The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
      
     The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) was briefed today (April 29) on the proposed legislative amendments for allowing access to franchised buses for persons carrying compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use, as well as two road safety enhancement initiatives, namely a Road Safety Audit and a Road Safety Check.
      
     As announced in the Public Transport Strategy Study Report released by the Government in June 2017, in order to further enhance "Transport for All", the Government proposes to amend the legislation to allow access to franchised buses for persons carrying compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use.
      
     The TAC Chairman, Professor Stephen Cheung, said "Members of the TAC welcomed the Government's proposed legislative amendments to allow passengers carrying compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use to travel on franchised buses, without affecting the safety and normal service of franchised buses, with a view to facilitating their use of franchised bus services. Members also noted that to ensure smooth implementation, publicity would be stepped up before the introduction of the new measure so that passengers, particularly those requiring long-term oxygen therapy, would be aware of the relevant arrangements."
      
     For the purpose of enhancing road safety, the Government has been implementing a Road Safety Audit for new road projects and road improvement works as well as a Road Safety Check on existing roads. 
      
     "Members supported the work to enhance road safety, and noted that the Transport Department has taken a precautionary approach in enhancing the safety performance of road projects through the implementation of a Road Safety Audit during various stages, including planning, design, construction and pre-opening stages. Road safety auditors will recommend corresponding road safety enhancement measures to reduce the chance of driving errors and mitigate the severity of traffic accidents arising from driving errors so as to create a safer road environment," Professor Cheung said.
      
     The Transport Department and Highways Department will also enhance the safety performance of existing roads through a Road Safety Check. They will research the latest road safety development and technologies in other jurisdictions and conduct trials at suitable locations in Hong Kong.

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 (April 29) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, the lifesaving services at Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District is suspended until further notice.

     First aid service will be maintained at the beach.

     The Tourism Commission, in co-operation with relevant government departments, major tourist attractions, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), has drawn up measures to cope with the tourist flow between Hong Kong and the Mainland during the Labour Day holiday, a government spokesman said today (April 29).

     Relevant government departments will strengthen manpower at various control points and co-ordinate transport and cross-boundary services during the Labour Day holiday.

     The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by the Immigration Department, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department  and other relevant departments will be activated during the Labour Day holiday to monitor the situation at each land control point, as well as to maintain close liaison with Mainland counterparts and take contingency actions where necessary.

     The Tourism Commission will also maintain liaison with the tourism authorities in Guangdong and Shenzhen, and closely communicate with them on the arrival of Mainland visitors.

     "It is expected that the passenger traffic from April 30 to May 5 will be heavier than usual. To avoid congestion during the morning and evening peak hours at various boundary control points, we appeal to Mainland visitors and local residents to cross the boundary during less busy hours," the spokesman said.

     To assist visitors in planning their trips, the Immigration Department will upload the daily arrival figures (April 30 to May 5) of all control points to its website (www.immd.gov.hk) from May 1 to May 6. Such information will also be hyperlinked to the HKTB's website (www.discoverhongkong.com) for visitors' reference. In addition, visitors may check the estimated waiting times at all land boundary control points via the Immigration Mobile Application, which can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store (supports iOS version 9.0 or above) and Google Play (supports Android version 5.0 or above).

     The Tourism Commission, in collaboration with the TIC, will appeal to travel agents, shops and restaurants serving Mainland inbound tour groups to implement appropriate measures for the orderly management of tourist and coach flows. Major tourist attractions will also put in place crowd control measures during the Labour Day holiday.

     As regards consumer education, the HKTB has deployed staff to distribute to Mainland visitors leaflets printed with educational messages at various boundary control points and popular tourist destinations, so as to enhance their awareness of protecting their own rights. An advisory note on consumer rights for Mainland inbound tour group visitors has also been uploaded to the website of the Tourism Commission for Mainland visitors' reference.

     To protect inbound tour group visitors' rights, the TIC will continue to enforce a series of regulatory measures on the trade's arrangements for receiving Mainland inbound tour groups, including requiring Hong Kong travel agents to register with the TIC the itineraries of the Mainland inbound tour groups that they receive together with proof of accommodation within a specified period. During the Labour Day holiday, the TIC will deploy additional manpower for conducting inspections in districts where relatively more registered shops are located and offer assistance to visitors and tourist guides. In addition, Customs and the Police will step up inspection of retail shops serving Mainland inbound tour groups so as to combat unfair trade practices such as coerced shopping.

     The Tourism Commission has provided the hotlines of the relevant local organisations to Mainland inbound group visitors via the tourism authorities in Guangdong and Shenzhen. During the Labour Day holiday, in case of any emergency, Mainland inbound tour group visitors, tour escorts accompanying the tour groups and local tourist guides can seek assistance from the TIC by calling its service hotline 2807 0707 (operating from 9am to midnight). For enquiries or complaints, visitors can call the HKTB's hotline 2508 1234 (operating from 9am to 6pm) or the Consumer Council's hotline 2929 2222 (operating from 9am to 5.30pm).

     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (May).
 
     Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing areas before and during firing practice. For their safety, people are advised not to enter the firing area.
 
     Following are the dates and times for the firing practice sessions in May 2019:
 
San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range
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Tsing Shan Firing Range
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     The following is issued on behalf of the Commission on Poverty:
      
     The Commission on Poverty today (April 29) invited applications for the "Be a Government Official for a Day" programme 2019 – Chief Executive and Principal Officials edition under the "Life Buddies" Mentoring Scheme.  
      
     The inaugural programme last year received an enthusiastic and positive response. The Chief Executive announced in the 2018 Policy Address that the scale of the programme would be expanded this year to include the Chief Executive and more senior officials to benefit more students. 
      
     In light of the expanded scale, the programme this year is being held in two phases. Students participating in the first phase programme (Heads of Departments edition) shadowed officials on the job for a day this month. The second phase (Chief Executive and Principal Officials edition) will take place in July and August, when the Chief Executive, Principal Officials, Under Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments will participate. 
      
     The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairperson of the Commission on Poverty, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "During this Easter holiday, 46 students participated in the first phase as job shadows, directly interacting with 23 Under Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments. The second phase, to be held during the coming summer holidays, will involve more senior government officials. This highlights the determination of the current-term Government to connect with young people. It also underlines the importance that the Government attaches to directly interacting and communicating with our next generation. Since Secondary Six students have already completed the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the second phase will be open to them in order to allow more young people to participate in this memorable venture. I encourage all interested and eligible students to apply."
      
     The programme will offer the opportunity for selected students to shadow a senior government official on the job for a day to gain hands-on experience of the official’s work and a better understanding of the Government’s operation. It also provides officials with an opportunity to share their work experience with students while also learning about the students’ insights on various issues and their life goals and future plans. It is expected that the job-shadowing process will help inspire students to develop positive values and multi-perspective thinking as well as strive to realise their potential and seize opportunities for upward mobility.
      
     An experienced non-governmental organisation has been engaged to arrange orientation, debriefing and sharing sessions for the selected students to consolidate their takeaways from the programme.
      
     Application for the "Be a Government Official for a Day" programme 2019 – Chief Executive and Principal Officials edition is open to all local Secondary Four to Six students in the 2018/19 academic year and priority will be given to students studying the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education curriculum. Application forms can be downloaded from www.lifebuddies.hk. Applicants should complete the form, together with the school recommendation, and send it to lifebuddies@cso.gov.hk by email on or before May 20 (Monday).
      
     The "Life Buddies" Mentoring Scheme was launched by the Commission on Poverty in October 2015. It aims at promoting upward mobility of youths from disadvantaged backgrounds through the school-based mentoring and job tasting programmes. To date, the scheme has enlisted the support of over 110 government departments, corporations and organisations and has benefited over 5 400 students. The "Be a Government Official for a Day" programme was launched under "Life Buddies" in 2018 to further broaden students’ horizons. Information about "Life Buddies" is available on its website (www.lifebuddies.hk/en) and social network page (www.facebook.com/lifebuddieshk).