In response to the approach of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) today (September 13) announced that the HAD has issued letters to property management associations appealing to all property management companies and residents to take precautions against the tropical cyclone. The District Offices have also contacted District Council members, village representatives, rural committees, owners' corporations, owners' committees, mutual aid committees and resident liaison ambassadors, to seek their assistance in reminding residents to pay attention to the latest information on the tropical cyclone from the Hong Kong Observatory and take precautionary measures.
                
     The HAD's emergency hotline (2835 1473) will be activated to handle public enquiries on the tropical cyclone after Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 is issued. A total of 48 temporary shelters operated by the District Offices will be open for people in need after Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 is issued. Please refer to the annex for details.
                
     The District Offices will pay close attention to black spots and low-lying areas which may have serious flooding, and will take precautionary measures with the Drainage Services Department. The District Offices have contacted village representatives in some flood prone areas for early alert and support on precautionary measures. In particular, the Kwun Tong District Office and the Islands District Office have contacted the resident representatives and village representatives of Lei Yue Mun, Tai O and some outlying islands to seek their assistance in appealing to residents to move to a safe place or temporary shelters. Residents are also reminded to take precautions against the tropical cyclone. Staff of these two District Offices will visit residents together with volunteers tomorrow (September 14) and make further appeals.
                
     In addition, the Islands District Office will arrange for coaches to transport residents in Tai O to nearby temporary shelters this Saturday (September 15), and will provide appropriate assistance to residents.

     Hongkong Post announced today (September 13) that if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above is issued or in force on September 17 (Monday) and affects the normal business hours (wholly or partially) of the post offices, new stamp sales and hand-back datestamping service for the issue of "The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link" special stamps will be extended to the following working day. Under such circumstances, the special postmark "The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link" (bearing the date of September 17) will be extended to the following working day for hand-back datestamping service. However, the office steel datestamp, the GPO-1 postmark, "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmarks and philatelic office pictorial postmarks will not be used for hand-back datestamping.
 
     As regards the online shopping platform ShopThruPost, the sales of new stamps will be deferred to the following working day if post offices cannot be open for business on September 17. If signal No. 8 is cancelled before 6.30pm on September 17, sales will start two hours after the signal is cancelled.
      
     For further enquiries, please call the General Enquiry Hotline 2921 2222 or visit the Hongkong Post website www.hongkongpost.hk or the Hongkong Post mobile app.
   

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (September 13) visited Huizhou to meet its senior government officials and call at local enterprises to keep abreast of the latest developments in the technology industry.
      
     In the morning, accompanied by the Deputy Mayor of Huizhou, Mr Yu Jinfu, Mr Chan visited two Hong Kong enterprises to learn about their successful experience in developing new technologies and promoting the development of advanced manufacturing. He also exchanged views with the management on the opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The two enterprises specialise in alloy die casting and plastic mould injection, and manufacturing of cover glass for mobile phones and watches.

     This afternoon, after paying a visit to a company manufacturing artificial intelligence and Internet of Things products, Mr Chan headed to Huizhou's West Lake to gain a better understanding of the local authority's effort in protecting the natural environment through the use of advanced technology.
      
     Mr Chan said that Hong Kong and Huizhou have long held close ties. He expressed the hope that both cities can enhance collaboration in various industries in the future to seize opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
      
     Noting that the Bay Area houses many leading innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises and that Hong Kong boasts world-class financial services and scientific research capabilities, he pointed out that Hong Kong can complement other cities in the Bay Area in building an international I&T hub that draws talents, research and development institutes and enterprises.
      
     Mr Chan returned to Hong Kong in the evening after attending a dinner with the Mayor of Huizhou, Mr Liu Ji.

        

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (September 13) visited Sai Kung District, where he toured facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities (PWDs) and met with District Council members. The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, also joined the visit.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Sai Kung District Council (SKDC), Mr George Ng; the District Officer (Sai Kung), Mr David Chiu; and the District Social Welfare Officer (Wong Tai Sin/Sai Kung), Ms Micy Lui, Dr Law first called at the Haven of Hope Tsui Lam Day Training Centre for the Elderly of Haven of Hope Christian Service in Tseung Kwan O to get an update on the operations of the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly. The centre offers sensory training for elderly users to help slow down their cognitive deterioration. Apart from providing nursing care and rehabilitation services to elderly persons, nurses and social workers there also provide counselling and emotional support for their carers and family members to relieve their pressure in taking care of elderly persons.

     The Government will provide an additional 1 000 service vouchers under the Second Phase of the Scheme to a total of 6 000 next month to enhance support for elderly persons with moderate or severe impairment to enable their ageing in the community. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has invited eligible elderly persons to submit applications. Elderly persons or their family members may contact the Centralised Team of the Scheme on 3107 3013 for enquiries.

     Dr Law and the other officers then proceeded to the Direction Association for the Handicapped in Tiu Keng Leng. The Association has been providing multifaceted support to  physically handicapped persons and their family members, including visits by outreach social workers, wheelchair repair and rehabilitative equipment lending services. Dr Law paid tribute to the Association for setting up social enterprises to create employment opportunities for PWDs. He said he was particularly impressed by its Adversity Quotient Training Program launched in recent years with funding under the SWD's "Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise" Project. Through sharing of its members' inspiring stories, the training programme is designed to train able-bodied corporate employees to overcome adversities in the workplace.

     Dr Law said that the Government has enhanced initiatives to promote the employment of PWDs, including strengthening post-placement follow-up services in vocational rehabilitation service units as well as increasing subsidies provided to employers of PWDs. He appealed to enterprises to hire PWDs for them to unleash their potential and contribute to the community.

     After the visit, Dr Law attended a meeting arranged by the SKDC to exchange views with SKDC members on various labour and welfare policy issues as well as matters of local concern.

        

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 13) reported two suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places of visit. The cases are detailed below: 
 

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.    
 
     The Hajj pilgrimage ended in late August. If pilgrims feel unwell during the two weeks after returning to Hong Kong, they should wear a surgical mask and seek medical attention immediately and inform a doctor of their recent travel history, including transit.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.