The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 27) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     "The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

     "The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable, and start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Get into a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index remains high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear loose long-sleeved clothing made of close-woven fabrics;
• Wear a wide brim hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming or sweating; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may get more information from the DH's Health Education Hotline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force:

     The Labour Department reminds employers that as the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force, they should assess the risk of heat stroke to their employees and adopt effective preventive measures such as providing cool drinking water, setting up temporary sunshade and providing mechanical aids to reduce physical exertion of employees. Employees should drink water regularly and be mindful of their physical condition. If early heat stroke symptoms such as headache and thirst appear, they should inform their supervisors and seek medical help immediately.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

     To prevent heat stroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

     If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

     Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

     If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

     Police are investigating a murder and attempted murder case happened in Chai Wan yesterday afternoon (June 26), in which a woman died and a woman and two men were injured.

     At about 3pm, Police received multiple reports that a woman fired shots inside a park on Taikoo Wan Road. Police officers sped to the scene and found that two men and two women were injured. Sustaining head injuries, an 80-year-old woman was rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 6.35pm. A 62-year-old man, sustaining head injuries, was rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in unconscious state. A 60-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man, sustaining hand and shoulder injuries respectively, were sent to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in conscious state.

     Initial investigation revealed that a 44-year-old woman had a dispute with the deceased and the three victims, during which the woman shot them with a pistol.

     Police arrested the 44-year-old woman for murder and attempted murder inside a shopping centre near the scene. A pistol in suspected connection with the case was seized.

     The arrested woman is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island is underway.

     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, paid his first duty visit to the United Kingdom (UK) to meet with senior officials and representatives from the innovation and technology sector to boost links between the two places.
 
     At his separate meetings held in London today (June 26, London time) with the UK's Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Mr Sam Gyimah, and Minister for Investment, Mr Graham Stuart, Mr Yang deepened his understanding of the UK's industrial strategy and the Artificial Intelligence Sector Deal. Mr Yang said he looked forward to promoting British-Hong Kong collaboration in innovation and technology.
 
     At a luncheon jointly held today by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and Invest Hong Kong, Mr Yang talked to key players of the UK innovation and technology sector about the latest policy initiatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to drive innovation and technology development as well as the blossoming start-up scene and burgeoning venture fund investments in Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Yang highlighted Hong Kong's active participation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development and the new 87-hectare Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop. "The development of the Bay Area is poised to present huge opportunities for individuals and enterprises alike. I invite British researchers, entrepreneurs and investors to come and tap the tremendous opportunities there," he said.
 
     This was followed by a visit to the Francis Crick Institute, which is a renowned biomedical research centre in London, cum laboratory tour. The Institute has 1,300 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines.
 
     The visit programme also covered visits to Cambridge and Oxford. On June 23, Mr Yang held a meeting with the Head of the Clinical School of the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Professor Patrick Maxwell. He also met with the Development Director and Fellow of Clare Hall Cambridge, Dr Marie Janson.
 
     Whilst in Oxford on June 25, Mr Yang visited the Williams Advanced Engineering and Oxford Sciences Innovation. Williams Advanced Engineering is the technology and engineering services business of the Williams Group and it adapts technology originally developed for Formula One for other commercial applications.
 
     Mr Yang then met with the senior management of Oxford Sciences Innovation and joined a lunchtime seminar to share with participants the conducive start-up environment in Hong Kong. Oxford Sciences Innovation is the partner of Oxford University to provide capital to and develop spin-off companies based on research from the University's Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division and Medical Sciences Division. Established in 2015, Oxford Sciences Innovation has set up over 50 companies to enable Oxford's world-class science to go to market.
 
     Prior to the Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics held on June 25 at Imperial College, Mr Yang met with Professor Yang Guangzhong and toured the microsurgery laboratory at the Hamlyn Centre to better understand the development of surgical robots there. Speaking at the drinks reception of the Hamlyn Symposium, Mr Yang told experts and pioneers of medical robotics that the HKSAR Government has earmarked HK$10 billion (about GBP 950 million) to establish two world-class research clusters at the Hong Kong Science Park, one on healthcare technologies and the other on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies. He urged world-class scientific research teams to look into opportunities that Hong Kong can offer, set foot in Hong Kong and collaborate with local research teams.
 
     During his stay in London, Mr Yang called on the Acting Chinese Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the UK, Mr Zhu Qin. He also visited Plexal, which provides co-working space, an accelerator programme and rapid prototyping equipment as well as entrepreneurship training and mentorship. Plexal sits within the Here East complex, previously the 2012 Olympics Press Centre.
 
     At a drinks reception with members of the Hong Kong community on June 22, Mr Yang updated them on Hong Kong's latest developments in the innovation and technology arena. He told the Hong Kong community that the HKSAR Government will launch a fast-track Technology Talent Admission Scheme for technology companies and institutes for the admission of overseas and Mainland technology talents, focusing on specific technology areas such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, data analytics, financial technologies and material science. He appealed to the guests to return to Hong Kong to join the innovation and technology drive.
 
     The Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Mr Albert Wong, and the Biotechnology Director of the Innovation and Technology Commission, Dr Cecilia Pang, joined part of Mr Yang's visit to the UK.
 
     Mr Yang started his three-nation visit to France, the UK and Switzerland by first joining part of the Chief Executive's visit programme in Paris between June 19 and 21. Together with the Chief Executive, Mr Yang witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Paris by the University of Hong Kong, Institut Pasteur and the HKSTPC to set up a joint biomedical research centre within the HKSTPC's healthcare technologies research cluster.
 
     Tomorrow (June 27, Zurich time), Mr Yang will make a brief visit to Basel and Zurich in Switzerland for the last leg of his European visit before setting off for Hong Kong.