The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (August 3).

     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
———————

Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
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Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:
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Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 3), officiated at the opening ceremony of the new Immigration Headquarters located in Tseung Kwan O.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Chan recalled that during his tenure as the Director of Immigration, he had repeated in-depth discussions with his colleagues in the Immigration Department and officers of the Government Property Agency, and it was finally decided to build a new headquarters for the Immigration Department (ImmD) in Tseung Kwan O. He also said that the new headquarters, which was near the Tseung Kwan O and Tiu Keng Leng MTR Stations and was easily accessible by various modes of public transport, would bring convenience to the public in using the services of the ImmD.

     Mr Chan also said that relocating the headquarters was absolutely no easy task. All ImmD staff members must be united as one. Every process of the project, from design to preparation and implementation of the relocation plan, was carried out with meticulous attention to detail to ensure that the services and operation of the department would not be affected by the relocation. The new headquarters has commenced operation without hiccups, and credit must go to all colleagues in the ImmD for their commendable efforts.

     Mr Chan emphasised that as the time changes, the responsibilities and services provided by the ImmD are also ever increasing. He hoped that the ImmD would continue to uphold four principles in its work; to strengthen the defence for safeguarding national security; to zealously innovate and seek breakthroughs; to vigorously promote the economic development of Hong Kong; and to proactively integrate into the national development.

     The Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok, thanked the Chief Secretary for Administration and the guests for attending the Opening Ceremony and witnessing the historical moment of the Immigration Department. On the other hand, Mr Kwok said, "The Immigration Headquarters consists of two buildings, namely the Administration Tower and the Enforcement Tower. It represents the image of the Immigration Department that places equal importance on service provision and law enforcement, and symbolizes the Department’s firm commitment to serving the public and striving to maintain the stability and prosperity of the country and Hong Kong."

     The Immigration Headquarters, located at 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, has commenced operation on June 11, 2024 to provide services to the public.

     For information on public transport services for travelling to the Immigration Headquarters and the opening hours of its offices, please visit the following webpage: www.immd.gov.hk/eng/imm_hq.html

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Grantham Hospital made the following announcement today (August 3):

     Twenty patients (seven male and 13 female patients aged between 47 and 94) in the infirmary unit of Grantham Hospital have been presenting with fever and have tested positive for COVID-19 since July 31. All patients are being treated in cohort isolation and are in stable condition.

     Admission for the wards concerned has been suspended, and restricted visiting has been imposed. Thorough cleaning and disinfection measures have been conducted in the wards concerned. Infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines.

     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patients. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.

     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) conducted an enforcement operation against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas in Lan Kwai Fong yesterday night (August 2).

     During the operation, officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) issued a total of eight fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to persons illegally smoking waterpipes at one bar. TACO's investigation is ongoing and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the bar who are suspected of contravening the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) (the Ordinance) and the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) for aiding and abetting smoking offences. TACO will also notify the Liquor Licensing Board on the above-mentioned violation.

     Under the Ordinance, conducting a smoking act in a statutory no smoking area (such as indoor areas of bars or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no smoking areas are liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Moreover, where smoking products (including waterpipes) are sold, in bars or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000. Venue managers of statutory no smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request the smoking offender to cease the act; if the offender is not co-operative, he/she may contact the Police for assistance.

     Also, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the like offence. A spokesman for the DH appeals to operators and venue mangers of bars/restaurants not to assist any person in breaching the statutory smoking prohibitions, or provide a waterpipe apparatus and tobacco to customers for use.

     The DH spokesman stressed that TACO will follow up and investigate every complaint about illegal smoking, and will conduct inspections and take enforcement actions in the venue concerned. TACO will also conduct joint inspections and enforcement action (including plainclothes operations) with other law enforcement agencies from time to time with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. The DH will continue to closely monitor and take stringent enforcement actions to tackle illegal waterpipe smoking. In the past 12 months, TACO conducted 105 operations against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas. A total of 145 FPNs were issued against smoking offenders, while 74 summonses were issued to staff members and operators of the bars/restaurants for other related offences.

     The spokesman said that waterpipe is a smoking product and its combustion of fuel (e.g. charcoal) releases carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas which is a by-product from incomplete combustion of any fuel which contains carbon, such as charcoals. Exposure to a low concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to a range of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, tiredness and nausea; whereas exposure to a high concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to impaired vision, disturbed co-ordination, unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. People should seek medical attention immediately if suspected of developing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

     Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoking session, waterpipe users usually inhale more toxins than they would when smoking cigarettes. A typical one-hour waterpipe smoking session exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette. Moreover, sharing a waterpipe apparatus increases the risk of infectious disease transmission such as tuberculosis. Furthermore, the areas in bars/restaurants where waterpipes are handled or kept have been found to be unhygienic during previous enforcement operations. The spokesman cautions against waterpipe smoking or the use of other smoking products. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For more information on the hazards of waterpipe smoking, please visit www.livetobaccofree.hk/pdfs/waterpipe_leaflet_new.pdf.

    

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 2) seized about 8.4 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $5.8 million at Hong Kong International Airport.
      
     Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday inspected an air consignment, declared as carrying durian and mochi, and arriving in Hong Kong from Malaysia, at Hong Kong International Airport. Upon inspection, Customs officers found about 8.4kg of suspected heroin therein.
      
     After follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation yesterday in Mong Kok and arrested three males, aged between 25 and 53, suspected to be connected with the case.
      
     The investigation is ongoing.
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).