The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled "Prevention of lower limb disorders" on June 4 (Monday). The talk will introduce symptoms of common lower limb disorders, including plantar fasciitis, varicose vein and knee osteoarthritis, as well as their treatment and preventive measures.

     The talk will be held at 6.30pm at Activity Room 1, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay. An occupational health nurse from the LD will lead practical demonstrations of workplace exercises.

     The LD will hold another talk entitled "Health hazards of hot environment at work" on June 13 (Wednesday). The talk, designed for workers in hot environments to enhance their awareness of heat stroke prevention, will include symptoms of heat stroke, its first aid management and preventive measures.

     The talk, to be given by the LD's occupational health nurse and occupational hygienist, will be held at 3pm in the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

     Both talks will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free. For enquiries or registration, please call 2852 4040.

     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 (June).
 
     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 June 2018:
 
San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range
———————————-
 

 
Tsing Shan Firing Range
—————————
 

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, will leave for San Francisco, the United States, early tomorrow morning (May 29) for a three-day visit to learn about the city's experience in developing financial technology (fintech) and to promote Hong Kong as a preferred listing platform for both initial public offerings and secondary listings.
      
     While in San Francisco, Mr Lau will visit a number of financial institutions and technology companies including startups, innovation centres, incubators and a payments technology enterprise.

     In addition, he will meet with venture capitalists, university professors, members of the business sector and professionals to discuss opportunities in Hong Kong and areas for collaboration. He will also pay a courtesy call on the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, Ambassador Luo Linquan.

     In addition, Mr Lau will give keynote speeches at two luncheons hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco for fintech and business leaders to introduce the latest developments of the Hong Kong financial market and efforts by the Government in promoting fintech and green finance.

     Mr Lau will return to Hong Kong on Saturday (June 2). During his absence, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 28) 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.