The Labour Department (LD) will hold a large-scale job fair at Sha Tin Town Hall on July 23 and 24. Vacancies in catering, retail, property management and other industries will be offered.
           
     About 52 organisations, offering over 2 900 vacancies, will participate in the two-day fair. Around 26 organisations will set up booths and conduct on-the-spot recruitment each day. The vacancies offered cover a wide variety of positions including part-time production operator, part-time customer service ambassador, quality control officer, administration assistant, technician, room attendant, gardener, clerk, salesperson, security guard, driver, storekeeper, waiter/waitress, chef and cashier. Job seekers can find more information on the LD's Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk).
           
     Around 72 per cent of the vacancies are full-time jobs and most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $10,000 to $18,000. About 95 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Six education level or below. Around 61 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience, and many vacancies are suitable for secondary school graduates or young people.
      
     Job seekers can submit applications on the spot and may be selected for on-site interviews. They can also make enquiries on the employment services provided by the LD at its counter at the venue.
           
     The job fair will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at the Exhibition Gallery, 1/F, Sha Tin Town Hall, 1 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin. Admission is free.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 20) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     "The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

     "The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable, and start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Get into a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index remains high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear loose long-sleeved clothing made of close-woven fabrics;
• Wear a wide brim hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming or sweating; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may get more information from the DH's Health Education Hotline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force:
 
     The Labour Department reminds employers that as the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force, they should assess the risk of heat stroke to their employees and adopt effective preventive measures such as providing cool drinking water, setting up temporary sunshade and providing mechanical aids to reduce physical exertion of employees. Employees should drink water regularly and be mindful of their physical condition. If early heat stroke symptoms such as headache and thirst appear, they should rest in a cool or shady place and drink water immediately. They should also inform their supervisors to take appropriate actions.
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

     To prevent heat stroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

     If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

     Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

     If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

     The 24th annual "Made in Hong Kong" film festival kicked-off yesterday night (July 18, Washington time) at the Freer Gallery of Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC with the premiere of the acclaimed film, Still Human, and an appearance by the film’s lead actress, Crisel Consunji.
 
     Speaking at the premiere event, the Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Mr Eddie Mak, said that the Hong Kong government had long played a complementary role in supporting the film industry, which had been the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s creative industries. Mr Mak highlighted Create Hong Kong’s First Feature Film Initiative, a competitive film funding programme which aims to nurture new directors. Since its launch in 2013, the initiative has identified many talented young directors and helped fund the production of a repertoire of films. The film festival’s premiere film, Still Human, was a winning recipient of this initiative.
 
     Written and directed by first-time director Oliver Chan, Still Human is a dramedy about a brusque wheelchair-bound pensioner, played by veteran actor Anthony Wong, and the live-in domestic helper, played by Crisel Consunji, hired to care for him.  Crisel Consunji’s performance won her the Best New Performer award at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards.  The film also picked up top prizes this year at the 21st Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, including the Golden Mulberry audience award and the Black Dragon critics’ award.  Crisel Consunji will appear at a screening of Still Human on July 19 after which she will take part in a discussion moderated by the gallery’s curator of film, Tom Vick.
 
     Through the period till August 18, this year’s film festival features an array of recent films including Project Gutenberg which received a remarkable seven Hong Kong Film Awards.
 
     The annual "Made in Hong Kong" film festival is co-organised by The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Washington DC and the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery of Art.  It showcases the vitality of Hong Kong’s creative talents and enhances the United States-Hong Kong bilateral ties through a shared appreciation of the arts.