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.

     In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government made the following response today (May 29) to the Hong Kong Policy Act Report issued by the US Department of State:

     "Since the return to the Motherland, the HKSAR has been exercising a high degree of autonomy and 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' in strict accordance with the Basic Law. This demonstrates the full and successful implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle, which has been widely recognised by the international community.

     "Foreign governments should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR."

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session at Central Government Offices, Tamar, after the Fight Crime Committee meeting this afternoon (May 29):

Reporter: Mr Lee, there has been a sharp rise in several drugs seized in the first quarter, especially ecstasy. Is there a particular reason? Secondly, there is also, as you mentioned, a rise in online dating scams. Despite a previous publicity campaign, it still continues to rise. Is it because the previous campaign was not targeted enough? Thank you.

Secretary for Security: In respect of ecstasy, first of all it is not the most popular drug in Hong Kong, so the demand has not gone up. And it is not because of the demand that the seizure has gone up. The seizure actually reflects a few things. First, I think it is the effectiveness of the intelligence system. If you look at the big seizure of ecstasy, the Customs and Excise Department intercepted, in quite a number of cases, ecstasy in large quantity. And the Police also, in their enforcement in the territory, have neutralised several syndicates, in which the amount of seizure was high. For example, in one single case, the number of ecstasy pills that was seized amounted to over 6 000. And the third thing is, there has been very good co-operation with the Mainland and the international law enforcement agencies in the fight against drugs, which reflects in the amount of seizure. Another thing that we can draw from the statistics is some of the ecstasy pills that have come to Hong Kong are not mainly targeted for local consumption. As I explained, the demand has not really gone up. We assess that a lot (of ecstasy) will be taken out of Hong Kong to other markets. But that trend does not seem to be a very steady trend yet. So it may just reflect a periodic modus operandi. But I think what is important in the fight against drugs is an effective intelligence network and a very smooth co-operation system with agencies outside Hong Kong.

Reporter: And also the online romance scam?    

Secretary for Security: The romance scam has gone up two times. That is the statistics. Our experience with deception of this kind is, first of all, it has been high because of the low risk that the culprit has to face. And it almost lacks cost that he has to put into the scam. So, that means whatever we do, there will be culprits because there will not be a lot of risks, and not a lot of costs for them.

      Publicity and propaganda will help. Because as I explained earlier, in connection with the scam involving WhatsApp, after the Police's publicity, the figure has dropped in April by something like almost 80 per cent from the March figure. So publicity works, but publicity does take time. It has to repeat every now and then. That is what the Police will be doing and also something I would request your assistance in making sure that the modus operandi is made as widely known as possible.                      

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will progressively extend the scheme on installation of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras at illegal refuse deposit blackspots to all districts starting from June 6 to combat illegal deposits of refuse and improve environmental hygiene.
 
     A spokesman for the FEHD today (May 29) said, "The FEHD launched a six-month pilot scheme on installation of IP cameras at six refuse deposit blackspots in Central and Western, Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long districts in late December 2016, which has effectively curbed illegal deposits of refuse through targeted surveillance and enforcement actions. 
 
     "In view of these encouraging results, the FEHD, after consulting all District Councils, will extend the scheme to cover about 80 refuse deposit blackspots in the territory for a trial period of one year. When the scheme commences next week, IP cameras installed at 46 blackspots in various districts will be ready for use (see Annex), and installation work at the remaining blackspots will be conducted progressively. FEHD officers will closely monitor the targeted blackspots and suitably adjust its action plans in light of actual circumstances, including the change of IP camera locations in a timely manner, so as to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement actions."

     The spokesman said that the FEHD is implementing the arrangements in accordance with the Guidance on CCTV Surveillance and Use of Drones issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, including posting notices in the areas covered by the IP cameras. In addition, the department has formulated clear operational guidelines, and requires staff to strictly comply with the provisions on the manner of collecting personal data under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap 486) and to handle privacy matters properly. The disclosure of images captured is restricted to the extent necessary for legal action to be taken. Should no prosecution be instituted against irregularities within six months, the images so captured will be deleted.
 
     The spokesman stressed that the FEHD would continue to combat illegal refuse deposits in a multi-pronged manner. Members of the public are urged to observe the laws and be civic-minded. They should deposit refuse properly or may be prosecuted. Since mid-2017, the department has set up six dedicated enforcement teams to step up enforcement actions against various public cleanliness offences.
 
     The scheme will be reviewed one year after implementation. The installation locations of the IP cameras will be uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk).

     Police today (May 29) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Chai Wan.

     Yeung Man-wa, aged 15, went missing after she was last seen on Tai On Street on May 16 morning. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.5 metres tall, 49 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a round face with yellow complexion, long straight black hair and a rose tattoo on her upper right arm. She was last seen wearing a black coat and a pair of pink shorts.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9689 7445, or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.