Attention TV/Radio Announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 17) that as lifeguards are unable to go to Hap Mun Bay Beach, Kiu Tsui Beach and Trio Beach in Sai Kung District by ferry due to rough sea conditions, lifesaving services at these beaches have been suspended until further notice. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches until further notice.

       The Transport Department announced today (September 17), as affected by Typhoon Mangkhut, the Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre cannot be operated normally. Vehicle inspection services will be temporarily suspended until further notice.
 
       For enquiries, please contact the Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre at 2759 7568.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (September 17) announced that as fill bank facilities are damaged due to typhoon, the Tseung Kwan O Area 137 Fill Bank and the Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank are closed until further notice.
 

     The Labour Department (LD) today (September 17) reminded employers to give due consideration and handle flexibly if employees cannot resume work in time due to road and traffic condition.   

     "As typhoons and rainstorms are natural occurrences that cannot be avoided, employers should not deduct wages or allowances of employees who are absent from or late for work because of inclement weather and traffic condition. Neither should employers dismiss an employee summarily based on these grounds," an LD spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance.
 
     Employers should not deduct annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days employees are entitled to under the Employment Ordinance to compensate for the loss of working hours resulting from employees' failure to report for duty upon the issue of Typhoon Signal No. 8 or the announcement of a Black Rainstorm Warning. An employer who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the relevant provisions under the Employment Ordinance is liable to prosecution.
 
     Employers should also note that they have an obligation to maintain a safe workplace for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.
 
     Under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for death or injury incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is in force.
 
     To provide practical guidelines and samples of work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees, the LD has issued the booklet "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms". The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf). 

     The Transport Department (TD) today (Septemeber 17) announced that after site inspections this morning, it is observed that most driving test routes have been severely affected.  After assessment, it is decided that most of the road tests scheduled for today will be cancelled, except for the following three centres:

Siu Lek Yuen Driving Test Centre
Chung Yee Street Driving Test Centre
Sheung On Driving Test Centre

     The Driving Test Appointment Office (DTAO) will contact the affected candidates as soon as possible to reschedule the tests.  For any enquiry, please contact DTAO at 2771 7723.  Candidates who are scheduled to attend road tests at the above three centres today can also contact the DTAO to reschedule the tests if they cannot attend the test due to traffic reasons.