Attention TV/radio announcers:

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

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that the lifesaving services at Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (June 12). The lifesaving services at the beach were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     In view of the traffic conditions on Hong Kong Island, the spokesperson of the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following appeal today (June 12):
 
     Amid the possible impact on traffic conditions on Hong Kong Island by the public demonstration activities, the HA appeals to the public for their co-operation to avoid affecting the emergency rescue and Accident and Emergency (A&E) services, including the ambulance conveyance service to A&E Departments.
 
     In view of the traffic conditions in the Wan Chai area, the Government Flying Service will convey patients to other hospitals. The HA appealed for patients' understanding on the arrangement.
 
     The HA will continue to maintain close liaison with all emergency rescue departments.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (June 12).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 11) seized about 3 000 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid water pipe tobacco with an estimated market value of about $8.3 million and a duty potential of about $6.9 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a container arriving in Hong Kong from the United Arab Emirates via Singapore declared to be carrying molasses. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected duty-not-paid water pipe tobacco in the container.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid tobacco commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

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

  

     Three new names, Yamaneko, Yun-yeung and Koinu, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2019 to replace the old names Hato, Kai-tak and Tembin respectively.
 
     The new names were endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization Typhoon Committee at its 51st session held in Guangzhou. The meanings of these three new names and the contributing countries/regions are as follows:
 

 
     According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. In August 2017, Hato momentarily attained super typhoon intensity over the sea area south of Hong Kong and brought damaging winds and severe storm surge to the coast of the Pearl River estuary. While 129 people were injured in Hong Kong, there were at least 10 deaths and more than 240 injuries in Macao. The direct economic loss in Macao exceeded MOP9 billion. In Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Guizhou and Yunnan, there were at least 15 deaths and one missing during the passage of Hato. Around 740 000 people were affected and over 6 500 houses collapsed. The direct economic loss exceeded RMB28.2 billion. Tropical storm Kai-tak and typhoon Tembin hit the Philippines in succession within a week in December 2017, triggering severe flooding and landslides. At least 294 people were killed and more than 204 people were missing in total. Over 70 000 people were made homeless.
 
     The updated list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings is available at the Hong Kong Observatory website at www.weather.gov.hk/informtc/sound/tcname2019e.htm.