Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 17) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, the lifesaving services at Cafeteria New Beach and Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District have been suspended until further notice.

     First aid services will be maintained at these beaches.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 16) seized about 2.4 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 10 grams of suspected crack cocaine and about 200g of suspected phenacetin with a total estimated market value of about $2.25 million in Kwai Chung.

     During an anti-narcotics operation in Kwai Chung yesterday afternoon, Customs officers intercepted a man and found about 1kg of suspected cocaine inside a bag carried by him. The 26-year-old man was then arrested.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers escorted the arrested man to a residential premises nearby where about 1.4kg of suspected cocaine, about 10g of suspected crack cocaine, about 200g of suspected phenacetin and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia were further seized.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 17) reminded the public that to facilitate tram track renewal work at Connaught Road West, parts of the traffic lanes of Des Voeux Road West and Connaught Road West will be temporarily closed from about 10am next Monday (June 24) to 10am on July 15 (Monday).

     During the above works period, all vehicles exceeding 10 metres in length will be temporarily prohibited from turning left from Connaught Road West westbound onto Wing Lok Street and diverted via Des Voeux Road West westbound, Queen Street southbound, Queen's Road West westbound, Centre Street northbound, Des Voeux Road West eastbound, Queen Street northbound and Connaught Road West eastbound.

     In addition, all vehicles exceeding 8m in length will be temporarily prohibited from turning right from Connaught Road West eastbound onto Des Voeux Road West westbound and diverted via Wing Lok Street eastbound, Morrison Street northbound and Connaught Road West westbound.

     Appropriate traffic signs and road markings will be erected on-site to guide motorists.

     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of the above road sections will be relatively busy. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion. Members of the public are advised to be alert to the latest traffic news or the department's website (www.td.gov.hk).

     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, will leave Hong Kong this afternoon (June 17) for the first meeting of the task force on the development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to be held in Beijing tomorrow (June 18).
 
     The Acting Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mrs Millie Ng, will be present at the meeting.

     Mr Yang will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. In his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Dr David Chung, will act as Secretary for Innovation and Technology.

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold a large-scale job fair at Yau Tong Community Hall on June 20 and 21. Vacancies in catering, retail, property management, transportation and other industries will be offered.
      
     A total of 46 organisations, offering over 2 500 vacancies, will participate in the two-day fair. Twenty-three organisations will set up booths and conduct on-the-spot recruitment each day. The vacancies offered cover a wide variety of positions including summer part-time restaurant assistant, clerk, part-time customer service ambassador, logistics assistant, assistant engineer, courier, receptionist, security guard, driver, storekeeper, waiter/waitress, chef, technician, cashier and packer. Job seekers can find more information on the LD's Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk).
      
     Around 76 per cent of the vacancies are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $10,000 to $18,000. About 96 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Six education level or below. Around 60 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 Yau Tong Community Hall, 38 Ko Chiu Road, Yau Tong, Kowloon. Admission is free.