The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (February 26) visited Sha Tin District, where he took a closer look at child care services and met with District Council members. The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, also joined the visit.

     Dr Law first went to the Sha Tin District Council (STDC) to exchange views with the Chairman, Mr Ho Hau-cheung, and other STDC members on labour and welfare issues as well as matters of local concern.

     Accompanied by the District Officer (Sha Tin), Miss Amy Chan, and the District Social Welfare Officer (Sha Tin), Mrs Gloria Lee, Dr Law then visited the Hong Kong Single Parents Association Jockey Club Neighbourhood Support Centre. Apart from operating the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project under the Social Welfare Department, the centre provides support to parents of newborn babies, including information on baby care, parenting and emotional counselling, with funding from a charitable organisation.

     Dr Law pointed out that the Government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to enhance child care services to support families by the planning of child care centres (CCCs), improving the manning ratio, increasing the subsidy for CCC services and providing more flexible services.

      

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 is 103 (same as yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

Exchange Fund Bills Tender Results
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning March 4:
 

     Mobile Libraries 3, 9, 10 and 11 will suspend their services during designated periods in March and April for routine maintenance, a Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman announced today (February 26).

     Mobile Library 10 will suspend its services from March 4 to 9. The affected service points are Lung Mun Oasis and Gold Coast in Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung Estate in Kwai Chung, Tin Shui Estate and Tin Yuet Estate in Tin Shui Wai, Fung Cheung Road in Yuen Long and Hoi Lai Estate in Sham Shui Po. For enquiries about Mobile Library 10 services, please call 2450 1857.

     Mobile Library 3 will suspend services from March 11 to 16. The affected service points are Prime View Garden, Siu Hong Court and Leung King Estate in Tuen Mun, Kingswood Country Club in Tin Shui Wai and Sheung Tsuen Park, Wang Chau and San Tin in Yuen Long. For enquiries about Mobile Library 3 services, please call 2450 1857.

     Mobile Library 9 will suspend services from March 18 to 23. The affected service points are South Horizons in Ap Lei Chau, Sheung Wan Cultural Square, Tin Wan Estate in Aberdeen, Oi Tung Estate in Aldrich Bay, Tai Hong Street in Lei King Wan and Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan. For enquiries about Mobile Library 9 services, please call 2505 4690.

     Mobile Library 11 will suspend services from March 25 to April 6. The affected service points are Cho Yiu Chuen, Kwai Shing East Estate, Kwai Shing West Estate and Lai Yiu Estate in Kwai Chung, Po Tin Estate in Tuen Mun, Sun Chui Estate and Kwong Yuen Estate in Sha Tin, Cheung Ching Estate and Easeful Court in Tsing Yi, Wan Tau Tong Estate and Tai Yuen Estate in Tai Po and Tin Wah Estate in Tin Shui Wai. For enquiries about Mobile Library 11 services, please call 2479 1055.

     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 25) seized about 1.4 kilograms of suspected phenacetin and about 1.1kg of suspected crack cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $1.5 million in Tseung Kwan O and Hung Hom.

     During an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon, Customs officers intercepted a man in Tseung Kwan O and seized about 500 grams of suspected phenacetin in his residential premises in the district. The 22-year-old man as well as a 17-year-old woman who was inside the premises were then arrested.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers escorted the two arrested persons to a residential premises in Hung Hom where about 900g of suspected phenacetin, 1.1 kilograms of suspected crack cocaine 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.

     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).