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 16) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches/the beach.

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 16) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

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 16) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay First Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (June 16). They are, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong and Macao Lions Beacon for Youth Foundation Limited; in Kowloon, Operation Dawn Limited; and in the New Territories, Tin Shui Wai Women Association Limited, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.

     Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people distinguish between the three flag-selling activities.

     Information on the three flag-selling organisations on June 16 is as follows:
 

     For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the Charitable Fund-raising Control Team at 2832 4311 during office hours. Information on the flag days of the month is available at the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew/). Permits for flag days containing contact information of the flag-selling organisations and information on the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_recentlyap/). For enquiries about the detailed flag-selling arrangements, please contact the individual flag-selling organisations.

     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities covered by the Public Subscription Permit issued by the SWD have also been uploaded to the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/fundraising).
 
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Belgium today (June 15, Brussels time).

     In the morning, Mrs Lam met with the President of the European Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker. She said that the economic outlook of Hong Kong is positive with unemployment rate falling to a 20-year low and that the national Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development are set to inject new impetus to the city's economy. Noting that Hong Kong, which has been a staunch supporter of free trade, signed a Free Trade Agreement and a related Investment Agreement with the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations last year, she hoped to commence relevant discussion with the European Union (EU). She also hoped that youth exchanges with EU countries can be enhanced, including the launch of more working holiday schemes.

     Mrs Lam then visited the Belgian Parliament which has a history of more than 200 years and met with the President of the Chamber of Representatives, Mr Siegfried Bracke. She introduced to him Hong Kong's latest situation, including the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems", the independent judiciary, new initiatives rolled out by the new term Government to enhance competitiveness of the city, etc.

     Mrs Lam also attended a lunch hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, Mr Zhang Ming and knew from him the latest development of the bilateral relations between China and the EU. She thanked the Mission for its support for various exchanges between Hong Kong and the EU, and its help with the expansion of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's external relations.

     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam visited the GSK Vaccines' headquarters and received a briefing on the company's research and development operation as well as their experience of carrying out clinical trials in Hong Kong.

     Mrs Lam headed to Bordeaux in the evening and will start her visit to France tomorrow (June 16, Bordeaux time).