Applications invited for flag days in 2026-27
Charitable organisations wishing to hold flag days between April 2026 and March 2027 are invited to apply to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) from today (April 16) to May 15.
To enable more organisations to solicit donations through flag sales, 26 flag days in 2026-27 will be assigned as regional flag days so that three organisations can sell flags concurrently on those days, one each on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories. There will be 27 territory-wide flag days to be held in the year.
An SWD spokesman said today that applicant organisations must be bona-fide non-profit-making organisations exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) and, after the recognition of tax exemption, have organised charitable activities in each of the past three years. Applicant organisations should refer to the eligibility criteria as detailed in the Explanatory Notes for Application for Flag Days in 2026-27.
"Flag day applications will be considered by the Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee according to factors including the organisation's integrity and management capability; the nature, value and standard of its existing services; its financial need; and its ability to organise a flag day," the spokesman said.
The application form and the Explanatory Notes for Application for Flag Days in 2026-27 can be downloaded from the SWD's website at www.swd.gov.hk or obtained from the Lotteries Fund Projects Section of the SWD at Rooms 3601-02, 36/F, Dah Sing Financial Centre, 248 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, from today to 6pm on May 15. Applications for flag days in 2026-27 can also be submitted online. Please refer to the SWD's website for application details.
The completed application form together with the required documents should reach the department at the above address by 6pm on May 15. Late applications will not be considered.
"Applicant organisations will be informed of the result around October this year," the spokesman added.
Enquiries can be made by telephone to 2832 4318 or 2832 4301; by fax to 2838 0441; or by email to flagday@swd.gov.hk.
Special traffic and transport arrangements for Kai Tak Sports Park concert from April 24 to 27
The Transport Department (TD) today (April 22) said that, to facilitate the holding of a concert at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) on the evening of April 24 to 27 (hereunder referred to as event dates), special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented to provide convenience for spectators to travel to and from the KTSP. Cross-boundary travellers are urged to plan their journeys early and use the MTR services as far as possible. Those who plan to return to the Mainland using cross-boundary coach services should purchase tickets in advance.
A spokesman for the TD said, "We have been working with relevant bureaux/departments, the KTSP Limited, the event organiser as well as local and cross-boundary public transport operators to plan ahead the public transport services and ancillary transport facilities in advance, so that concertgoers can arrive at the venue conveniently and then leave in an orderly manner. As the traffic in the vicinity of the KTSP is expected to be heavy, they should opt for public transport and avoid driving. No parking space will be provided in the KTSP during the event period."
(1) Railway services
To facilitate the dispersal of an outflux of spectators, the interval between trains of the MTR Tuen Ma Line and northbound East Rail Line (ERL) will be enhanced during the dispersal period on the event dates. Spare trains will be arranged to meet the additional demand.
Of note, for cross-boundary travellers, the last train to Lo Wu Station via interchanging at Tai Wai Station on the ERL will depart from Sung Wong Toi Station at 10.59pm and Kai Tak Station at 11.01pm. Travellers who miss the last train to Lo Wu Station may take the ERL to Sheung Shui Station and then the KMB route No. 276B or N73 to Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange (PTI), and transfer to the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang (LMC-HG) cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) for their journey to the Mainland.
(2) Special bus route services
To provide convenience for cross-boundary travellers, two special bus routes will be provided during the dispersal period on the event dates to Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) PTI and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port/Airport, thereby transferring to the Yellow Bus for their journey to the Mainland and the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) for their return to Macao or Zhuhai, or departing from Hong Kong via the airport respectively. Including routes to major districts across the territory, a total of 11 special bus routes will be provided in the Sung Wong Toi Road Pick-up/Drop-off Area (PUDOA):
Type
Special bus route
Destination/major service areas
Ports
SP12
Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) PTI
A25S
HZMB Hong Kong Port/Airport
Hong Kong Island
SP10
Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central
SP11
Tai Koo, Shau Kei Wan, Siu Sai Wan
Kowloon
SP1
Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O (Hang Hau)
SP2
Mong Kok
New Territories
SP3
Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi
SP5A
Tuen Mun
SP6
Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai
SP7
Tai Po, Fanling, Sheung Shui
SP9
Tseung Kwan O South (LOHAS Park)
(3) Cross-boundary coach services
The KTSP Limited will arrange cross-boundary coach services during the dispersal period on the event dates to facilitate travellers' return to the Mainland via the LMC/HG Port. Passengers should purchase tickets prior to the concert (on-site ticket sales not available during dispersal) and board their coach at the PUDOA on the G/F, Kai Tak Stadium, via the escalator outside Gate H, 2/F. They should refer to the operators' website (Eternal East Bus: www.myeebus.com/eebusfans; CTG Bus: m.hkctgbus.com/#/layout/home) for the latest ticket information.
(4) Special appeal to cross-boundary travellers
In anticipation of a large number of cross-boundary travellers returning to the Mainland after the concert, the LMC/HG Port is expected to be very busy and the clearance time will be longer. The TD urges travellers returning to the Mainland to take the MTR trains departing from Sung Wong Toi Station before 10.59pm and Kai Tak Station before 11.01pm to Lo Wu Station on the ERL via interchanging at Tai Wai Station if possible. A dedicated passage will be established at the LMC/HG Port when necessary to ensure the smooth operation of public transport services.
(5) Taxi services
On the above event dates, the Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA will be opened from 2pm to midnight for taxi pick-up/drop-off. The TD will mobilise the taxi trade for picking up passengers. The waiting time will be longer amid an outflux of spectators during dispersal and passengers' patience is appreciated. The KTSP Limited will open the Taxi Drop-off Area at Kai Tak Stadium and Kai Tak Arena during admission phase for drop-off only.
Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via the on-site broadcast and the "Easy Leave" platform (easyleave.police.gov.hk) as well as the latest traffic news through the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk), the "HKeMobility" mobile application and radio and television broadcasts.
