Transport Department Enhances Services for Residents Affected by Tai Po Fire and Transitional Housing Needs

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.

The Transport Department, Photo by Bastille Post

ExCo Non-official Members congratulate successful launch of manned Shenzhou-23 spacecraft

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) today (May 24) warmly congratulate the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceship. They extend their highest respect to all crew members, including Dr Lai Ka-ying, the first payload expert from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. This mission is the first manned spaceflight during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and the first time a Hong Kong expert has participated, which is a truly momentous occasion. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the country for providing Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent with this invaluable opportunity to take part in the country's aerospace endeavours. Dr Lai has successfully undergone the rigorous selection and training process to become one of the country's fourth batch of astronauts, and China's fourth female astronaut to reach space, contributing Hong Kong's strength to the national aerospace endeavours. She has exemplified the Lion Rock spirit of rising to challenges with resilience and perseverance. Her courage and determination are truly admirable, and all Hong Kong citizens are immensely inspired and proud of her. The understanding and support of her family are also essential for her to participate in this mission with resolution. I am deeply grateful for their support and commitment.

"The HKSAR Government is actively developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre and supporting promising research projects through various funding schemes. As an example, the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO) camera, developed under a project led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and funded by the Government's Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology, has successfully arrived at China's Tiangong Space Station, becoming Hong Kong's first scientific payload aboard the station. This fully demonstrates Hong Kong's innovation and technology edge and talent advantages."

Non-official Members of the Executive Council expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the country for its high recognition of Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent, development and achievements, as well as its profound emphasis, care and support for Hong Kong's scientific and technological development. They firmly believe that the HKSAR Government will seize this historic moment to nurture more outstanding innovation and technology talent for the country and Hong Kong, and better integrate into and serve the country's overall development.

Source: AI-found images