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 (LCSD) announced today (October 19) that Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District will reopen tomorrow (October 20). The beach was temporarily closed earlier for clearance of debris and fallen trees as well as repairs of the shark prevention net and beach facilities after the typhoon.

     Twelve beaches under the LCSD have been reopened recently. They are Butterfly Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Cafeteria New Beach and Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District; Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Approach Beach, Anglers' Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach in Tsuen Wan District; Lo So Shing Beach in Islands District; and Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District.

      Meanwhile, other gazetted beaches in Southern, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts, including Deep Water Bay Beach which is normally open all year round, will remain closed until further notice as much longer time is needed for repairing beach facilities and damaged shark prevention nets or clearing debris due to the severe damage brought about by the typhoon earlier. Red flags have been hoisted at these beaches.

     The LCSD reminds members of the public not to go to the beaches that are temporarily closed, and not to swim or participate in other activities at those beaches for the sake of safety.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (October 21) to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island.

     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 12.45pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Des Voeux Road Central;
– Southbound Bank Street;
– Westbound Queen’s Road Central;
– Westbound Queen’s Road West; and
– Southbound Western Street.

     Vehicles may not be permitted to access or leave car parks along the route during the road closure period.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, October 19, 2018 is 105.6 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     The Labour Department will hold a talk on the employment of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) on November 27 (Tuesday) at 7.30pm at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Enrolment is now open.

     The talk will introduce details of employment rights and obligations of employers of FDHs. A representative has also been invited from the Occupational Safety and Health Council to recommend measures relating to occupational safety and health while performing domestic work, so as to assist employers to provide guidance to FDHs and ensure home safety. Employers of FDHs, especially first-time employers, are welcome to attend.

     The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and the enrolment deadline is November 23. The enrolment form can be downloaded from the department's website (www.labour.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call 2852 4000.

     The election of five employee representatives to the Labour Advisory Board (LAB) for the next two-year term commencing on January 1, 2019, will be held on November 10 (Saturday) at Mei Foo Community Hall, 1/F, Mei Foo Government Complex, 33 Mei Lai Road, Sham Shui Po. The Labour Department received 12 valid nominations of candidates from employee unions registered under the Trade Unions Ordinance during the nomination period from September 17 to October 9.

     The candidates, listed in the order of receipt of nomination forms by the Labour Department, are:

* Mr Tang Ka-piu
Chairman,
Hong Kong Social Workers and Welfare Employees Union

* Mr Leung Chau-ting
Chief Executive Officer,
Hong Kong Federation of Civil Service Unions

* Mr Chau Siu-chung
Secretary,
Hong Kong Storehouses, Transportation & Logistics Staff Association (HKFLU)

* Mr Lee Kwok-keung
Labour Research Department Officer,
Hong Kong & Kowloon Trades Union Council

* Mr Vincent Lam
Chairperson,
Social and Political Organization Workers' Union

* Mr Cheng Hin-kei
Vice-chairperson,
Social and Political Organization Workers' Union

* Mr William Shek
Secretary,
Social and Political Organization Workers' Union

* Mr Li Chi-wang
Committee,
Social and Political Organization Workers' Union

* Mr Oscar Lo Chun-man
Committee,
Social and Political Organization Workers' Union

* Mr Li Kwok-wah
Chairman,
Staff Rights Association of KMB

* Mr Charles Chan Yiu-kwong
Chairman,
Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union

* Mr Daniel Lau Yuk-fai
Consultant,
Government Disciplined Services General Union

     A total of 425 employee unions registered as electors have appointed authorised representatives to vote in this election. The electors will soon be informed in writing of the candidate list and detailed proceedings of the election day. Authorised representatives may cast their votes at the polling station at Mei Foo Community Hall, 1/F, Mei Foo Government Complex, between 11am and 4pm on the election day of November 10.

     A representative of the Registry of Trade Unions and the candidates will be present on the election day to supervise the counting of votes. Assistant Commissioner for Labour Mr Raymond Ho will act as Returning Officer.

     The respective lists of candidates and electors with authorised representatives appointed as well as the election rules and procedures are available on the homepage of the Labour Department (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/content.htm). Enquiries on matters relating to this election can be made at 2852 4024.

     The LAB is a tripartite consultative body comprising representatives of employees and employers to advise the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters.