Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (October 28) to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island.

     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 2.30pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Gloucester Road;
– Sugar Street;
– Jardine’s Bazaar;
– Westbound Yee Wo Street; and
– Westbound Hennessy Road.

     Vehicles may not be permitted to access or leave car parks along the route during the road closure period.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
 
     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 26) that Pui O Beach in Islands District will reopen tomorrow (October 27). The beach was temporarily closed earlier for clearance of debris and fallen trees as well as repairs of the shark prevention net and beach facilities after the typhoon.
 
     Fourteen beaches under the LCSD have been reopened recently. They are Butterfly Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Cafeteria New Beach and Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District; Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Approach Beach, Anglers' Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach in Tsuen Wan District; Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District; and Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District.
 
     Meanwhile, other gazetted beaches in Southern, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts, including Deep Water Bay Beach which is normally open all year round, will remain closed until further notice as much longer time is needed for repairing beach facilities and damaged shark prevention nets or clearing debris due to the severe damage brought about by the typhoon earlier. Red flags have been hoisted at these beaches.
 
     The LCSD reminds members of the public not to go to the beaches that are temporarily closed, and not to swim or participate in other activities at those beaches for the sake of safety.

     The Distinguished Chinese Scientists Lecture Series 2018 will be held next Friday (November 2) in the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum. Three distinguished Chinese scientists have been invited to speak on their achievements and contributions in their respective fields and on the prospects for future technological development.
 
     Three lectures will be conducted from 2.30pm to 6.15pm with the following topics and speakers:
 

     Simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua and Cantonese will be available.

     Admission is free via online registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit hk.science.museum/ms/dcsls2018/eindex.html for enrolment details.
 
     The lecture series is jointly presented by the Hong Kong Science Museum of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, the Education Bureau and the China Association (HK) for Science and Society Ltd.
 
     Since 2003, more than 60 eminent Chinese scientists have been invited to the Distinguished Chinese Scientists Lecture Series to give lectures on various topics, sharing the latest technological advancements with the public and encouraging young people to participate in scientific research.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2732 3223.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) held the "Exploring Careers, Utilizing Talents – Life Planning Education Conference 2018" today (October 26) at the Hong Kong Science Park. Co-organised with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), the conference was aimed at allowing professionals and scholars to share their expertise and professional views on students' career exploration and opportunities with education practitioners. By enhancing their professional capacity, they can better equip students with the relevant knowledge and skills to better unleash their potential and seize development opportunities in the future.
      
     Accompanied by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, and the Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, Mr Albert Wong, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Conference this morning.
      
     The EDB is committed to promoting life planning education in schools. In recent years, the EDB has strengthened its support and provided additional resources for schools with a view to helping students to better understand their interests, abilities and aspirations. Moreover, various business entities, professional bodies and non-governmental organisations have worked in close partnership with the EDB and provided a wide range of career exploration activities for students through the Business-School Partnership Programme (BSPP), so as to help students understand more about different industries and equip them for future studies and work. Since the 2014/15 school year, more than 300 business partners have joined the BSPP, which has organised over 3 600 activities, benefiting some 930 000 students.
      
     Mr Cheung; the Senior Vice President of ManpowerGroup Greater China Region, Ms Lancy Chui; the Principal Liaison Officer for Hong Kong, Shenzhen Qianhai Authority, Professor Witman Hung; and the Founder of EONIQ, Mr Quinn Lai, were keynote speakers at the Conference. A number of sharing sessions were arranged in the afternoon. About 600 local and Mainland education practitioners and BSPP partners enrolled for the event.

      

     A 26-year-old man was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (October 26) for assaulting and obstructing a Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI) in the exercise of his duties. He was also fined $1,500 earlier for a smoking offence.
 
     The incident took place at a building in North Point on May 4, 2018. The man assaulted the TCI as a team of inspectors was inspecting the venue.  He was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police.

     A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe the smoking ban requirements and to co-operate with law enforcement officers.

     "Threatening or use of violence on enforcement officers is a serious offence and carries serious legal consequences," the spokesman said.

     As of today, there have been five cases of assaulting TCIs in 2018.  Since 2007, 86 cases have been recorded and 20 out of 73 offenders convicted for assaulting TCIs were sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The maximum penalty meted out by the court was immediate imprisonment for four months.