â€‹The Labour Department (LD) regularly organises courses and public health talks on the prevention of heat stroke and occupational health to raise awareness among both employers and employees regarding occupational health.
     
     Details of eight courses and health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work in August are as follows:
 
(1)
Dates and Time: August 1 and 19 (Half-day (am));
August 7, 12 and 28 (Half-day (pm))
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the LD, 13/F, KOLOUR·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories
Enrolment method: Download the application form (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/form.htm)
Enquiry hotline: 2940 7057
 
(2)
Dates and Time: August 2 and 15 (Half-day (am))
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Centre of the LD, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Enrolment method: Online registration of courses in OSH Centre (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2361 8240
 
(3)
Date and Time: August 21 (3.30pm to 5pm)
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Enrolment method: Online registration of public talks on occupational health (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
 
     In addition, the LD will hold the following occupational health public talks in August:
 
(1)
Topic: Happy Workplace
Content: The talk will explain the importance and essential elements of creating a happy workplace.
Date and Time: August 6 (3.30pm to 4.45pm)
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Centre of the LD, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
 
(2)
Topic: Work and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Content: The talk will introduce healthy lifestyles and tips on protecting the heart and brain in the workplace to enhance employers' and employees' awareness of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Date and Time: August 14 (6.30pm to 7.45pm)
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
 
(3)
Topic: Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries
Content: The talk will introduce the structure and functions of the back, causes and preventive measures of back injuries, and proper manual handling operations, with demonstrations and practice of workplace exercises.
Date and Time: August 29 (3.30pm to 5pm)
Venue: Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
 
     All courses and public talks will be given by the LD's occupational hygienist, occupational safety officer or occupational health nurse in Cantonese. Admission is free.
     
     The LD also provides a free-of-charge outreach health education service. For details, please visit the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content7.htm) or call 2852 4062.

     The Government announced today (July 30) the appointment of Professor Leung Wai-keung as a non-official member to the Research Council with effect from August 1 this year to September 30, 2025. The Research Council, chaired by the Secretary for Health, is responsible for providing strategic steer for funding health and medical research and health promotion projects, and overseeing the administration of the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) including the allocation of funds for approved projects.

     Professor Leung is a Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professor in Gastroenterology and the Clinical Professor of the Department of Medicine of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. He has been taking part in the peer review process of the HMRF for many years. 

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, expressed gratitude to the outgoing member, Professor Vivian Lin Kwang-wen, for her invaluable contribution to the Research Council.  

     The membership list of the Research Council is set out on the webpage of the Health Bureau: www.healthbureau.gov.hk/en/committees/research.htm.

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 (July 30) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Pui O Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, yesterday (July 29) paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of Lao Customs Department, Mr Phoukhaokham Vannavongxay, in Vientiane, Laos, and was invited to attend a luncheon to exchange views on reinforcing communications and enhancing co-operation.
      
     During the meeting, the two discussed co-operation in various customs areas, including combating smuggling activities, exchanging intelligence and information, and capacity building, for establishing a closer partnership between the two Customs authorities.

     Ms Ho also mentioned that Hong Kong Customs has officially assumed the role of Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific (A/P) region of the World Customs Organization for a two-year term starting this month. Ms Ho expressed the hope that the strengthened collaboration with the Lao Customs Department would further promote the regional development agenda. Hong Kong Customs will organise various regional activities for members of the A/P region, including conferences, seminars, and specialised workshops on issues of concern. She also took the opportunity to invite the Lao Customs Department to participate in these relevant activities in the future.
      
     On the same day, witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, Ms Ho also exchanged a Customs Co-operative Arrangement with Mr Vannavongxay for deepening intelligence exchanges and information sharing, cracking down on cross-boundary crimes with joint forces, and facilitating trade.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

     Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (July 30) extended their warmest congratulations to Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long for winning the gold medal in the Men's Foil Individual event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. They also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to his coach and the fencing team.

     The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "Cheung Ka-long stayed calm and determined during the match. With his outstanding skills, great perseverance and determination, he once again demonstrated the capability of Hong Kong athletes and grabbed the gold medal at the Olympic Games after making history for Hong Kong’s fencing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. His achievement has made all Hong Kong people proud."

     ExCo Non-official Members hope that the Hong Kong, China Delegation will continue to unleash their potential and achieve outstanding results in the various events.