The People's Committee of central Quang Tri province has presented a Certificate of Merit to Oxfarm Hong Kong in recognition of its contributions to humanitarian and development programmes in the province. Mark Blackett, Vietnam Country Programme Manager of Oxfam Hong Kong, received the award at a ceremony held in Dong Ha town on April 24. Over the past 15 years, the non-profit organisation has teamed up with governmental partners to implement development projects in Quang Tri province, benefiting more than 90,000 local people. One of its primary goals is to improve the living conditions of ethnic minority groups such as Van Kieu and Pa Co living in far-flung areas. At the awards ceremony, Hoang Dang Mai, Vice President of the provincial Friendship Association and Director of the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, expressed his hope that Quang Tri will learn from Oxfam Hong Kong's past experiences in developing and implementing community-based projects and share with other … [Read more...] about Oxfam Hong Kong acknowledged for its work in Central Vietnam
Hong kong typhoon
Typhoon Megi forces cancellation of Hong Kong-Vietnam yacht race
Flooding, typhoon hit tour operators By Dao Loan - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – The organizer of an international yacht race from Hong Kong to Vietnam has shelved the competition scheduled to take place on Wednesday. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club said the VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race had been canceled due to the approaching super typhoon Megi, which has battered the Philippines on its course to the East Sea. The organizer said it regarded safety as the first priority for all its events, particularly for its international Category 1 Offshore events. It would be unthinkable to send the boats to stormy high seas, it said in a statement. However, the organizer said that competitors and the club are fully supportive of running the race in the middle of next October. The date is expected to be set soon to allow international competitors to plan their racing calendars. Vu Duy Vu, deputy director of the race’s local partner Saigontourist Travel Service Co., has … [Read more...] about Typhoon Megi forces cancellation of Hong Kong-Vietnam yacht race
Megar typhoon heads to Hong Kong
VietNamNet Bridge - The storm eye was still in the East Sea this morning, October 20. However, forecasters said that it will change direction to Hong Kong. At 4am this morning, the storm was around 550km from Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago. It is moving at the speed of 10km per hour to the west-north west and north west. In the next two days, it will change direction to the north. By 7am, October 22, Megi will be around 280km from Hong Kong. One day later, it will be in Hong Kong sea. The radius of the dangerous area will be around 200km. In the East Sea, the storm is expected to cause heavy rain with winds speeds reaching more than 180 km per hour at its centre. Fishermen have been advised not to go out to sea. As the strongest storm in the Pacific in the last 20 years, Megi killed at least ten people in the Philippines when it hit this country last night. In Vietnam, the strongest typhoon in the last 10 years was Xangsane in 2006, which killed over 60 people and damaged … [Read more...] about Megar typhoon heads to Hong Kong
Hong Kong government criticized over plastic spill on beaches
Hundreds of millions of potentially toxic plastic pellets from containers knocked off a vessel during Hong Kong's worst typhoon in 13 years have washed up on its beaches where they lay for more than a week, activists said on Saturday. A volunteer clear-up plastic pellets on a bank along Hong Kong's Lamma island August 5, 2012. Hundreds of millions of potentially toxic plastic pellets from containers knocked off a vessel during Hong Kong's worst typhoon in 13 years have washed up on its beaches where they lay for more than a week, activists said on Saturday. Photo: Reuters The Hong Kong government estimated that 150 metric tons (165 tons) of the pellets may have been spilled on its beaches, of which a third have been cleaned up so far. Local media questioned the government's lack of public notice about the spill, almost two weeks after Typhoon Vincente which was upgraded to Signal 10. It was the first time since 1999 that the city's meteorological body had invoked its … [Read more...] about Hong Kong government criticized over plastic spill on beaches
Typhoon sweeps toward Hong Kong and south China
Hong Kong was lashed by gales on Monday as typhoon Vicente moved towards the financial hub, sending office workers home early and prompting the local observatory to raise the No. 8 tropical cyclone warning signal, the third highest classification. Photo: REUTERS/Bobby Yip Financial markets, schools, businesses and government services close when any No. 8 or above signal is hoisted, posing a major disruption to business in the capitalist hub and former British colony. Gale-force winds pounded trees, churned up white-tipped waves in Victoria Harbour and sent debris flying. Office workers, meanwhile, scurried home in mid-afternoon, queuing for trains, buses and ferries amid torrential rains. The Hong Kong Observatory raised the No. 8 signal after the stock market closed on Monday. Should the signal remain in force after 7 a.m. local time on Tuesday, the exchange will remain closed for at least part of the day after it dived three percent on Monday, led by a 5 percent slump in … [Read more...] about Typhoon sweeps toward Hong Kong and south China