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     To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold “Celebrating the National Day – Harbour Run For Fun” on September 22 (Sunday) to encourage members of the public to wear Chinese costumes, or costumes with elements of National Day, to celebrate the occasion by running.

     “Celebrating the National Day – Harbour Run For Fun” is scheduled to be held alongside the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) and Wan Chai Temporary Promenade in the morning on September 22 for a 5 kilometre run. The quota available for enrolment is 750, and participants must be 14 years old or above. Members of the public can register free of charge. Applicants may enrol through My SmartPLAY App, the SmartPLAY webpage or Smart Self-service Stations on a first-come, first-served basis from 8.30am on August 8 (Thursday).

     Each participant will receive a souvenir T-shirt. Participants completing the run will receive a medal and other gifts. Participants are also encouraged to wear Chinese costumes, or costumes with elements of National Day, to compete for the Best Chinese Costume Prize.
      
     The prospectus is available at My SmartPLAY App, the SmartPLAY webpage, District Leisure Services Offices under the LCSD, and leisure venues with SmartPLAY Services.
      
     In addition, an invitation race will be launched on the event day. Various government departments and related organisations will be invited to participate in a 3km run and compete for the Most Outstanding Team Costume Prize to celebrate the National Day with creative costumes and showcase their unity and teamwork.
      
     Apart from the runs, a carnival will also be held from 10am to 1pm on the event day in the vicinity of the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) and Tamar Park. Admission is free and no reservation is required. Activities include National Day performances, booth games, a pet grooming competition, a photo corner, an exhibition showcasing the achievements of outstanding Hong Kong athletes, a workshop on Chinese culture and arts as well as a park orienteering activity, etc.
      
     For enquiries on “Celebrating the National Day – Harbour Run For Fun” and the carnival, please contact the Wan Chai District Leisure Services Office at 2879 5622 as well as Central and Western District Leisure Services Office at 2853 2566 during office hours respectively. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 is 104.8 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

     In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on August 5 to noon today (August 6), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 163 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 73 838 samples of food imported from Japan (including 47 451 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 17 296 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

     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 (August 6) 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 Adverse Weather and ‘Extreme Conditions'” 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. read more

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 … read more