â€‹To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing of the martial arts superstar Bruce Lee, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department organised the screening programme, The Kid is Extraordinary – Remembering Bruce Lee, to screen four films starring Lee in his childhood and teens between August and November. The screening programme has received an overwhelming response and all tickets of the five previously announced screenings have been sold out. In view of the response, additional screenings of "The Orphan" (1960) have been scheduled at 4pm on November 5 (Sunday) and at 7.30pm on November 27 (Monday), which is the birthday of Lee, at the HKFA Cinema so that more audiences can enjoy this last film of Lee before his departure for the United States.
 
     "The Orphan" is a colour film with sync-sound, which was rare in Lee's early career. This film sees Lee and veteran actor Ng Cho-fan appearing as father and son again after "A Son is Born" (1953), telling a heartwarming story between an orphanage director and a rebellious thief. The film is in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles.
 
     Tickets of the additional screenings priced at $45 will be available from tomorrow (August 4) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the website of the HKFA (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/pe-event-2023-bl.html) or call 2739 2139.

  

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year licence of a fee-paying public car park on portions of the Ground Floor of Shun Lee Disciplined Services Quarters, 32 Lee On Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

     The premises should be used for the purpose of a fee-paying public car park for the parking of private cars and motorcycles only.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (August 3) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend a site inspection should make a prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 3842 6777 on or before August 14.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on August 24. Late tenders will not be accepted.

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
 
     The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, today (August 3) announced the launch of a direct investigation to examine the enforcement by the Planning Department (PlanD) and the Lands Department (LandsD) against unauthorised land developments.
 
     Currently, the PlanD takes enforcement action against unauthorised developments in the rural New Territories within a development permission area (DPA) (Note 1) pursuant to the Town Planning Ordinance (TPO). Specifically, developments within the DPA, including such operations as pond filling or land excavation and change of land use (such as using agricultural land for warehouses or workshops), are unauthorised unless the development is an "existing use" (Note 2) as defined by the TPO, or covered by permission granted by the Town Planning Board (TPB), or permitted under the statutory plan. For cases involving government land, the LandsD may enforce the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance against illegal occupation of government land depending on the actual circumstances. Meanwhile, the land uses of urban areas and new towns not covered by DPA plans are mainly regulated by land lease provisions, building plans and various licences.
 
     A preliminary inquiry by the Office of The Ombudsman revealed that the PlanD receives over 1 500 complaints about unauthorised developments each year. Among them, hundreds have been confirmed after investigation to be non-compliant cases including repeated ones. There have also been cases involving both government and private land which required inter-departmental collaboration between the PlanD and the LandsD. Moreover, the media has reported from time to time on allegedly unauthorised uses of rural land in the New Territories for storage, temporary parking, etc.
 
     Ms Chiu said, "Land is a valuable social resource requiring the Government’s prudent planning and monitoring over its use. Enforcement against unauthorised developments within a DPA aims at protecting the rural environment in the New Territories. Our Office notes that the PlanD identifies hundreds of unauthorised development cases every year, some of which have come under the purview of different departments or occurred in conservation zones. Without timely rectification, these irregularities could be detrimental to social development and even the ecosystem. Our Office has received 30 related complaints over the past three years, reflecting public concern about this topic. Hence, I have decided to launch a direct investigation to examine the enforcement by the PlanD and the LandsD against unauthorised land developments, including their responsibilities and collaboration in handling those cases, and whether the existing mechanism is proper and effective in preventing unauthorised developments and handling relevant complaints, with a view to making recommendations to the Government for improvement where necessary."
 
     The Ombudsman welcomes information and views from members of the public on this topic. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by September 3, 2023:
 
Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre
              168–200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
Fax: 2882 8149
Email: complaints@ombudsman.hk
 
Note 1: DPA means an area so designated in a plan prepared under sections 3(1) (b) and 20 of the TPO, but excludes land included in a plan of an interim DPA.
 
Note 2: The development was in existence before the first gazettal of the statutory plans covering the interim DPA (if any) or DPA.

  

     A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau today (August 3) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to fraudulent emails purported to be issued by the office of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED). 
      
     The spokesman said that the emails, containing a suspected link to a malicious file, falsely claim to be issued following the instructions of the SCED. The bureau has no connection with the fraudulent emails and has reported the case to the Police for further investigation.　　
      
     Members of the public are reminded not to open any suspicious emails. Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email senders or clicked the link in the emails is advised to contact the Police.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 3) 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.

     
     â€‹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.