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Author Archives: hksar gov

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 9) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     “The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

     “Children, the elderly, the obese and those with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, are more vulnerable to heat stroke. They should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

  • Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
  • Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;
  • Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon;
  • For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;
  • Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and
  • Reschedule work to cooler times of the day. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):
 
  • Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
  • Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
  • Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
  • Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and
  • While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     â€‹The public may obtain more information from the DH’s Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather report and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. read more

East Asia

Regional flag day today

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (August 9). They are, on Hong Kong Island, Methodist Centre; in Kowloon, Joint Committee for the Promotion of the Constitution and Hong Kong Basic Law; and in the New Territories, Yuen Long District Women’s Association Limited, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.

     Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people distinguish among the three flag-selling activities.    

     Information on the three flag-selling organisations on August 9 is as follows:
 

Region Name of organisation Colour of collection bag Colour of flag
Hong Kong Island Methodist Centre Green Green
Kowloon Joint Committee for the Promotion of the Constitution and Hong Kong Basic Law Green Sky blue
New Territories Yuen Long District Women’s Association Limited Purple 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

East Asia

BD continues to follow up on incident of fallen rendering at Sun Hing Building

     â€‹Regarding the incident of fallen rendering at Sun Hing Building in Mong Kok today (August 8), the Buildings Department (BD), after preliminary investigation, suspected that the fallen rendering at the scene was part of the rendering removed by the concerned contractor during the repair of the external wall of the building, and did not fall from the external wall of the building.

     After inspection, the BD considered there was no obvious danger to the overall building structure.

     The BD will conduct an investigation into the incident.  If a breach of the Buildings Ordinance (BO) is found, the BD will take appropriate action, including instigating prosecution and/or disciplinary action against the person/registered contractor who has breached the statutory requirements.  

     In addition, in order to ensure public safety, the registered contractor had, upon the instructions of the BD staff, removed the remaining pieces of rendering on the scaffolding, and will re-assess the safety of the scaffolding on the external walls of the entire building to ensure that the protective measures, such as the necessary protective nets/sheeting are properly installed and are without damage. The BD had also requested the Registered Inspector (RI) responsible for the repair works to inspect the contractor’s work procedures, including the implementation of effective measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents, and to ensure all the improvement measures have been completed before allowing the contractor to resume work. The BD will continue to follow up the repair works and the supervision work of the RI in compliance with the requirements of the BO. read more

East Asia