Green Minibus service to High Island Reservoir East Dam to be suspended on Sunday morning amid temporary traffic and transport arrangements for marathon in Sai Kung
The Government today (January 8) reminded members of the public and visitors that the following temporary road closures will be implemented at Tai Mong Tsai Road and Sai Kung Man Yee Road this Sunday (January 11) to facilitate the holding of a marathon event at Pak Tam Chung and Sai Kung Man Yee Road, Sai Kung:
(1) The section of Tai Mong Tsai Road between Pak Tam Chung Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied Site and Sai Kung Man Yee Road will be intermittently closed from 7.25am to 7.35am and 7.55am to 8.05am; and
(2) The section of Sai Kung Man Yee Road from its junction with Tai Mong Tsai Road to a point about 8.3 kilometres south of the same junction will be temporarily closed from 7.30am to 1.30pm.
As for public transport, during the closure of Sai Kung Man Yee Road, the service of New Territories Green Minibus (GMB) Route No. 9A (Pak Tam Chung - East Dam, High Island Reservoir) will be suspended from its first departure from Pak Tam Chung at 9.30am until 1.30pm, and taxi access will also be prohibited, until the reopening of the road.
The Government spokesman urged visitors to heed the temporary traffic and transport arrangements and said that they may only access the East Dam on foot during the suspension of public transport services. Visitors should plan their journeys well in advance, pay attention to on-site instructions, and observe their safety. Departments concerned have maintained close liaison with the event organiser and have been steering the GMB operator for early preparations, so that vehicles can be deployed as soon as the road reopens to enhance services to meet passenger demand, in co-ordination with the Police's traffic control measures to ease passenger flow.
Other temporary road and traffic control measures, including adjusting the extent of road closures and alteration or suspension of public transport services, may be implemented by the Police at short notice depending on the actual traffic conditions. Motorists and visitors should pay extra attention, exercise patience, and follow the instructions of the Police on-site.
Visitors should refer to the Transport Department's website (www.td.gov.hk) or mobile application HKeMobility for the latest traffic news.
Source: AI-created image
Collecting preferences of Wang Fuk Court flat owners to advance long-term rehousing work
A Government spokesman said today (January 9) that social workers under the "one social worker per household" service of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) are proactively contacting flat owners of Wang Fuk Court, who were affected by the fire. They are comprehensively and systematically gathering each owner's preliminary preferences regarding long-term rehousing to assist in formulating and implementing specific plans.
The Chief Executive previously instructed the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements to co-ordinate relevant policy bureaux and departments in studying long-term rehousing solutions. Adhering to the principles of "empathy, reason, and law", with priority given to "empathy", the Task Force aims to address the individual circumstances and preferences of residents while ensuring the efficient use of resources to assist affected households in rebuilding their homes.
The spokesman said, "Social workers from the SWD have been in contact with the residents, listening to their views, understanding their actual situations and needs, and providing necessary assistance. Regarding long-term accommodation, we have noticed differing opinions among flat owners and the community. For example, some hope that the Government will acquire the properties or give priority to Wang Fuk Court flat owners to purchase Home Ownership Scheme flats. Some residents seek local rehousing, while others accept rehousing in different districts. Some propose in-situ redevelopment, but there are also concerns about the lengthy waiting times.
"We hope to systematically and comprehensively collect Wang Fuk Court flat owners' opinions, further listening to and summarising their preferences. This includes identifying key principles that the Government should consider when addressing long-term accommodation arrangements and noting the flat owners’ initial preferences for different long-term rehousing options. This information will serve as a reference for the Government's follow-up actions."
Starting today, social workers under the SWD's "one social worker per household" service will begin contacting flat owners of Wang Fuk Court to gather their initial preferences regarding various long-term rehousing arrangements. The goal is to collect responses from the flat owners by mid-to-late January for analysis.
The spokesman said, "The Task Force will carefully compile and study the different preferences of flat owners and will conduct a comprehensive assessment based on the actual conditions at Wang Fuk Court, including structural safety, technical feasibility, and community planning. We aim to provide affected flat owners with suggestions regarding long-term proposals as soon as possible for their consideration and decision-making."
He said, "The Government and affected flat owners share a same objective: to implement solutions promptly and reassure them as soon as possible."
Following the fire, the Government arranged emergency accommodation for the affected residents of Wang Fuk Court in a short time frame. As of today, more than 4 400 residents are staying in hotels, youth hostels/camps, transitional housing, units from the Hong Kong Housing Society or Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun. Since December 22 last year, the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has provided each flat owner, in tranches, with a two-year rental subsidy up to a maximum of $300,000, giving them more flexibility and options in their accommodation arrangements.
