â€‹The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (July 16).

     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
 
    In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 16) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 16) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Hong Kong Customs on July 11 and 13 seized a total of about 119 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of over $84 million in Hong Kong International Airport and Kwai Chung. Three men suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers on July 11 inspected a batch of air consignment, declared as carrying compressors, arriving in Hong Kong from Canada at an air cargo terminal in the airport. Upon inspection, Customs officers found a total of about 82kg of suspected methamphetamine, with an estimated market value of about $58 million, inside two compressors.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers on July 13 searched a warehouse in Kwai Chung and inspected a batch of consignment also declared as carrying compressors. Upon examination, Customs officers seized about 37kg of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $26 million inside one compressor.

     Three men, aged between 33 and 56, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested in Kwai Chung and at the airport on July 13 and 14.

     An investigation is ongoing. The three arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     â€‹Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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/).

    

     The Government today (July 16) commenced the disbursement of the second instalment vouchers under 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme (CVS) to eligible persons via the six stored value facility (SVF) operators. They will successively receive the relevant SMS notifications or mobile app push notifications.

     Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents, new arrivals and people who come to live in Hong Kong through different admission schemes and to study in Hong Kong will be disbursed with vouchers of the following values:
 

     For eligible existing registrants who receive both the first and second instalment vouchers through Octopus, if their cumulative "eligible spending" has reached $3,000 by June 30, they will be disbursed with the second instalment, i.e. $2,000 vouchers (Note), today. If the cumulative spending requirement is met afterwards, the relevant vouchers will be disbursed on the 16th of the following month, and the cumulative spending requirement has to be met by October 31 at the latest.

     For people who chose to have their vouchers disbursed via AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK today, the second instalment vouchers will expire on February 29, 2024. People who receive vouchers through Octopus should note that the voucher collection deadline is June 30, 2024.

     The usage and coverage of second instalment vouchers are the same as in previous CVS. The spokesman reminded the public and merchants that consumption vouchers cannot be used for purposes other than local consumption or encashment. The Government and SVF operators will closely monitor the usage of consumption vouchers. If any intended malpractices are identified, the Government will take appropriate action, including referring the cases to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.

     The public may browse the apps and websites or call the following hotlines of the relevant SVF operators to enquire about how to use the vouchers, the value of the vouchers disbursed, unspent/available balance and expiry dates, etc.
 

• AlipayHK: 2245 3201
• BoC Pay: 3988 1822
• Octopus: 2969 5588
• Payme from HSBC: 2996 7288
• Tap & Go: 2888 0000
• WeChat Pay HK: 3929 1666

     The public may visit the CVS website (www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk) or call the hotline 18 5000 for enquiries if they have any questions about the Scheme.

Note: For persons who receive vouchers in half value (i.e. eligible persons who come to live in Hong Kong through different admission schemes and to study in Hong Kong) and have their eligible spending reached $1,500, the second instalment voucher of $1,000 will be disbursed today.