course their employment in each of the past seven years and this year to date, together with a breakdown by industry;
(2) among the cases mentioned in (1), ︀of the number of cases in which employers were prosecuted by the authorities for failing to take out labour insurance policies for their employees as required under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282); among such prosecuted cases, ︀of the following information on each of the convicted cases: (i) the date of the accident, (ii) the industry and occupation to which the workers involved belonged, (iii) the date on which the judgment was handed down by the court and (iv) the penalties imposed;
(3) in respect of the penalties imposed on the convicted cases mentioned in (2), whether the authorities have applied for reviews or appeals; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) given that under the Employees Compensation Assistance Ordinance (Cap. 365), any employer who contravenes the requirements of Cap. 282 on taking out labour insurance policies shall be liable to pay a surcharge to the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board, of the highest, lowest and average amounts of surcharge paid by the employers in the convicted cases mentioned in (2);
(5) of the respective numbers of insurance applications from the employers of the 22 high-risk industries specified under the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme (ECIRS) which were received, approved and rejected by the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau Limited in each of the past seven years and this year to date, ︀as well as the number of employees involved in the approved applications, ︀together with a breakdown by industry; the main reasons for rejecting such applications under the Scheme;
(6) as it is learnt that the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Council and the LD have jointly launched the OSH Star Enterprise – Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition Safety Accreditation Scheme (the Accreditation Scheme) to assist the insurance industry in considering offering discounts on labour insurance premium under ECIRS to enterprises satisfying the safety accreditations, of the number of enterprises which have (i) applied, (ii) have been approved and (iii) have been rejected to participate in the Accreditation Scheme in each of the past seven years and this year to date, and set out in the table below a breakdown by type of enterprise (i.e. (I) small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and (II) non-SMEs) and business nature of enterprise (i.e. (a) erection, dismantling and use of truss-out bamboo scaffolds, (b) repair to external walls or pipings, (c) air-conditioning works and (d) interior fitting-out works); the main reasons for rejecting the applications under the Scheme;
Type of enterprisenature of enterprise(7) whether it has compiled statistics on the percentage of the number of enterprises approved under the Accreditation Scheme in the total number of enterprises of the same business nature in Hong Kong at present, together with a tabulated breakdown by type of enterprise (i.e. (I) SMEs and (II) non-SMEs) and business nature of enterprise (i.e. (a) erection, dismantling and use of truss-out bamboo scaffolds, (b) repair to external walls or pipings, (c) air-conditioning works and (d) interior fitting-out works); of the measures in place to step up publicity and promotion of the Accreditation Scheme, so as to encourage more enterprises to participate in the Scheme; and
(8) as there are views that the existing penalties for not taking out labour insurance policies are too light, and some employers may be prompted to take the risk of not taking out labour insurance policies for their employees as required by the law, whether the authorities will consider amending Cap. 282 to raise the relevant penalties, so as to enhance the deterrent effect; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the Hon Chau Siu-chung’s question is as follows:
(1) From 2018 to February 2025, the numbers of fatal cases reported under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (ECO) (Cap. 282) and received by the Labour Department (LD) each year, with a breakdown by industry, are at Annex 1.
(2) Among the cases mentioned in (1), 14 employers were prosecuted by the LD for failing to take out employees’ compensation insurance (EC insurance) for their employees as required by the ECO. All the 14 cases were convicted. The details are at Annex 2.
(3) In accordance with the Prosecution Code of the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Secretary for Justice may apply to the court in exceptional cases for the review of a sentence on the basis that it has proceeded on an error of law or of principle or that it is manifestly inadequate or excessive. In general, apart from the factors such as the circumstances of a case, the maximum penalty of an offence and the level of sentence imposed on the offence in the past, the court will also consider a defendant’s guilty plea and mitigations when sentencing. The LD will examine the sentence imposed by the court on each case. If the sentence of an individual case is manifestly inadequate or excessive, or has proceeded on an error of law or of principle, the LD will request the DoJ to consider applying for a review of the sentence. In line with the above principles, the LD has not applied for the review or appeal against the sentence of the convicted cases mentioned in (2). (5) The Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme (ECIRS) serves as a market of last resort to assist employers who cannot procure the EC insurance in the market, with a view to ensuring that employers can acquire the EC insurance. The applications received and approved by the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau Limited (ECIRSB) from 2018 to February 2025, with a breakdown by the High Risk Groups, are at Annex 3. During the period, the ECIRSB did not reject any applications submitted by employers.
(6) The LD has collaborated with the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) to launch the OSH Star Enterprise – Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition (RMAA) Safety Accreditation Scheme (Accreditation Scheme) to provide subsidies to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the RMAA sector for purchasing fall prevention devices, assisting them in establishing a safety management system, and offering training on work-at-height safety as well as conducting safety audits. We adopt a multi-pronged approach to enhance the safety standard of relevant enterprises and assist users in identifying those RMAA enterprises with recognised safety standards. According to the OSHC, the number of applications for the Accreditation Scheme and the number of Star Enterprises accredited in the past seven years (up to March 20, 2025) are at Annex 4.
As OSHC has enhanced the OSH Star Enterprise List under the Accreditation Scheme since September 2024 and added the category of “nature of business” (including erection and dismantling of truss-out scaffolding works, repair of external wall and pipe works, air-conditioning works and interior renovation works) to the list, a breakdown by nature of business of the enterprises before the date of enhancement is not available.
The number of Star Enterprises accredited in 2024-2025 (as at March 20, 2025) is eight. A breakdown of their business nature (Note) is as follows:
Erection and dismantling of truss-out scaffolding works At present, there are 66 SME Star Enterprises under the Accreditation Scheme and their business nature (Note) is categorised as follows:
Erection and dismantling of truss-out scaffolding worksNote: Accredited Star Enterprise may offer more than one type of business.
(7) The OSHC does not keep statistics on the percentage of the number of accredited Star Enterprises among the total number of enterprises of the same business nature in Hong Kong, and it does not have a breakdown of the figures by the nature of business of the enterprises.
To enhance the awareness of the RMAA industry and the community at large on the Accreditation Scheme, the LD and the OSHC have been publicising and promoting the Accreditation Scheme through various channels, including promotion on mass media such as television, radio and e-newspapers; dissemination of video clips, text and graphic information through social media; and collaboration with the Home Affairs Department and District Councils to promote the Accreditation Scheme to property owners, property management companies, etc, and to educate them on the key points and importance of choosing suitable scaffolding and the RMAA contractors. For newly completed public housing estates and buildings with more the RMAA works, the LD and the OSHC, in collaboration with trade unions, regularly set up information kiosks in the districts to publicise and promote the Accreditation Scheme to community members, owners’ corporations and local organisations. In addition, more than 1 300 organisations have signed the Charter on Preferential Appointment of OSH Star Enterprise, pledging to give priority to Star Enterprises in carrying out RMAA works, so as to encourage more RMAA enterprises to upgrade their safety standards through market force.
(8) In accordance with section 40 of the ECO, no employer shall employ any employee in any employment unless there is in force a policy of insurance to cover his liabilities under the ECO and common law. Employers failing to comply with the ECO to secure an insurance cover are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years. Among the past prosecution cases, there have been cases where the convicted employers were sentenced to imprisonment or with higher levels of fines. The LD will continue to monitor employers’ compliance with the requirement of taking out EC insurance and will consider whether to amend the relevant penalties under the ECO as and when required. Issued at HKT 11:45
INS Tarkash, a frontline frigate of the Indian Navy operating under the Western Naval Command, has successfully intercepted and seized over 2500 kg of narcotics in the Western Indian Ocean. This operation underscores the Indian Navy’s unwavering commitment to combating maritime crime and bolstering regional security.
Deployed in the Western Indian Ocean since Jan 2025 for Maritime Security Operations, INS Tarkash is actively supporting Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which is part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and is based in Bahrain. The ship is participating in the multi-national forces joint focus operation, Anzac Tiger.
On 31 Apr 25, while on patrol, INS Tarkash received multiple inputs from Indian Navy P8I aircraft, regarding suspicious vessels operating in the area. These vessels were believed to be involved in illicit activities, including narcotics trafficking. In response, the ship altered its course to intercept the suspicious vessels. After systematically interrogating all suspicious vessels in the vicinity, INS Tarkash intercepted and boarded a suspect Dhow, owing to the coordinated efforts with the P8I and the Maritime Operations Centre in Mumbai. Additionally, the ship launched its integral helicopter to monitor the activities of the suspicious vessel and identify other vessels likely operating in the area.
A specialist boarding team, along with Marine Commandos, boarded the suspect vessel and conducted a thorough search, leading to the discovery of various sealed packets. Further search and interrogation revealed over 2,500 kg of narcotic substances(including 2386 kg of hashish and 121 kg of heroin)stored in different cargo holds and compartments onboard the vessel. The suspicious Dhow was subsequently brought under the control of INS Tarkash, and the crew underwent comprehensive questioning regarding their modus operandi and the presence of other similar vessels in the area.
This seizure underscores the effectiveness and professionalism of the Indian Navy in deterring and disrupting illicit activities, including narcotics trafficking at sea. The Indian Navy’s participation in multinational exercises aims to promote security, stability, and prosperity across international waters in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, in collaboration with Indian Comics Association (ICA) and ASIFA India, has announced the finalists for two prestigious competitions under the WAVES Create in India Challenge—the WAVES Comics Creator Championship and the WAVES Awards of Excellence.
The competitions have attracted participation from across India and internationally, highlighting the country’s potential as a global hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. The winners will be announced at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025), scheduled to be held in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025.
Additional Director General, PIB, Bhopal, Shri Prashant Pathrabe said that, WAVES is an important event that provides a global platform for professional entrepreneurs, investors, producers and innovators to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute in the entertainment sector.
Photo caption : Shri Prashant Pathrabe, Additional Director General, PIB Bhopal addressing the ceremony of announcement of finalists of Waves Comics Creator Championship and Waves Awards of Excellence
WAVES Comics Creator Championship:
Indian Comics Association (ICA) President Ajitesh Sharma stated that ICA has selected 10 teams for the final round and that the candidates for the final round were selected based on their creative story, artistic skills and overall impact.
Photo caption: Shri Ajitesh Sharma, President, Indian Comics Association addressing the Waves Comics Creator Championship and Waves Awards of Excellence finalists announcement ceremony.
The finalists for the Comics Creator Championship are as follows:
The five-member jury to evaluate the competition entries included: Dilip Kadam – Renowned comic artist and illustrator; Nikhil Pran – Acclaimed comic creator and son of Pran Kumar Sharma; Jajil Homaveer – Creator of the web manga The Beast Legion; Sanjay Gupta – Founder of Raj Comics; Preeti Vyas – President & CEO of Amar Chitra Katha. The jury panel will now select the winners by evaluating the Semi-Finalists’ entries. The selected 10 Finalists will then compete at the Mumbai Waves Event from 1-4 May 2025.The final competition will take place at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai, where the best talents in Indian comics will be recognized on an international stage.
ASIFA announces Waves’ Awards of Excellence
TheWAVES Awards of Excellence, organized by ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation)Indiaunder theCreate in India Challenge, has received1,331 entriesfrom28 Indian states and 13 countries.
Shri Sanjay Khimesara, President, ASIFA India addressing the Waves Comics Creator Championship and Waves Awards of Excellence finalists announcement ceremony.
Jury for WAVES Awards of Excellence
The evaluation process for the WAVES Awards of Excellence was led by an esteemed five-member international jury, ensuring global standards in selection: Dr. Anastasia Dimitra (Greece) – VP, ASIFA International & Animation Educator; Briana Yarhouse (USA) – Director, Awards of Excellence & Professor; Pramita Mukherjee (USA) – Sr. Creature FX Developer, DreamWorks; Dhimant Vyas (India) – Professor of Practice, IDC School of Design; B.N. Vichar (India) – Art Director, Technicolor Games
The winning entries will receive mentorship, global exposure, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
Final Nominations-Professionals
1
Patrick
Smith
ASIFA24102
Onward Ye Costumed Souls
USA
2
Fabian
Driehorst
ASIFA24142
Little Fan
Germany
3
Yingyan Chen
Linxiao Zhou, Zehao Chen
ASIFA24205
Online interview
China
4
Long Qin
CHINA
ASIFA24207
IN BEWTEEN
China
5
Suresh
Eriyat
ASIFA24298
The Seed
Mumbai, India
6
Adithi
Krishnadas
ASIFA24299
The Legend of Arana
Mumbai, India
7
Suresh
Eriyat
ASIFA24302
Pune Design Festival Versus Ident Film
Mumbai, India
8
Swati
Agarwal
ASIFA24654
Chalisa’
Mumbai, India
9
Swathy
Pushpalochanan
ASIFA24678
Anpu
Kollam, Kerala
10
Bimal
Poddar
ASIFA24693
IPL opening graphics
Mumbai, India
11
Bimal
Poddar
ASIFA24694
Home season opening graphics/Legend
Mumbai, India
12
Bimal
Poddar
ASIFA24696
RADHA
Mumbai, India
13
Bimal
Poddar
ASIFA24697
13th Portal
Mumbai, India
14
Bimal
Poddar
ASIFA24698
More kaka
Mumbai, India
15
Prateek
Sethi
ASIFA24726
Informa Markets In India – Milan
Mumbai, India
16
Ujwal
Nair
ASIFA24740
Lucky Dog
Chennai, India
17
Gary
Schwartz
ASIFA2492
FLINTMATION ll
USA
18
David
Ehrlich
ASIFA2494
A New World
USA
19
Suresh
Eriyat
ASIFA251377
Desi Oon
Mumbai, India
20
Amit
Sonawane
ASIFA251402
What’s Your Story
Mumbai, India
Top 26 Nominated works includes Showreels/Shorts from students from across India including states/UT’s of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, New Delhi.
The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.
Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.
WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
Question:
It has been reported that Hong Kong athletes have all along been unable to be certified for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes because of their status as Hong Kong citizens, even though they won championships in sports competitions held in the Mainland. In view of this, the Administrative Measures for Technical Grades of Athletes (the Administrative Measures) was promulgated by our country in March last year to point out clearly that athletes from Hong Kong, the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) and Taiwan may be awarded technical grade titles when they participate in national competitions and provincial competitions. The Administrative Measures have been implemented since January 1 this year to ensure that Hong Kong athletes and Mainland athletes are entitled to the same treatment. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland, with a tabulated breakdown by province;
(2) whether it knows the specific process through which Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland are certified for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes; whether the process is handled by the General Administration of Sport of China in a centralised manner, or there is a designated organisation in Hong Kong which is responsible for handling the relevant certification for them; if there is such a designated organisation, of the organisation;
(3) as the Administrative Measures point out that prior consent should be obtained from the relevant National Sports Associations (NSAs) in Hong Kong and Macao SAR for awarding technical grade titles to their registered athletes, whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of athletes registered with NSAs in Hong Kong who are awarded the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles upon obtaining consents from their relevant NSAs; whether there are cases in which NSAs did not give consents for their athletes to acquire the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles; if so, of the details;
(4) whether it knows the mechanism for Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland without registration with the relevant NSAs in Hong Kong who are eligible to be certified under the standards for technical grades of athletes to obtain certification for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes; and
(5) to facilitate the professional development of Hong Kong athletes in the Mainland, whether the Government will set a timetable for regular review of the existing process through which Hong Kong athletes are certified for acquiring the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles, and streamline the relevant procedures in a timely manner?
Reply:
President,
My consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:
The General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) promulgated the “the Administrative Measures for Technical Grades of Athletes” (the Administrative Measures) in 2014 to award athletes with different technical grade titles after attaining specific results in competitions. In order of priority, the technical grade titles are namely International Elite Athlete, Elite Athlete, Grade One Athlete, Grade Two Athlete and Grade Three Athlete.
To promote the integration of Hong Kong into national development, the GASC promulgated the “Notice by the General Office of GASC on the Work of Awarding the Technical Grade Titles to Athletes from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR and Taiwan” in 2021, which explicitly indicated that it accepts Hong Kong athletes’ applications for award of the technical grade titles. For Hong Kong athletes who wish to be awarded the technical grade titles, they are required to submit written applications. In addition to submitting proof of results, the applications should be endorsed by the relevant National Sports Associations (NSAs) to which they belong.
Subsequently, having communicated with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the sports sector to understand the situation, the GASC has revised the the Administrative Measures to simplify the application procedures. The GASC promulgated the amended Administrative Measures on March 14, 2024.
Article 15 of the amended Administrative Measures specifies that Hong Kong athletes can be awarded the technical grade titles directly according to their results in national and provincial competitions, without having to submit written applications. The awarding body (e.g. the relevant sports centres or associations) may publicise the proposed technical grade titles directly based on the competition results for a period of five working days. The athletes will be awarded the respective technical grade titles if there is no objection within the period.
The amended Administrative Measures also indicate that for Hong Kong athletes who are registered with specific NSAs, they should obtain endorsement from the relevant NSAs before participating in competitions (i.e. providing a letter of consent from the relevant NSAs when participating in the competitions). In that way, the athletes can be awarded the technical grade titles based on their competition results after the public announcement period. Hong Kong athletes who are not registered with specific NSAs are not required to seek endorsement from relevant NSAs before they are awarded the technical grade titles. The amended Administrative Measures have come into effect from January 1, 2025.
The CSTB does not have the relevant information about the number of Hong Kong athletes currently developing in the Mainland, the number of NSA-registered Hong Kong athletes who have been awarded the technical grade titles with endorsement of the relevant NSAs, and the cases not being endorsed by the relevant NSAs.
The Hong Kong SAR Government encourages and supports Hong Kong athletes and NSAs to enhance exchange and co-operation with athletes and associations of various sports from different provinces and cities in the Mainland. The amended Administrative Measures, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, facilitate the award of the technical grade titles to Hong Kong athletes. The amended Administrative Measures also promote development opportunities of Hong Kong athletes in the Mainland, and enhance the integrated development of Hong Kong and the Mainland. The CSTB will continue to maintain communication with the GASC on the relevant arrangements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Siu-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
Question: (1) The average traffic flow, peak-hour traffic flow and its ratio to the daily traffic flow for government-tolled tunnels in 2024 are set out at Annex 1. The projected revenue and expenditure of government tunnels in 2025-26 are at Annex 4. ??? The TD is conducting a review of tunnel tolls. We plan to complete the review within this year and consult the Panel on Transport of the Legislative Council.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Special traffic arrangements for race meeting in Happy Valley- Traffic along eastbound Queen’s Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road; – Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; – Traffic along Queen’s Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel; – Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen’s Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen’s Road East; and – Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel; – Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of the HKJC; – Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and – Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen’s Road East.- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road; – Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; – Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road; – Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and – Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.- Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road; – Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road; – Canal Road East; and – The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.Issued at HKT 9:41
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
TD urges public to plan their cross-boundary trips in advance during long weekend of Ching Ming Festival holiday For public transport services, the TD has liaised with local and cross-boundary public transport services operators to strengthen their services during the long weekend. The waiting time for public transport services, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus), may be longer. Passengers are encouraged to make their journeys during non-peak hours, observe order and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of the public transport service operators concerned. Passengers of cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
Motorists are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port from April 4 to 6 to allow smooth access of public transport vehicles to the above control points. Cross-boundary private cars may need to queue up for crossing the BCPs. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the road. They are also advised to be patient in case of traffic congestion and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Flower Show photo competition entries to close on April 15 The photo competition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). The competition aims to promote community greening with impressive photographs of flowers and plants on display, interesting or touching scenes captured at the showground, and portraits of TVB artistes and Miss Hong Kong titleholders with beautiful garden displays as a background.
The photo competition is divided into three categories: Category A – Portrait of TVB Artistes and Miss Hong Kong; Category B – Flowers; and Category C – Snapshots.
Entries for Category A, comprising the Open and Student Sections, must be photos of TVB artistes and Miss Hong Kong titleholders taken by entrants to the activity, Portrait Photo Shooting Session, on March 13 at the showground in Victoria Park. Entries for Category B must be photos of flowers including garden displays or floral art exhibits taken at the showground during the show period. Entries for Category C must be photos of interesting features or moments at the flower show taken during the show period.
Results of the competition will be announced in June on the flower show webpage. Winners will be notified in writing for the collection of prizes. All winning entries will be uploaded onto the flower show webpage for public viewing at the same time.