Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (July 22):
 
Reporter: (On cases of falling concrete) What more can be done by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau on current mechanism? The second question is about the upcoming Policy Address. Any new development on the youth development part and any review from you guys about the Care Teams and the previous initiatives in the past year?
 
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: The Secretary for Development is very concerned about the various cases. The Development Bureau has already convened the meeting, inviting the Buildings Department, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), and also the Home Affairs Department to discuss about the mechanism to help those owners maintain their own properties. As for the Home Affairs Department, we have all along been helping those owners convene owners’ meetings and give them advice on how to seek professional services on maintaining their own buildings. So we will make well use of this mechanism to work with the Buildings Department and the URA. For the Home Affairs Department, we will continue to reach out to the owners in need and to provide them with suitable advice and to help them seek suitable and relevant professional services.
 
     As for the upcoming Policy Address, we are working full steam ahead on the various new initiatives on various aspects, including youth services and district governance. We have also looked into how we can better reach out to our young people and community.
 
     For Care Teams, this is a very important task for the Home Affairs Department. We expect that the 16 district Care Teams will be formed in the coming two months. We hope that through the services of the Care Teams, we can better reach out to the community and provide services to our people in various districts. For the Care Teams set up in Tsuen Wan District and Southern District, those Care Team members have already provided various services to people living in the two districts. Just like during the typhoon period, the Care Team members stood by at the shelters to help those people in need. They have also helped the elderly apply for suitable services and they will pay regular visits to the elderly in the districts. We hope that through the services of the Care Teams, we can better reach out to the community, and understand the needs of those in need and provide them with suitable services. And through this process, we also work with other government departments, just like the Social Welfare Department. They have indicated their wish to work with the Care Teams so that we can pay regular visits to the elderly in the community. And we will be more than willing to help our fellow departments liaise and reach out to our community.
      
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The post of the Head of the National Games Coordination Office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) is open for applications today (July 22). 
      
     The advertisement for the post, which sets out details of requirements for potential candidates, has been published in newspapers today. Candidates should be Hong Kong permanent residents at the time of appointment and have:
 
(a) a Bachelor’s degree from a university in Hong Kong or equivalent;

(b) at least 15 years of administrative and managerial experience, including at least 10 years of administrative and managerial experience in senior positions in large public or private organisations in Hong Kong. Professional experience relevant to sports administration is an advantage;

(c) comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of sports policies and modus operandi of the sports sector in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Similar knowledge of the Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is an advantage. Knowledge of and experience in organising major games and international and/or regional sports events is essential; experience of taking part in past National Games, National Games for Persons with Disabilities or National Special Olympics is an advantage; 

(d) an international perspective, high capability to interact with interlocutors in the sports field as well as Government officials of the Mainland, HKSAR and/or MSAR, with seasoned experience in dealing with (i) the authorities and/or (ii) large sports organisations in the Mainland, HKSAR or MSAR regularly; 

(e) proven leadership and organisational ability with excellent strategic planning skills, strong political acumen, adept communication and negotiation skills; and 

(f) strong command of written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua and Cantonese) and English. 
 
     All applications should be submitted to the Personnel Registry, Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau at 44/F, High Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong on or before August 4, 2023 (Friday). For information about this vacancy, please visit the Civil Service Bureau’s website (www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/7.html).

     Police are anxious to locate the next-of-kin of a boy who was found abandoned in Yau Ma Tei yesterday (July 21).
      
     About 12.40pm yesterday, Police received a report that a boy was found wandering at the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital.
      
     The boy, named Chen Healton, is twelve years old. He is 1.45 metres tall, 35 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a sharp face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He wore a pair of black glasses, a dark blue short-sleeved T-shirt, khaki shorts and black sandals.
      
     The boy sustains no apparent injuries.
      
     Investigation by the officers of Yau Tsim District is underway.
      
     Police urge his relatives or anyone who has information to offer, to contact any police stations or the officers of Yau Tsim District on 36619515 or email to ymtdiv-rr@police.gov.hk.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 22) 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.

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 prolonged activities outdoors.

     If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

     Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

     If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.