The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
Hongkong Post announced today (May 7) that annual albums issued by the postal administrations of the Mainland, Macao and New Zealand will be put on sale at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Shatin Central Post Office, Tuen Mun Central Post Office and Tsuen Wan Post Office from May 9. Selected philatelic products issued by the postal administrations of Macao, Australia, Canada, Isle of Man, New Zealand and the United Kingdom will also be put on sale at 38 Philatelic Offices from May 9. These products also will be available at the Hongkong Post Online Shopping Mall – "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk), starting from 8am on the same day.
Details of the philatelic products, selling prices and sales quota for each customer are listed in the Appendix. Pictures showing these philatelic products are attached.
Further information about these products can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website at stamps.hongkongpost.hk or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline 2785 5711.
Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (May 7) will be cancelled.
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 5) seized about 1 kilogram of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $970,000 at Hong Kong International Airport.
A female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Lima, Peru yesterday. During Customs clearance, a slab of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside the false compartment of her suitcase. The woman was then arrested.
The arrested woman, aged 21, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 7).
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.
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 following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (May 8) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will continue the Second Reading debate on the Appropriation Bill 2019 and Government officials will speak on the Bill.
If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council, during which Ms Claudia Mo, Dr Cheng Chung-tai, Mr Jeremy Tam, Mr Chan Chi-chuen, Mr Gary Fan, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr James To, Mr Wu Chi-wai, Mr Hui Chi-fung, Dr Helena Wong, Mr Kwong Chun-yu, Mr Alvin Yeung, Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Mr Au Nok-hin and Mr CHU Hoi-dick will move totally 56 amendments.
On other Government Bill, the Franchised Taxi Services Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
Meanwhile, Mr Abraham Shek, Chairman of the LegCo Public Accounts Committee, will present the "Supplemental Report of the Public Accounts Committee on Report No. 71 of the Director of Audit on the Results of Value for Money Audits" and address the Council.
Ms Starry Lee will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No. 15/18-19 of the House Committee laid on the Table of the Council on 17 April 2019 in relation to the Rating (Exemption) Order 2019".
During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, all of which require written replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (http://www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.