TD steers to enhance public transport services to support Tai Po fire residents admitted into transitional housing
The Transport Department (TD) today (December 21) said that it has been steering public transport operators to strengthen services by deploying additional vehicles and manpower to support residents affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, who have been admitted into transitional housing in various districts.
Among them, an additional residents' service (RS) will be introduced connecting CONCORDIA Tsat Sing Kong and CONCORDIA Sheung Yue River in Yuen Long and Tai Po Market Station. To date, the public transport arrangements for various transitional housing projects are set out below:
District |
Project |
Current public transport services |
Additional/enhanced public transport services |
Tai Po |
Good House |
KMB 72C, 73P, 74E, 75K, 75P and 275R to Tai Po Market, Tsuen Wan and Kwun Tong respectively
Green Minibus (GMB) 20B, 20C, 20E, 20G, 20R and 20T to Tai Po Market Station
Additional RS NR540 to and from Good House and Tai Po Market Station, providing service from morning to nighttime daily
Additional shuttle bus service to and from Good House, Tai Po Centre and Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, providing service from morning to nighttime daily
Lok Sin Village |
Additional shuttle bus service to and from Lok Sin Village and Tai Po Market Station, providing service from morning to nighttime from Mondays to Saturdays
GMB 20B, 20C and 20G services enhanced
Enhanced service by three additional vehicles under KMB 75K, with last departure from Tai Mei Tuk extended from 11.40pm to 0.05am in the following day
Trackside Villas |
RSNR50 to and from Trackside Villas and Tai Po Market Station
NR50 to enhance service
Yuen Long |
CONCORDIA Sheung Yue River |
KMB 77K to Sheung Shui Station and Yuen Long Station
Red minibus to Sheung Shui Station and Yuen Long
Additional RS NR977 to and from CONCORDIA Tsat Sing Kong, CONCORDIA Sheung Yue River and Tai Po Market Station, providing service from morning to nighttime daily
Enhanced service by additional vehicle under KMB 77K
CONCORDIA Tsat Sing Kong |
KMB 54, 77K, 251B and 251M to Yuen Long, Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan respectively
GMB 608 and 608S to Yuen Long and Kam Sheung Road Station respectively
THE STEP |
RS NR976 to and from THE STEP and Kam Sheung Road Station
KMB 76K to Long Ping and Sheung Shui
GMB 75 to Yuen Long and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, 76 to Yuen Long and 78 to Tai Lam Tunnel Toll Plaza and Lok Ma Chau (San Tin)
Red minibus to Sheung Shui Station and Yuen Long
Additional supplementary service of RS NR976 to and from THE STEP and Tai Po Market Station, providing service from morning to nighttime daily
North |
Pok Oi Sing Ping Village |
KMB 79K to Fanling and Sheung Shui Station
GMB 52K to Fanling Station
Service enhanced by additional vehicle under KMB 79K
For details of franchised bus and GMB services, please refer to the website of the TD (www.td.gov.hk) and franchised bus operators. The TD will continue to maintain close liaison with the operating organisations of transitional housing projects concerned and public transport operators to cater for residents' commuting needs.
Source: AI-found images
Update on chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (December 21), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded. Hong Kong has recorded a total of 81 confirmed CF cases this year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
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Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area, the trails are currently closed until further notice. As the CHP and relevant government departments are conducting large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails recently, the CHP continues to appeal to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations.
The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm. All doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong should closely monitor whether their patients present with compatible symptoms and arrange blood tests for those concerned. The CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch will provide free testing services.
Specifically targeting confirmed cases who visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the hiking trails. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts, to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
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TheFEHDand relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July this year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
- carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
- carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
- enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.
The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.
Preventive measures taken by the public
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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
- read the label instructions carefully first;
- apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
- apply on exposed skin and clothing;
- use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
- apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
- reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
- in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, and also the Mosquito Prevention and Control dedicated page of the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
