The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (July 13).

     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 –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

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.

     The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, visited Chengdu, Sichuan from July 10 to 13. During his stay, Mr Liu attended the Civil Air Navigation Service Organisation (CANSO) Asia Pacific Conference 2024, and visited different aviation organisations and entities to learn about the latest developments of civil aviation in the Mainland and to conduct in-depth discussions.
 
     Leaders from civil aviation organisations from various States/Administrations across the Asia Pacific region attended the CANSO Asia Pacific Conference 2024, including the Deputy Administrator of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Mr Ma Bing; and the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Air Traffic Management Bureau of CAAC, Mr Wen Xuezheng. Mr Liu was invited to speak in an expert panel during the conference, where he shared his insights on how modernisation of air traffic control in Asia Pacific can be accelerated from the management and operational perspectives.
 
     The CANSO has also announced that "Airspace Asia Pacific 2025", a new exhibition and conference event dedicated to air traffic development and management in the Asia Pacific region, would be launched in Hong Kong in December next year. Mr Liu welcomed the launch of "Airspace Asia Pacific 2025" in Hong Kong and said, "While Hong Kong being an international aviation hub, we are honoured to host such major event at our world-class conference and exhibition facilities, and we welcome the participants to come and experience the vibrancy of our city as well as our hospitality."
 
     Mr Liu also visited the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC), the Second Research Institute of CAAC (CAACSRI) and the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport after the conference, including their facilities. Mr Liu called on and exchanged views with the management teams of these organisations and entities, including the President of the CAFUC, Mr Guan Lixin; and the Director of the CAACSRI, Mr Liu Weidong, on various topics including flight crew training, the latest aviation research and technological development as well as airport operations, and looked into ways to foster closer collaborations.
 
     Accompanying Mr Liu to Chengdu were Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Airport Standards), Miss Clara Wong; and the Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Management), Mr Tommy Au Yeung.

     Mr Liu will return to Hong Kong today (July 13).

      

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (July 13) that the new taxi fares for urban, New Territories (NT) and Lantau taxis will take effect from tomorrow (July 14).

     The new fares are as follows:
 

     
     For additional charges of the three types of taxis, the fares for every piece of baggage carried (except light personal hand baggage carried inside the passenger compartment) will remain at $6; and the fares for every animal or bird carried and every hiring arranged through telephone booking will remain at $5.

     Taxi drivers have to charge according to taximeters. From July 14, taxi drivers have to display the fare conversion tables issued by the TD (see Annex) in the vehicle if the taximeters are yet to be adjusted to display the new fares. Taxi passengers have to pay the new fares according to the conversion tables. When taxi drivers charge new fares according to the conversion tables, the fare amount based on the new fares has to be written down on fare receipts issued to passengers.

     Details on the new taxi fares are available on the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/taxi/taxi_fare_of_hong_kong/index.html).

     â€‹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.

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (July 13) will be cancelled.
 
     If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-raising ceremony may be resumed without further notice.