Police today (December 14) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Kwai Chung.

     Chong Man-ki, aged 12, went missing after she was last seen on Wo Yi Hop Road on December 11 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on December 12.

     She is about 1.55 metres tall, 41 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and long black hair. She was last seen wearing a blue and grey school uniform, a blue coat, white socks and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1174 or 9143 9685, or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The opening ceremony for the Yau Tsim Mong Multicultural Activity Centre under the Signature Project Scheme (SPS) of Yau Tsim Mong District was held today (December 14).
           
     The Government earmarked a provision of $100 million under the SPS for each District Council to implement large-scale and sustainable projects to address local needs. The Yau Tsim Mong District Council (YTMDC) endorsed the Yau Tsim Mong Multicultural Activity Centre project under the theme of "promoting multiculturalism and advancing social cohesion".
      
     Located at Battery Street, Jordan, the Yau Tsim Mong Multicultural Activity Centre was opened in October this year to commence partial services such as venue rental, translation, cultural exchange activities and training programmes. There will be different types of shops in the Centre to offer business or job opportunities to locals and ethnic minorities. New Home Association (NHA), which is dedicated to providing one-stop social services for new arrivals, ethnic minorities and the disadvantaged, is the partner organisation of the Centre.
           
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, said the Centre has further promoted racial harmony, connection and understanding in the community. Mr Lau thanked the YTMDC, the NHA and members of the local community for their hard work and concerted efforts in implementing the project.
           
     Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Chairman of the YTMDC, Mr Chris Ip; the Director of Home Affairs, Miss Janice Tse; the Chairman of Supervisory Board of NHA, Dr Li Sze-lim; the Chairman of Advisory Board of NHA, Professor Joe Leung; and the District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong), Mrs Laura Aron.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on "Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2018" and unemployment rate after attending a radio programme this morning (December 14):
 
Reporter: About the poverty rate. Some critics say the Government's anti-poverty measures do not seem to be working. So you then have a decade high (rate). What do you think of that? Secondly, on the unemployment rate, do you expect to go higher? How much higher? And what will the Government do?
 
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: If we are going to look at the government policies and its impact on poverty, we then have to look at the difference between the figures where there is no Government intervention versus those figures where there is government intervention. If we take into account of the government intervention in terms of its regular or irregular type of programmes, then the number of people below the poverty line would drop to around 910 000, which is substantially lower than the figure of what is called the 1.4 million people before the government intervention. Somehow the 1.4 million people (figure) is not real in a sense because it is only a hypothetical figure if the Government has not done anything at all, but in fact the Government has different types of programmes. So that is the figure (910 000) that we should look at.
 
     Regarding the question related to unemployment, it is very difficult to predict how much the unemployment rate will increase in the coming months. According to some of those analysts in the community, the number of the rate (will range) from something around 4 per cent to 5 per cent. We sincerely hope that it will not go up that high, but it is all up to the circumstances. We heard the good news yesterday evening that the negotiation between China and the United States has reached some agreement and I hope it will have some impact on global economy and also the economy of Hong Kong, but that is all we have to wait and see.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (December 15).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.