Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (July).
 
     Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing areas before and during firing practice. For their safety, people are advised not to enter the firing area.
 
     Following are the dates and times for the firing practice sessions in July 2018:
 
San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range
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Tsing Shan Firing Range
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     The Government intends to deploy a number of artificial reefs in the Brothers Marine Park to provide an artificial habitat for marine and fisheries resources enhancement. The extent of the area of foreshore and seabed affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (June 29).

     The proposed works will collectively occupy a footprint area of less than 0.7 hectares within an area of approximately 66 hectares of foreshore and seabed in the Brothers Marine Park. The proposed works are tentatively scheduled to commence at end-2018 for completion in 2019.

     The notice and the related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);

* Tuen Mun Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Tuen Mun District Office (2/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices, 1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories); and

* Lands Department's website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before August 29, 2018. The notice of such an objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected.

     The Government today (June 29) gazetted the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 (Commencement) Notice and the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation Commencement Notice.

     Under the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 which became effective on April 6, the number of lay members of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) increases from four to eight.

     Among them, three of the four additional lay members are to be elected to the MCHK by patient organisations. Moreover, patient organisations shall nominate two to 10 assessors for the MCHK's appointment to take part in the complaint investigation and disciplinary inquiry of the MCHK.

     "There is an imminent need to commence the relevant provisions in the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 and the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation, so that the patient organisations can start election and nomination procedures as soon as possible," a Government spokesman said. 

     The relevant provisions of the Ordinance and the Regulation came into effect today when the commencement notices were gazetted, the spokesman added.

     The Government introduced the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation into the Legislative Council in May this year to provide for the election procedures of the three lay members who represent patients' interests.

     Upon the commencement of the Regulation, the MCHK Secretariat will invite patient organisations to apply for registration as eligible electors for the election. After the compilation of the electoral register, the MCHK Secretariat will proceed with the procedures on candidate nomination and polling.

     The election is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and the target is for the three lay members to assume office in early 2019.

     Following is a reminder of the press releases on statistical data to be issued between July and September 2018. The schedule for issuing press releases on statistical data in 2018 was provided to the media in September 2017. No change has been made to the original schedule.

July 2018
======

Date        Press Release
—–        —————
3             Retail sales statistics for May 2018
19           Unemployment and underemployment statistics for 
               April – June 2018
19           Volume and price statistics of external merchandise
               trade for May 2018
20           Business expectations for third quarter 2018
23           Consumer Price Index for June 2018
26           External merchandise trade statistics for June 2018

August 2018
========

Date        Press Release
—–        —————
1             Retail sales statistics for June 2018
3             Restaurant receipts and purchases statistics for second
               quarter 2018
9             Volume and price statistics of external merchandise
               trade for June 2018 
10           Gross Domestic Product for second quarter 2018: data
               contained in the press release entitled "Economic 
               Situation in the Second Quarter of 2018 and Latest
               GDP and Price Forecasts for 2018" issued by The
               Office of the Government Economist under the
               Financial Secretary's Office (Note)
14           Mid-year population for 2018 
17           Unemployment and underemployment statistics for
               May – July 2018 
21           Consumer Price Index for July 2018 
27           External merchandise trade statistics for July 2018
30           Retail sales statistics for July 2018

September 2018
==========

Date        Press Release
—–        —————
6             Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for
               second quarter 2018
10           Quarterly business receipts indices for service
               industries for second quarter 2018 
11           Construction output statistics for second quarter 2018
11           Statistics on trade involving outward processing in the 
               mainland of China for second quarter 2018 
13           Index of industrial production and producer price index 
               for industrial sector for second quarter 2018
14           Gross National Income and external primary income
               flows for second quarter 2018 
18           Unemployment and underemployment statistics for
               June – August 2018 
19           Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by
               economic activity for second quarter 2018
20           Consumer Price Index for August 2018 
20           Volume and price statistics of external merchandise
               trade for July 2018
20           Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2018
21           Balance of Payments and International Investment
               Position statistics for second quarter 2018 
27           External merchandise trade statistics for August 2018
27           Wage and payroll statistics for June 2018

Note: The Office of the Government Economist under the Financial Secretary's Office will issue a press release on the Half-yearly Economic Report 2018 and second update of the GDP and prices forecasts for 2018 as a whole.  The GDP for the second quarter of 2018 will also be released there.  No separate press release on the GDP for the second quarter of 2018 will be issued by the Census and Statistics Department on that day.

     The schedule for regular press releases in the other months of 2018 can be downloaded from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/index.jsp).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 29) said that 12 of its general out-patient clinics (see table below) will provide services on the holiday next Monday (July 2) following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day. Members of the public are reminded to make advance booking through the telephone system as usual for an appointment.  
 
     The spokesperson further remarked that the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Departments in public hospitals will also operate as usual during the holiday to serve the patients with urgent medical needs.  The established triage system will ensure priority treatment for critical and emergency patients according to their clinical conditions.
 
     "The queuing time is expected to be longer for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients as there may be more patients attending A&E departments during the holiday." The spokesperson appeals to the public for understanding and cooperation while waiting for consultations. Non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultations at general out-patient clinics, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals.
 
     To help find the appropriate family medicine doctor and related clinic service of their choice, members of the public are welcome to call the HA Infoline (2882 4866) for information on holiday general out-patient clinic service, or to browse the Primary Care Directory of Department of Health at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk, or download the mobile App of "Primary Care Directory".

 
Consultation Hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm