Hong Kong's Housing Secretary Promotes Well-being Design at International Urbanism Forum in Lisbon.

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon

​The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, began her visit to Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday (July 2, Lisbon time). She first met with the Secretary of State for Housing in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, Ms Patrícia Gonçalves Costa, to exchange views on the housing policies of the two places. She attended the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU) held at the Pavilion of Portugal for the previous World Expo afterwards and explored the latest trends of housing planning, design and management, community engagement and more with scholars, industry representatives, professional bodies and students from the Mainland, Europe and the United States. She also took the opportunity to promote Hong Kong's resident-oriented "Well-being design" concepts and strategies.

Ms Ho attended the IFoU Winter School workshop held in Hong Kong earlier this year, where she shared a vision on public housing projects over the next five years including those in the Northern Metropolis, and how to integrate the eight well-being concepts from the "Well-being design" guide into public housing developments. Speaking at the IFoU, Ms Ho said that she was delighted to be invited again to attend this forum and exchange views with international scholars, political and business sectors and young people on Hong Kong's public housing design and development.

She stated in the plenary session that public housing construction not only promotes the development of innovative construction technologies, but also enables further exploration of resident-oriented design to build a more interactive, energetic community that enhances intergenerational harmony. The Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) launched the "Well-being design" guide last year, which covers eight well-being concepts, namely "Health & Vitality", "Green Living and Sustainability", "Age-Friendliness", "Intergenerational & Inclusive Living", "Family & Community Connection", "Urban Integration", "Upward Mobility" and "Perception & Image". It serves as a reference for the future design of new public housing estates and the improvement works of existing estates to create a more comfortable and vibrant living environment for its residents.

Ms Ho said that with 308 000 public housing units to be built in the next 10 years, new public housing estates will have an average of 4 000 to 5 000 units, in which around 10 000 people will reside. The completion of each housing estate is like establishing a new small community, with common areas for various residents' activities to take place and bring people together. Within a 15-minute living circle, various shops are available to meet the daily needs of residents, and social welfare facilities and schools are provided. Public transportation is available to enable the residents' commute and help them stay connected with society. The HKHA is also increasing green spaces in the estates through landscaping to promote green, healthy living, and is introducing new technologies to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.

Ms Ho said that Hong Kong can give full play to the role of being a "super connector" through interactions and exchanges in different places: on one hand promoting the HKHA's evolving design and experiences in construction and management since its establishment over 50 years ago, the application of the "Well-being design" guide and innovative construction technologies to outside of Hong Kong. On the other hand, Hong Kong is gaining a better understanding of the efforts of other places in carbon reduction, energy saving and sustainable development, and more.

The IFoU is an international platform for converging innovative ideas on architecture and urban planning. International conferences and workshops on architecture and urban design are organised in different cities each year, allowing representatives and students from member institutions around the world to exchange ideas. This year's conference, themed "Future Living" has seven topics, namely "Dwelling", "Connecting", "Integrating", "Adapting", "Visioning", "Steering", and "Sharing", and was hosted by the University of Lisbon. Participants of the forum explored ideas towards future living environments to foster cross-sectoral co-operation to cope with various challenges, and formulate innovative plans for sustainable development.

After the forum, Ms Ho and the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Ms Maisie Chan, had dinner with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Portuguese Republic, Mr Zhao Bentang, and briefed him on Hong Kong's latest housing policies and initiatives, including promoting the development of innovative housing construction technologies by capitalising on the strengths of the GBA; leveraging Hong Kong's important role as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" between the Mainland and the rest of the world, serving as a two-way springboard for Mainland enterprises to go global, and for attracting overseas enterprises.

Ms Ho will continue her visit in Lisbon today (July 3, Lisbon time) before departing for Barcelona, Spain.

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for Housing promotes "Well-being design" in Lisbon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Special traffic arrangements for International Football Friendly Match - Hong Kong, China vs Mongolia

The Police announced today (June 5) that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in So Kon Po and Causeway Bay to facilitate the International Football Friendly Match - Hong Kong, China vs Mongolia, which will be held tonight at the Hong Kong Stadium. The Police urge members of the public travelling to areas subject to road traffic control to make use of public transport as far as possible.

A. Traffic arrangements before the start of the event

Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following arrangements will be implemented from about 5.30pm:

Road closure

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- Caroline Hill Road between its eastern junction with Leighton Road and Cotton Path;

- Part of the traffic lane of Caroline Hill Road between Eastern Hospital Road and Cotton Path;

- Westbound Hysan Avenue between Yun Ping Road and Hoi Ping Road;

- Stadium Path; and

- Lee Garden Road between Lan Fong Road and Hysan Avenue, except for green minibuses (GMBs).

Traffic diversions

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- Caroline Hill Road between its western junction with Leighton Road and Stadium Path will be rerouted one-way southbound;

- Eastern Hospital Road between Stadium Path and Tung Lo Wan Road will be rerouted one-way northbound;

- Two traffic lanes on Caroline Hill Road between its western junction with Leighton Road and Link Road will be designated for traffic entering Caroline Hill Road from Hoi Ping Road;

- Hysan Avenue between Leighton Road and Hoi Ping Road will be rerouted one-way eastbound;

- Two traffic lanes on eastbound Hysan Avenue will be designated for traffic turning right to Hoi Ping Road;

- Vehicles leaving the private driveway of Lee Garden One must turn left to eastbound Hysan Avenue;

- Traffic along Yun Ping Road cannot turn left to westbound Hysan Avenue, and vehicles will be diverted to Lan Fong Road and Pak Sha Road;

- Traffic along northbound Link Road downhill to northbound Caroline Hill Road may need to turn left to westbound Leighton Road; and

- Vehicles travelling along Lan Fong Road may not be allowed to turn left to southbound Lee Garden Road, and will be diverted to northbound Lee Garden Road, Foo Ming Street and southbound Percival Street, except for GMBs.

Passenger drop-off zone

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The drop-off zone for taxis and private cars will be arranged to set down passengers at the locations specified below:

- Western kerbside of Caroline Hill Road near the Disciplined Service Sports and Recreation Club;

- Northern kerbside of Cotton Path; and

- Southern kerbside (taxi drop-off zone) and northern kerbside (private car drop-off zone) of Eastern Hospital Road near the main entrance of Hong Kong Stadium.

B. Traffic arrangements upon conclusion of the event

Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following arrangements will be implemented from about 9.30pm:

Road closure

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- Caroline Hill Road;

- Eastern Hospital Road between Caroline Hill Road and Cotton Path;

- Northbound Link Road (downhill), except for vehicles heading for No. 1, 3, 5 and 7 on Link Road;

- Hoi Ping Road;

- Sunning Road, except for vehicles leaving Lee Garden Three Car Park;

- Cotton Path and Leighton Road (when necessary).

Traffic diversions

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- Before the end of the event, vehicles leaving the South China Athletic Association car parks may be permitted to turn right at the western exit to northbound Caroline Hill Road;

- Before the end of the event, vehicles leaving buildings on Eastern Hospital Road may be permitted to turn right to northbound Eastern Hospital Road;

- Traffic along westbound Leighton Road cannot enter Caroline Hill Road for Link Road, and vehicles will be diverted via Wong Nai Chung Road and Broadwood Road; and

- When Leighton Road is closed, traffic along westbound Causeway Road will be diverted via Irving Street; traffic along eastbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted via Canal Road West; traffic along southbound Percival Street must turn right to westbound Leighton Road; and traffic along southbound Canal Road East cannot turn left to Leighton Road.

C. Other special arrangements

Prohibition for learner drivers

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The following roads will be prohibited to all learner drivers between 5pm to 11pm:

- Westbound Leighton Road;

- Percival Street south of Hennessy Road;

- Caroline Hill Road;

- Link Road;

- Stadium Path;

- Cotton Path; and

- Eastern Hospital Road.

Suspension of parking spaces

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All on-street parking spaces on the following roads will be suspended from 5pm to 11pm:

- Stadium Path;

- Northbound Caroline Hill Road between Stadium Path and Cotton Path;

- Hoi Ping Road;

- Sunning Road; and

- Eastern Hospital Road.

Restrictions on access to / exit from car parks

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During the road closure period, vehicles in car parks within the road closure area may not be permitted to leave. If necessary, all car parks along Caroline Hill Road, Eastern Hospital Road, Stadium Path and Cotton Path will be closed at short notice.

During the implementation of the special traffic arrangements, any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the specified areas will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.

Depending on the prevailing conditions, other traffic control measures will be implemented. Motorists are advised to exercise patience and tolerance, and take heed of instructions of the police officers on site.

Source: AI-found images