Smart Traffic Fund approves three projects
The Transport Department (TD) today (June 10) announced that three projects under the 25th batch of the Smart Traffic Fund have been approved by the Management Committee, with a total grant of around $19.5 million.
The three approved projects in the latest batch cover:
(1) The development of an intelligent traffic signal control system for temporary traffic arrangements by using real-time sensing technologies;
(2) The development of an autonomous driving perception model capable of recognising road works and temporary traffic arrangements in Hong Kong by applying "vision-language-action" technologies; and
(3) The study of large-scale deployment of regional dynamic traffic signal systems in Hong Kong by leveraging microscopic simulation models and real-time traffic signal control technologies.
Details of the projects are available on the Fund's website (stf.hkpc.org).
The Fund accepts applications throughout the year to provide funding support to local organisations and enterprises for conducting research and applying innovation and technology, with the objectives of enhancing commuting convenience, enhancing the efficiency of the road network or road space, and improving driving safety. All applications are considered and assessed in batches by the Management Committee, which is chaired by the Deputy Commissioner for Transport/Planning and Technical Services, and comprises representatives from the Government, experts in the industry and relevant stakeholders.
The TD appeals to interested organisations and enterprises for participation to help make the Fund a success and to build Hong Kong into a more liveable and sustainable city by driving Hong Kong toward a new era of transportation.
Application details are available on the Fund's website. For enquiries, please contact the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Secretariat of the Fund, on 27885536 or stf_sec@hkpc.org.
The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post
Housing Bureau reminds owners of Wang Fuk Court to return "Letter of Acceptance" before deadline
The Housing Bureau today (August 25) reminded owners of the eight buildings from Blocks A to H of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to sign and return the "Letter of Acceptance" at or before 5pm on August 31 if they accept the Government's acquisition offer.
The Housing Bureau, Photo source: reference image
Owners may submit the duly signed "Letter of Acceptance" with the return envelope enclosed with the "Letter of Offer" by post, by hand or by courier to the following address:
Housing Bureau, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
c/o Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition Limited
1/F, Block 2, Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters,
33 Fat Kwong Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
For owners who opt to send the return by post, the postmark date will be taken as the submission date. Owners must therefore send their return by post before the cut-off time ends on August 31 to ensure the envelope is postmarked with that date. Owners may also choose to submit the return in person to the drop-off box at the above address at or before 5pm on August 31, or hand it over to their designated Engagement Team member.
A spokesman of the Housing Bureau said that in handling the long-term housing arrangement plan for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (long-term plan), the Government has consistently prioritised empathy as its guiding principle. In setting the acquisition price, the Government takes into account that the residents have lost their homes and suffered significant losses, and their difficult circumstances warrant the understanding and support from society. In addition, the scale and impact of the Wang Fuk Court fire are unprecedented in Hong Kong. The arrangements made for this "special case of exceptional nature" will not constitute a precedent. Therefore, the current acquisition price is about 30 per cent higher than the pre-fire market transaction prices of Wang Fuk Court as assessed by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, with a view to enabling Wang Fuk Court owners to secure long-term housing. As reflected in the acquisition figures, the vast majority of owners welcome the Government's proposal.
The spokesman said that after the deadline of the long-term plan (i.e. August 31), the unsold titles will be reverted to and be handled through the market mechanism, and owners will inevitably have to bear the risks of not selling their flats before that deadline. The Government does not rule out the need to ultimately handle the unsold flat titles through legislative means.
Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post
The Government has reserved over 4 400 flats in a total of 10 development projects of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) for owners who have sold their titles of Wang Fuk Court flats to the Government to purchase or to participate in the "Flat-for-Flat" arrangement.
The flat selection priority under the Special Sales Exercise will be determined in batches according to the date on which the duly signed "Letter of Acceptance" from the owners is received by the Government. The deadline for the first batch is June 30, and the deadline for the second batch is August 31. The flat selection order for applicants within the same batch will be further determined by their sequence as drawn in a ballot. The ballot and flat selection under the Special Sales Exercise will commence in September.
The Housing Bureau reminds Wang Fuk Court owners that if they have returned the "Letter of Acceptance" but have not yet signed the Agreement for Sale and Purchase, they may still participate in the ballot according to their respective batches. For owners who have already signed the Agreement for Sale and Purchase, thereby legally confirming the sale of their titles to the Government, they will be invited for flat selection. If the titles of the Wang Fuk Court flats have not yet been assigned to the Government, a new flat under the Special Sales Exercise will only be reserved for the owners during the flat selection stage. The HA/HKHS will enter into an Agreement for Sale and Purchase or a Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase with the owners for the purchase of the new flat only after the completion and execution of assignment.
The Engagement Team co-ordinated by the Housing Bureau will continue to communicate with Wang Fuk Court owners. If owners have any enquiries, they may contact their designated Engagement Team member or call the hotline at 2129 8133. Owners may also visit the dedicated website for the Wang Fuk Court long-term housing arrangements plan (www.hb.gov.hk/wfc) for further details.
Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post
