Govt brushes aside fears of bridge parking squeeze in Tung Chung

The Transport Dept has brushed aside concerns over a lack of parking spaces in Tung Chung after the opening of the Hong Kong-Macau Bridge.

Islands District Councillor and DAB vice-chairman Holden Chow says he was “disappointed” by the department’s attitude, which he believes will lead to bridge travellers taking up scarce parking spots in Tung Chung.

“The 650 parking spaces currently planned by the government are definitely not sufficient to meet future needs,” he told a council meeting last week. By comparison Macau and Hengqin at the other end of the bridge have 10,000 parking spots, he pointed out.

“There will certainly be a problem with parking spaces in Tung Chung Town Centre.”

In a written response, the Transport Dept said the government had built a public transport interchange which was accessible from all parts of the city via different types of transport.

“The government expects most visitors to and from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will use public transport service,” it said.

However it said the department would consider the need for parking lots and other facilities on the bridge landing zone following the completion of a Development Bureau study.

The bridge, expected to open late this year or early next, has been forecast to carry 14,000 vehicles daily.

Volunteers clean up Shui Hau but may need to return

More than 40 volunteers yesterday collected 150 bags of rubbish dumped on Shui Hau mangroves by typhoons three weeks ago.

The slow-moving currents of Shui Hau bay had been unable to wash way the rubbish deposited by typhoons Hato and Pakhar, while hundreds of plastic bags had been caught on mangrove branches.

Organiser Ho Loy, chairman of the Lantau Buffalo Assocation, warns that more cleaning up may be required.

She said that yesterday’s three-hour cleanup removed the plastic bags and general rubbish from just a quarter of the mangroves.

“Don’t rule out a second round of action in the short term,” she said in a Facebook post, warning that two more big winds may be on the way.

Photos: Ho Loy

 

North Lantau Hospital expansion to meet growth in elderly population

North Lantau Hospital, which opened just four years ago, is about to expand to meet the needs of Hong Kong’s growing aged population.

But the initial expansion will be to provide support services for the Hospital Authority (HA).

The authority is planning a support services centre that will carry out laundry, catering and data centre services for the city’s public hospitals. It will have capacity for 12.5 million meals and 27.5 million kg in laundry annually.

Services centre planned for vacant site on Yu Tung Rd

The city’s hospital services face a steep rise in demand over the next 20 years, with the population expected to grow 10% and the number of elderly residents forecast to nearly double, the HA said.

The HA can’t yet say what extra beds or medical services it will provide for Lantau residents.

It says the second phase of the development will be for capacity growth by using the residual portion of the reserved site.

The HA says it wants to begin work as soon as possible. The Islands District Council will discuss the plans at its scheduled meeting on Monday.

Tung Chung air hits danger level as Amy Yung calls for EPD answers

Tung Chung’s air quality yesterday hit dangerous levels, with more bad air on its way.

The government Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 10+ – its highest level – in Tung Chung, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long on Tuesday afternoon, a result of high temperatures and light winds.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) says the hot, still conditions are the result of a subtropical ridge which will continue today. It said in a statement:

Hong Kong will remain very hot with sunny periods. Showers will increase gradually in the latter part of this week. It is expected that pollution levels will remain higher than normal until then.

The department warns that when AQI readings reach the 10+ or “serious” level, children, elderly and people with heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to stay indoors.

The general public is advised to reduce to the minimum outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce to the minimum the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic.

Islands District Councillor Amy Yung has called on the EPD to explain the “continued deterioration of air quality in Tung Chung.”

In a question tabled prior to yesterday’s readings, Yung asked EPD officials to attend next Monday’s council meeting to advise what measures have been formulated to improve Tung Chung’s air.

Tung Chung historically has had some of the city’s worst air quality, a result of its proximity to the airport and the Pearl River as well as the basin effect of mountains on three sides.

The area is in the throes of a massive expansion in population, from 80,000 today to an estimated 268,000 in the middle of the next decade.

A maximum of 34.3 degrees was recorded at Chek Lap Kok yesterday. At 11:45 today the temperature at Chek Lap Kok was 31.1 degrees.

Rat snacks at Yat Tung noodle stall (pic)

Rats and restaurants are a good combo only in movies.

When a passerby saw this rat dining on chicken wings at a Yat Tung market stall last week, he was appalled and captured this photo on his phone.

Mr Lee was on his way for lunch when he and saw the uninvited guest snacking on food laid out in the window trays. He described the stall as not very hygienic, Apple Daily reported.

A female staffer saw the rat and removed the food immediately. She later told an Apple Daily reporter that “usually we don’t have any rats.”

Apple Daily gave the incident the full treatment:

T8 raised as Pakhar nears Hong Kong

The Observatory raised the T8 signal and the amber rainstorm warnings at 5:10am as Typhoon Pakhar approaches Hong Kong.

The typhoon is about 120 km southwest of Hong Kong and forecast to land west of the Pearl River Estuary at 12 noon.

Low-lying areas face possible flooding, the Observatory warns.

Cathay Pacific says it expects delays and cancellations on services on Sunday and Monday.

All ferry services were suspended from 5:30am and South Lantao bus services will be suspended from 7am.

The MTR will run limited services on the Tung Chung and other lines.

 

Tai O faces more flooding as Typhoon Pakhar threatens

The Hong Kong Observatory may raise the T8 warning early Sunday morning as Typhoon Pakhar approaches the city.

The Observatory hoisted the T3 warning at 8:40pm tonight and the thunderstorm warning at 9:20.

It warned of flooding in low-lying areas, raising fears of further flooding in Tai O.  Dozens of residents were evacuated from the coastal village after sea levels rose dramatically when Hato hit on Wednesday morning.

Pakhar, which is expected to come within 150 kilometres of Hong Kong tomorrow morning, packs much less of a punch, with maximum wind speeds of around 90kmh.

Hato, just the second hurricane-level typhoon in three decades, brought sustained wind speeds of up to 130 kmh.

The Observatory it said in a statement Saturday evening:

Severe Tropical Storm Pakhar moves relatively fast and continues to edge closer to the coast of Guangdong. Strong winds are affecting offshore waters and high ground. According to the present track, Pakhar will be closest to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (Sunday), skirting within about 150 kilometres southwest of the territory. Unless Pakhar takes a more westerly track or weakens, the Observatory will consider issuing the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 before 6 a.m. tomorrow.

Satellite map, 10:30pm Saturday (HK Observatory)

Lantau’s own Folk Ups in farewell gig tonight

Lantau’s teenage indie-folk outfit the Folk Ups farewell their home fans tonight as they move on to the next stage in their careers.

They’re not moving to LA. Having just completed high school,  Ryan and Jasmine are going abroad to study.

In their brief time as a duo they’ve built an impressive resume, thanks to Jasmine’s golden voice and Ryan’s melodic, well-constructed songs.

They’ve done more than 50 gigs, including Clockenflap and Rugby Sevens and have recorded half a dozen of their own tunes. They released their second EP, Shelby, just two weeks ago (available for free on Spotify and Bandcamp).

The pair spoke to Lantau News in Mui Wo this week.

Do you both live on Lantau?

Jasmine: I was born in Thailand, lived there until I was ten, and then moved to Malaysia. I came to Lantau seven years ago.

Ryan: I grew up in Lantau and I’ve lived in Mui Wo for ten years.

How did you get together?

Jasmine: We met at school – YMCA in Tung Chung. We were in the same class. I don’t remember how exactly but somehow we found out we each did music and we started playing together. Then we won a school talent contest.

Where was your first gig?

Jasmine: It was in a doorway at the school in front of about 50 people. I was so nervous. It was a promo for the talent contest – I don’t know why because everyone had to attend.

Ryan: Our first paid gig was for AIA Carnival [in January]. We got a letter saying there was a $500 fee and we said – ‘do we have pay $500 to play?’. And they said ‘no, we’re paying you.’

Which was your biggest gig?

Jasmine: Clockenflap last year. We played on the Sunday morning. We met Lucy Rose and Shura and got to eat the catering. It was great.

Describe your song ‘Red in the Sky’?

Ryan: It’s a murder ballad. Someone dies.

Jasmine: But you don’t find out until the end

Why the farewell gig?

Jasmine: I’m going to Tainan to study Mandarin.

Ryan: I’m off to Ireland to study music.

Will you play together again?

Jasmine: We have two more gigs this weekend (Comix Home Base in Wanchai and Island Bar in Lamma). After those we aren’t sure if we’ll play again but we will try to collaborate and make more original songs.

What: Isara Sessions: Folk Ups, Pop Fugitives, Ed & Ruth.

Where: Café Isara, Mui Wo

When: 7-11pm, Friday

Price: Free

Residents head to the beach to clean up after Hato

Local residents have organised beach cleanups for Cheung Sha and Silvermine Bay in the next two days.

Cheung Sha’s Frankie McYuen has called for help in removing rubbish from the beach Friday afternoon.  He is generously laying on a barbecue and  salad for all participants, starting from 4pm. He adds:

I have co-ordinated with the beach cleaner contractors so we will have some gloves, rakes and rubbish bags. (Approx. 20 sets)

Please bring your own tools if you have. And remember sunscreen, hats, spare T-shirts can always help.

Cheung Sha Beach today (Photo: Frankie McYuen)

In Mui Wo, Daphne Chu, who organised the palm oil cleanup of Pui O Beach two weeks ago, has called for volunteers to gather at Silvermine Beach at 9:30am on Saturday.

She advises participants to bring their own gloves and water. Register on Facebook before 5pm August 25.

Police investigate after two vehicles set alight in four minutes

Lantau police are investigating two nearly identical vehicle fires in the space of four minutes in South Lantau early today.

In each case a Toyota seven-seater vehicle was reversed into the front gate of a home and then set alight.

The first took place in San Wai, Pui O, at the front gate of a three-storey home at 2:49am, according to the Oriental Daily.

Apple Daily photo of the Pui O vehicle

The second was at No. 16 Shui Hau at 2:53am, where a vehicle reverse crashed into the gate and then drove forward into a fire hydrant before the occupants fled.

Fire Department officers said both cases were arson and called in the police.

The Shui Hau owner said he did not know why his gate was rammed. Police are viewing his security camera footage.

Police haven’t confirmed whether the two incidents are linked.

Photo (top):  Burned out Shui Hau car (Oriental Daily)