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 their notice to the Drainage Services Department by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline on 2300 1110.
The Government today (August 18) announced the following appointments to the Occupational Safety and Health Council for a term of two years starting from August 22, 2023:
Chairman
Dr David Mong Tak-yeung
Vice-chairman
Dr Lam Chor-yin
Members
Professor Tse Hoi-fat
Dr Candy Ho Ka-yan*
Mr Huang Yongquan*
Professor Shelly Tse Lap-ah*
Mr Rex Wong Siu-han*
A Government spokesman said, "We are grateful to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Alan Chan Hoi-shou, for his distinguished leadership, and to the outgoing members, Ms Ng Wai-yee, Professor Grace Szeto Pui-yuk and Mr Tsui Wai-tim, for their valuable contributions to the Council."
The Council is constituted under the Occupational Safety and Health Council Ordinance with the objective of fostering a safe and healthy working environment in Hong Kong. The appointments were published in the Gazette today.
* New appointees
​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.
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 16) conducted anti-illicit cigarette operations in To Kwa Wan and Tuen Mun respectively, and successfully smashed two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres. A total of about 1.85 million suspected illicit cigarettes with a total estimated market value of about $6.8 million and a duty potential of about $4.6 million were seized.
In the first case, Customs officers raided a unit of an industrial building on To Kwa Wan Road yesterday afternoon and seized about 650 000 suspected illicit cigarettes therein. A 17-year-old youth who claimed to be unemployed and suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.
In the second case, Customs officers on the same afternoon further seized about 1.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside a metal hut in Sun Fung Wai, Tuen Mun, successfully smashing another suspected illicit cigarette storage centre. Two men suspected to be connected with the case were arrested. The duo, aged 30 and 33, claimed to be workers.
The three arrested men have been charged with "dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies", and the two cases will be brought up at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on September 19 and the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 18) respectively.
Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.
Customs reminds members of the public that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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).
    Police today (August 17) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Mong Kok.
    Fung Kwan, aged 72, went missing after he left a caring centre on Fa Yuen Street on August 15 morning. The staff of the caring centre made a report to Police on the next day (August 16).
    He is about 1.65 metres tall, 80 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a green checkered short-sleeved shirt, apricot trousers, light colour cap, carrying a red recycle bag and a walking stick.
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
