Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (August 2) will be cancelled.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 2) 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.

      The Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), or in short WPRS, came into effect today (August 1).  It covers air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, computers, printers, scanners and monitors (collectively referred to as regulated electrical equipment, or REE).  Today marks another important milestone in Hong Kong's waste reduction and recycling efforts, and the scheme facilitates the collection of WEEE generated locally for proper recycling and turning them into resources.
 
     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Electrical Appliances Merchants Association, Dr David Mong, today visited a few REE retail stores in a shopping mall in Causeway Bay.  During the visit, they spoke to some frontline staff of the retail stores to learn more about their operation on the first day of the implementation of the WPRS.
 
     Mr Wong said, "Producer responsibility schemes are built upon the concept of 'eco-responsibility', where different stakeholders along the supply chain share the responsibility for proper treatment and recycling of the concerned products.  This requires the shared responsibility and concerted efforts by all parties, including suppliers and sellers of the products, as well as consumers."
 
     Starting today, REE sellers are required to arrange free statutory removal service for customers who purchase a new item of REE. This service aims at facilitating members of the public to properly recycle the REE that they intend to abandon.  The REE sellers must also provide consumers with the corresponding recycling label alongside the sold REE and a receipt showing the prescribed wording on the recycling levies, which serve to show that the purchased REE is distributed under the WPRS. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has asked the operator of the Government’s WEEE Treatment and Recycling Facility (WEEE‧PARK) to fully gear up and provide additional manpower to attain its performance pledge for collecting the waste equipment three working days after receipt of the service request from the sellers. The EPD will continue to closely monitor the operation of the operator, and if situation warrants, ask the operator to adjust its logistics fleet and manpower to meet the service demand of sellers and consumers. If the date on which the consumer and seller agree to arrange the delivery of a new item and the removal of an item of waste equipment is three workings days after the date of purchase, no extra fee should be payable to the seller.
 
     Mr Wong said, "The operation of the new scheme is generally smooth. We appreciate that during the early stage of implementation, it may take time for members of the public and the trade to get accustomed to the new arrangements and the operational flow. The EPD will meet with representatives of the trade in due course to review the implementation details of the scheme and consider if there is any room for improvement. Meanwhile, if we have identified any non-compliance with the legal requirements on the part of the sellers or its staff, such as providing misleading information to the consumers in respect of the time required for arranging the statutory removal service, the EPD will follow up with investigation and take necessary enforcement actions."
 
     As at July 31, 2018 immediately before the commencement of the law, the EPD had received 2 562 applications for endorsement of removal service plans (RSP) by REE sellers, of which 1 754 had been approved. In parallel, 219 applications had been received for registration as suppliers, of which 173 had been approved. Those cases that are still being processed were only received in the preceding week: most of RSP endorsement applications are made by small-scale computer sellers and small works contractors involved in the installation and dismantling of air-conditioners; whereas most of the applications for registration as suppliers are made by small-scale computer suppliers. The EPD will complete processing these applications as soon as possible.
 
     With commencement of the legislation, the EPD has commenced its enforcement efforts including inspections at shops suspected of breaching the law and which have not submitted applications.  If members of the public have any questions or complaints on the implementation arrangement of the WPRS, they can call the EPD's dedicated hotline 2310 0223. 
 
     In addition, to protect the environment, the Government urges members of the public to make good use of the statutory removal service to ensure collection of the waste equipment for proper recycling and turning them into resources.  If a member of the public needs to dispose of a waste equipment and is not purchasing a new REE, he or she may call the recycling hotline 2676 8888 to make an appointment for free collection service.  Please however note that the schedule of appointment may take longer as the WEEE‧PARK operator will accord higher priority to collection requests for statutory removal service.
 
     Since its initial operation in October 2017 and full commissioning in March 2018, the WEEE‧PARK has processed a total of 4 500 tonnes of WEEE cumulatively.  With the implementation of the WPRS, we believe the amount of WEEE processed by the WEEE‧PARK will increase progressively, helping to ensure that WEEE generated locally are properly recycled and turned into resources.