Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is in force, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department appealed to members of the public today (September 1) not to visit its gazetted beaches to avoid accidents.

     As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is now in force, the Labour Department (LD) today (September 1) reminded employers to make work arrangements for staff during and after tropical cyclone and rainstorm warnings, including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and work from home (if applicable). In implementing the work arrangements and contingency measures, employers should give consideration as much as possible to the different situations faced by individual employees, such as their place of residence and the road and traffic conditions in the vicinity, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach with due regard to their actual difficulties and needs. For example, employers may permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work from home or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work. Employers should also observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under relevant legislation.
 
     The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Typhoons and Rainstorms", which outlines the major principles, the framework, the reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation for reference in drawing up the work arrangements under adverse weather conditions for employers and employees. The booklet can be downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf). 

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     During a typhoon, you are advised not to touch any broken electrical cables. Report such cases to the electricity companies immediately. Touching broken electrical conductors can cause an electric shock and may result in fatality.

     Police yesterday (August 31) laid a holding charge against a 51-year-old woman with one count of murder.

     The woman was arrested on August 30 in suspected connection with a murder happened in Kwun Tong on the same day, in which a 79-year-old woman died.

     The case will be mentioned at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts.

     As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 (T8) will soon be in force, the Labour Department (LD) today (September 1) reminded employers to make work arrangements for staff during and after tropical cyclone and rainstorm warnings, including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and work from home (if applicable). 

     An LD spokesman said, "In drawing up and implementing the work arrangements, apart from factors such as operational needs of establishments, employers should give prime consideration to employees' safety and the feasibility for employees to travel to and from their workplaces. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the different situations faced by individual employees, such as their place of residence and the road and traffic conditions in the vicinity, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach with due regard to their actual difficulties and needs. For example, employers may permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work from home or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work.

     "Under special situations, if it is necessary for employees to report for duty at workplaces under adverse weather conditions, employers should work out arrangements for their transportation, safety, meal, rest place and more. If public transport services are suspended or limited when T8 or higher is in force, employers should provide safe transport services for employees travelling to and from workplaces, or grant them an extra travelling allowance."

     The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance.

     The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Typhoons and Rainstorms", which provides a reference for employers and employees on the work and resumption of work arrangements in the event of the Government making the post-super typhoon "extreme conditions" announcement, as well as the major principles, the framework, the reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation for reference in drawing up the work arrangements under adverse weather conditions. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).