Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     The car park at Hong Kong Wetland Park is full. Motorists going to the Park can use the nearby public car parks at Tin Heng Estate, Tin Yat Estate, Grandeur Terrace or Tin Yip Road.
 
     Members of the public are encouraged to take public transport to the Park.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (February 7).

     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.
     
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter 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.

     In addition, the weekly bulletin "Surge in Brief" (appended) will be issued every Thursday to illustrate the past month trend of key service statistics in public hospitals.  "Surge in Brief" can be accessed in the HA Winter Surge designated webpage (www.ha.org.hk/goto/wintersurge/en).

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, visited Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse (SSSH) today (February 6) and was briefed on the measures implemented for minimising the risk of African swine fever (ASF) infection in live pigs and preventing the spread of ASF to Hong Kong. In the light of the trades' suspension of live pig supply during the Lunar New Year period, thorough cleaning and disinfection work is being carried out during the first three days of the Lunar New Year in the two slaughterhouses in Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan.
 
     Professor Chan viewed the slaughter hall and the lairage area and was briefed by staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on the biosecurity measures implemented in slaughterhouses.
 
     She learned that both slaughterhouses had strengthened the cleaning and disinfection of vehicles and personnel entering and leaving the slaughterhouses, the slaughter lines and lairages, with a view to preventing the spread of the ASF virus. Furthermore, additional equipment such as pressurised water pumps and hot water high-pressure jets have been installed to enhance the effectiveness of cleaning. Professor Chan observed the operation of the disinfection pools newly installed at SSSH for thoroughly cleaning pig-carrying vehicles. The FEHD and slaughterhouse operators have deployed staff to monitor the cleaning work to ensure that vehicles only leave the slaughterhouses after they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
 
     So far, there has been no ASF in registered farms on the Mainland or local pig farms. ASF is a contagious disease in pigs which will not be transmitted to humans, posing no food safety risk. Well-cooked pork and pork products are safe for consumption. The FEHD and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department have already implemented a series of measures to enhance biosecurity in various areas, including local pig farms, slaughterhouses and boundary checkpoints.

  

     Police today (February 6) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sheung Shui. 
      
     Mak Wing-hong, aged 39, went missing after he was last seen in Ping Chi House, Tai Ping Estate on February 5 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
      
     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a squared face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, trousers in dark colour and carrying a dark-coloured shoulder bag.
      
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or 6331 8151, or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.