The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (September 18) to consider eight applications for new issue, renewal or transfer of liquor licences.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
——–
Forbes Thirty Six and K Pub in Kennedy Town
Starbucks Coffee in Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
——–
Magic City, Riders, Oasis and LAVA SHAO in Mong Kok
 
New Territories:
——–
ONION KITCHEN PUB + RESTAURANT in Sha Tin
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend, except during the private session on confidential items.
 

     To keep up with the demands of a rapidly changing society, educators have implemented effective teaching practices to prepare students for life in a modern world.
 
     News.gov.hk spoke to kindergarten and secondary school teachers who have been recognised with the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence, to find out how they use less conventional sports activities, picture books and STEM education to boost their students' confidence and skills.
 
     The story appears on news.gov.hk today (September 16) in both text and video format.

    The Hong Kong Observatory replaced the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No.9 by the Hurricane Signal No. 10 at 9.40am today (September 16).

     The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 48 temporary shelters in various districts and 606 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

     The 1823 Government Call Centre has received 22 reports of fallen tree as at 9am.  The Drainage Services Department has not received any reports of flooding so far. According to the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Lands Department, no report of landslide has been received.

      According to the Hospital Authority, as at 9am, two people, including a man and a woman, have sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.

      The MTR Corporation is providing limited services. Tram, Peak Tram and ferry services were suspended. On air traffic, the Airport Authority Hong Kong reported that a total of 889 flights have been cancelled today.

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (September 16) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to their notice to the Drainage Services Department by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline on 2300 1110.