Author Archives: hksar gov

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 pro… read more

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees’ risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work”, detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers’ and employees’ reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department’s thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm. read more

     â€‹Correctional officers stopped a 61-year-old male remand person in custody from committing suicide by hanging in Stanley Prison today (August 26).      At 3.41am today, a correctional officer … read more

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (August 26). They are, on Hong Kong Island, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong; in Kowloon, Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power; and in the New Territories, The International Nature Loving Association Limited, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.
 
     Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people to distinguish among the three flag-selling activities.    
 
     Information on the three flag-selling organisations on August 26 is as follows:
 

Region	Name of organisation	Colour of collection bag	Colour of flag
Hong Kong Island	Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong	Sky blue	White
Kowloon	Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power	Blue	Light brown
New Territories	The International Nature Loving Association Limited	Green	Pink

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
 
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more

     The HKSAR Government indicated today (August 25) that the supply of edible salt in Hong Kong remains stable, with stock sufficient for local consumption for around one month. Members of public need not worry about the supply or stockpile edible salt.
 
     The HKSAR Government noted there were news reports that there was an obvious surge in the number of people purchasing more edible salt possibly triggered by the rumor that iodised salt can shield radiation, coupled with the concerns of potential shortage of edible salt, which resulted in emptied shelves of edible salt in some supermarkets.
 
     A Centre for Food Safety (CFS) spokesman pointed out that “there is no scientific evidence suggesting that intake of iodine-rich food and iodised salt will prevent the physical harm brought about by radiation. In contrary, excessive intake of iodine and sodium (salt) is harmful, particularly to persons who suffer from hypertension, heart diseases or kidney diseases. Therefore, we appeal to members of the public to refrain from purchasing and eating excessive amount of edible salt.”
 
     According to the information of the Census and Statistics Department, edible salt consumed in Hong Kong mainly came from Mainland China, Malaysia and Australia while the Japanese edible salt’s market share is less than one per cent. The HKSAR Government’s import restrictions on the 10 metropolis/prefectures of Japan do not affect the supply of edible salt in Hong Kong.
 
     The staff of CFS has quickly surveyed the retails points. The HKSAR Government also contacted major supermarkets and noted that the supply of salt remains steady and stock remains sufficient. Some of the shelves for salt were not timely replenished due to operational reasons instead of shortage. Relevant retail outlets will actively follow up and replenish the stock of edible salt as soon as possible. Members of public need not worry about the supply or stockpile edible salt.
 
     With the view to enabling a better understanding of the members of public and the trade on the incapability of iodine-rich food like iodised salt in shielding radiation, CFS has provided relevant information via different channels, including publishing posts on social media, previous publications and thematic webpage. The link to the social media platform is as follows:–
 
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02E5ZccP1V5v2sfb99sYDLEQn9R8dV333Q7NUkfvhRvzE8SY57aeDscyHnjmDRbMKBl&id=100069065834959&mibextid=Nif5oz
 
     The HKSAR Government appeals to members of the public to remain calm and rational and be cautious to fake news. read more