Hong Kong – TD concerned about cross-boundary traffic in early hours this morning

TD concerned about cross-boundary traffic in early hours this morning

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     ​A spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) said today (January 1) that in anticipation of a large number of visitors returning to the Mainland in the early hours of the morning after the New Year’s Eve fireworks musical, the service operators had already increased the number of vehicles in accordance with the TD’s recommendations, for example, strengthening service headway at Prince Edward from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes, in order to cope with the demand of cross-boundary visitors returning to the Mainland overnight. The TD is concerned about the long waiting time for cross-boundary visitors and will review the situation and take follow-up action.
      
     The spokesman added that as of last night (December 31), the number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong was 223 000, which was the highest one-day figure in 2023. The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s “Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations” fireworks musical on Victoria Harbour, which resumed last night after New Year’s Eve 2018, was also very popular, with more than 479 000 people watching on both sides of the Victoria Harbour. The TD has been closely monitoring the traffic situation in various districts after midnight and has maintained liaison with local and cross-boundary transport operators with a view to facilitating the dispersal of local residents and cross-boundary visitors as soon as possible. However, as only the Huanggang Control Point maintained passenger clearance service between Hong Kong and Shenzhen after midnight, and as the number of outbound travellers was higher than expected, the vehicle queue extended from Huanggang Control Point to the San Tin Highway, and therefore even though the cross-boundary bus operators had deployed additional vehicles, visitors still had to wait for a longer time for cross-boundary coaches in the urban area.
      
     The TD will review and follow up the incident with the relevant departments and service operators with a view to providing better service arrangements for cross-boundary visitors.

Hong Kong – AFCD concerned about injury case caused by wild pig

AFCD concerned about injury case caused by wild pig

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     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is very concerned about an incident today (October 21) where a wild pig injured a member of the public in Mong Kok Flower Market. 

     The AFCD received a referral from the Police this morning regarding a wild pig found in Mong Kok Flower Market. The Department immediately sent a dedicated team to the scene to follow up and found a wild pig upon arrival. During the incident, the wild pig dashed into a flower shop on Yuen Ngai Street and injured a member of the public. An AFCD veterinarian anesthetised the wild pig with a tranquiliser gun and captured it. 

     The concerned wild pig is an adult female weighing about 55 kilograms with a body length of about 1.2 metre. Considering that the wild pig had attacked members of the public and its continual presence in urban areas would pose a danger to the public, the AFCD officers dispatched it humanely to safeguard public safety.

     To safeguard public safety and maintain public hygiene, the AFCD implemented new measures in November 2021 to capture the wild pigs for humane dispatch at sites with presence of large numbers of wild pigs, with cases of wild pigs injuring citizens, or with wild pigs posing risks to members of the public. Furthermore, the AFCD also conducts operations to capture the wild pigs upon receiving wild pig sighting reports in urban areas or near residential areas from the public or other government departments. During the operations, the AFCD officers use dart guns with anaesthetics to capture the wild pigs, and perform humane dispatch on them through medicine injection.

     An AFCD spokesman said, “Since the implementation of the new measures, a total of over 670 wild pigs have been humanely dispatched, with the number of wild pig nuisance blackspots decreased from 63 in 2021 to 28 as of today. There has also been a downward trend in the number of public reports of wild pig sightings or nuisances received by the AFCD, from over 1 400 cases in 2021 to about 1 100 cases in 2022. The number of cases this year as of September 2023 was about 770. Furthermore, the number of injury cases caused by wild pigs has decreased from 20 cases in 2021 and 36 cases in 2022, to eight cases in 2023 as of today.”

     The spokesman further said, “The AFCD is very concerned about the incident of a wild pig injuring a citizen. The department expresses sympathies to the injured and hopes that he will recover soon.”

     He reminded the public to stay calm upon encountering wild pigs, refrain from approaching and disturbing them, and do not throw any objects at them or drive them away so as not to provoke the wild pigs and cause danger. If necessary, the public may hide behind obstacles and wait for the wild pigs to leave before proceeding. If wild pigs pose an immediate threat to personal safety, please call 999 immediately for help.

     The spokesman pointed out that the amended Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) has extended the feeding ban area for wild animals to the entire territory of Hong Kong. Anyone who illegally feeds wild animals (including wild pigs) shall be liable to a fine of $10,000 upon conviction. The Government hopes to be able to introduce an amendment bill into the Legislative Council within this year for further amendments to the Ordinance, with a view to regulating activities of feeding feral pigeons, increasing the maximum penalty for illegal feeding, and introducing a fixed penalty.

     The spokesman reiterated that the AFCD will continue to implement wild pig capture and dispatch operations to reduce wild pig nuisances, and strengthen law enforcement on wild pig feeding activities to reduce the incentives that attract wild pigs to appear in urban areas or near residential areas. He appealed to the public not to feed wild animals so as not to change their natural habits and disrupt the ecological balance, and cause problems such as environmental hygiene and nuisances.

Hong Kong – LCSD highly concerned about fatal work accident at North Kwai Chung Tang Shiu Kin Sports Centre

LCSD highly concerned about fatal work accident at North Kwai Chung Tang Shiu Kin Sports Centre

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     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at North Kwai Chung Tang Shiu Kin Sports Centre at around 11.45am today (August 7), in which a 69-year-old male maintenance worker died. The LCSD has informed the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) and the Police immediately after the accident for assistance and investigation.

     The deceased was an outsourced maintenance worker of the ArchSD. He was carrying out maintenance works of the ceiling on a hydraulic platform at the arena of North Kwai Chung Tang Shiu Kin Sports Centre today. The hydraulic platform suddenly plunged, causing him to fall onto the ground. The LCSD staff immediately called the ambulance and the worker was found unconscious by the ambulance man who arrived at the scene. He was sent to Yan Chai Hospital and was certified dead later.

     The LCSD expressed sorrow on the deceased and extended the deepest condolences to his family. While the cause of the incident is under investigation, the department has immediately suspended the use of all hydraulic platforms of the same model.

UNICEF concerned for children in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Mawar/Betty enters Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)

MANILA – WEBWIRE

Typhoon Mawar (local name Betty) has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) today and will remain a Super Typhoon this weekend. Government forecasts possible heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides north of the Philippines.

UNICEF expresses its concern for children and families who continue to pay the price for extreme weather brought about by climate change. On Wednesday, UNICEF released a report that revealed that nearly all children in the Philippines face multiple, overlapping types of climate and environmental shocks, hazards and stresses. UNICEF is committed and ready to provide support to the Philippine Government to reach the most vulnerable.

UNICEF as co-leader of the WASH, education, nutrition and child protection clusters is in regular communication with partners at the national and local levels.

Childrens right to survive and thrive is threatened by climate and environmental hazards and shocks, said UNICEF Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov. Every child should be given the skills to adapt. Urgent action is needed from governments, businesses and donors to invest in building climate-smart social services. No child should be displaced or struggle to survive after a typhoon.

UNICEF has prepositioned emergency supplies for nearly 10,000 families to respond to affected peoples needs for safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, education, and child protection. These supplies include schools-in-a-box, family hygiene and dignity kits, tents, water purification tablets, and ready-to-use therapeutic food, among others. UNICEF is ready to distribute these supplies on short notice and activate partners for immediate distribution.

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Hong Kong – EPD highly concerned about industrial accident at West Kowloon Transfer Station

EPD highly concerned about industrial accident at West Kowloon Transfer Station

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is highly concerned about an industrial accident at the West Kowloon Transfer Station (WKTS) that occurred today (April 20), which resulted in the injury of a worker.

     The 49-year-old injured male worker was hired by the subcontractor of the WKTS service contractor. At around 8.40am today, the worker’s hand was injured by a machine while he was working in the WKTS. He was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital for medical treatment.

     The EPD immediately deployed staff to the scene and the hospital after the incident to obtain details of the accident and understand the condition of the injured. The EPD extended sympathies to the family members of the injured worker and provided them with appropriate assistance. It is noted that the WKTS contractor and subcontractor will give an ex-gratia relief payment to the injured worker.

     The EPD is very concerned about the accident and has requested the contractor and subcontractor to fully co-operate with the Labour Department in its investigation. The EPD has also requested the contractor to submit an incident report for the department’s follow-up investigation.

     The EPD has been closely monitoring the contractor’s operation and safety. In addition to regular inspections on the subcontractor’s operation and occupational safety, the contractor also provides training on machinery operation and safety for subcontractors.