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 announced today (June 19) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach and Pui O Beach in Islands District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.
Hongkong Post announced today (June 19) that selected philatelic products issued by the postal administrations of the Mainland, Macao, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United Nations will be put on sale at all Philatelic Offices from June 21. In addition, the products will be put on sale at the Hongkong Post online shopping mall ShopThruPost (mall.hongkongpost.hk) from 8am on the same day.
Details of the philatelic products, the selling prices and the sales quota for each customer are listed in the Appendix. Pictures showing these philatelic products are attached.
Further information about these products can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website at stamps.hongkongpost.hk or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline 2785 5711.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to France in Marseille today (June 18, Marseille time) and attended a ceremony on delivery of helicopters for the Government Flying Service (GFS).
On arrival in Marseille yesterday evening (June 17, Marseille time), Mrs Lam met with the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China to Marseille, Ms Lu Huiying, over dinner. This morning, she met with the Vice President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) Region, Mrs Caroline Pozmentier-Sportich, and listened to the sharing of experience by representatives of local enterprises in exploration of the Hong Kong and Asian markets as well as co-operation with Chinese enterprises. Businesses of the participants range from charging technology and renewable energy to interactive digital experiences, wine and engines. Noting that the PACA region and Hong Kong have a lot in common, with both places being major ports in the world having vibrant maritime and logistics industry and tourism, Mrs Lam said she looks forward to enhanced exchanges and collaboration between the two places. In particular on innovation and technology (I&T), she said she is pleased to note that both the region and Hong Kong attach great importance to I&T development. She expressed the hope that co-operation between universities and institutes from the two places as well as collaboration in terms of research and development would be strengthened.
Mrs Lam then headed for Airbus Helicopters to attend a ceremony on delivery of helicopters for the GFS. Addressing the ceremony, she said that she is delighted to accept three new helicopters on behalf of the GFS of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Praising the GFS for serving in all kinds of emergency operations, she said the GFS crew have to work under extremely testing weather conditions and demanding operating environments. She noted that the GFS has conducted many rescue operations in Hong Kong and the South China Sea, as well as after the massive Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. She added that with advanced helicopter manufacturing technology and enhanced capacity, the new helicopters will provide enormous help to the work of GFS and that she thanked Airbus Helicopters for ensuring their smooth production. Also attending the ceremony was the State Secretary to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, who said in his address that he treasures the long-standing and close co-operation relationship between France and Hong Kong.
At noon, Mrs Lam attended a lunch hosted by the Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Helicopters, Mr Bruno Even, at which they discussed the development of the helicopter business in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mrs Lam toured Airbus Helicopters in the afternoon to learn about the factory operation and the facility for flight simulation training. The GFS sends their pilots there regularly to receive training.
Mrs Lam then departed for Paris and will continue her visit to France tomorrow (June 19, Paris time).
Police are investigating a murder and suicide case in Castle Peak yesterday afternoon (June 18) in which a 60-year-old man, his 56-year-old wife and his 23-year-old daughter died.
At about 3.05pm, Police received a report from a 36-year-old man that nobody answered the door at his relatives’ residence on Lung Mun Road.
Police officers sped to the scene. After firemen forcibly opened the door, the 23-year-old woman’s head was found covered with a plastic bag which was connected to a gas bottle. Her 60-year-old father was found injured to his chest and her 56-year-old mother was found injured to her chest, waist and leg. The trio was certified dead at scene.
Initial investigation revealed that the 23-year-old woman committed suicide after attacking her parents inside the unit.
A knife in suspected connection with the case was found inside the unit.
Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the causes of their deaths.
Active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Tuen Mun District is underway.
Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the H-175 helicopter delivery ceremony at Airbus Helicopters in Marseille, France today (June 18, Marseille time):
Mr Even (Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Helicopters, Mr Bruno Even), Mr Lemoyne (State Secretary to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. I am delighted to be here today at Airbus Helicopters to formally accept three new H-175 helicopters on behalf of the Government Flying Service (GFS) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
They look impressive, I must say. I know our Flying Service can't wait to get them into the skies over Hong Kong. And we all look forward to delivery of the other four before this year's end.
I am grateful to Airbus Helicopters and for the many people involved in the production of these helicopters, especially Mr Even, for his assistance in arranging today's programme and, of course, for its meticulous efforts in enabling the smooth production of the new helicopters. The quality and professionalism of Airbus Helicopters is something we have come to expect, having been good partners now for more than 17 years. Our cooperation began in 2001. From Eurocopter, Airbus Helicopters' predecessor, we purchased seven helicopters – four B1 Dauphins and three L2 Super Pumas.
The seven Eurocopters in the GFS fleet have served as trusted transport for our GFS crew in all kinds of emergency operations. Indeed, our GFS crew have to work under extremely testing weather conditions and demanding operating environments, including long-range search-and-rescue missions over our seas and mountains, along with patient transfers, fire-fighting and law enforcement. And, let me add, they also include the mega-typhoons we have been hit within these past few years, as well as our disaster-relief efforts during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. I still remember 10 years ago, following the GFS search and rescue service in the Sichuan earthquake, President Xi Jinping, who was then the Vice President of the People's Republic of China, came to Hong Kong and went to the hanger to specially thank the GFS pilots and crew for the wonderful job done. All in all, I'm told that the seven Eurocopters in the GFS fleet have rescued more than 6 700 lives in Hong Kong and the South China Sea, while providing air medical services for well over 25 000 patients. With that very much in mind, I would say this is a fitting time and opportunity to thank both the professionals at Airbus Helicopters and GFS for a job well done.
Looking ahead, the new H-175 fleet brings together the most advanced helicopter manufacturing technology, including the latest avionics and navigation systems, and does so with a capacity nearly 20 per cent larger than the fleet it will replace. I am pleased to note that the GFS is the launch customer for this brand-new model and configuration. I am pleased as well that it is the result of an East-West cooperation. While Airbus Helicopters has been responsible for much of the production, Mainland China has contributed the airframe manufacturing.
The new fleet's cost at 143.9 million euros is a pretty penny, to be sure. But, of course, I know we are getting fair value – for the hardware, the software, the training and the reassurance that we are investing in the best life-saving transport we can buy for our community, for the people of Hong Kong and for everyone around us.
For that, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all, and wish you all a very pleasant day.
Thank you very much.