Special traffic and transport arrangements for Cross Harbour Race in Wan Chai North and Tsim Sha Tsui
The Transport Department (TD) today (November 20) reminded members of the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements would be implemented in Wan Chai North and Tsim Sha Tsui to facilitate the holding of the Cross Harbour Race 2025 this Saturday (November 22):
Traffic and landing steps arrangements
- The section of Expo Drive East (including the pick-up/drop-off area) north of its junction with Expo Drive outside Golden Bauhinia Square will be temporarily closed from 0.30am to 1pm on November 22; and
- The landing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai and the landing steps of Kowloon Public Pier Nos. 1 to 4 will be closed in phases from 9am on November 21 to 1pm on November 22.
Public transport arrangements
- In view of the closure of the landing steps at Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui, the following water taxi and ferry services will be suspended:
Routes
Sailings Cancelled
Water taxi route "Tsim Sha Tsui East – Central (via West Kowloon and Wan Chai)"
- November 21 (Whole Day); and
- Sailings departing at 10.40am, 11.20am and 12.10pm from Tsim Sha Tsui East on November 22
Water taxi route "Tsim Sha Tsui – Lei Yue Mun (via Tsim Sha Tsui East)"
- Sailings departing at 11.40am (from Tsim Sha Tsui) and 12.30pm (from Lei Yue Mun) on November 22
Ferry services plying between Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui
- From the first sailing to 11am on November 22.
Ferry services plying between Central and Hung Hom
- From the first sailing to 11.10am on November 22.
- The terminal point of cross-harbour bus route No. 961 at Expo Drive East will be relocated to Harbour Road outside the Wan Chai Swimming Pool from the first departure to 1pm on November 22, while the bus stop of Citybus route Nos. H1S and H3 at Expo Drive East near Golden Bauhinia Square will also be suspended.
Resumption of the water taxi and ferry services will be subject to the actual reopening time of the affected area of the harbour. For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) or its mobile application "HKeMobility". Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators.
The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or "HKeMobility".
Source: AI-found image
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
