The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (November 17) that due to special circumstances which happened nearby, Tsim Sha Tsui Public Library, the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Science Museum in Yau Tsim Mong District are closed to ensure the safety of venue users and staff members. The department will closely monitor the situation and announce venue arrangements in a timely manner.
    
     Tennis courts of Shek Kip Mei Park in Sham Shui Po District which were closed earlier are reopened at 3pm.
    
     Also taking into consideration transportation service disruptions and other circumstances which may happen, all LCSD land-based leisure facilities (except the Islands District) will be closed at 9pm today and all public swimming pools including Tung Chung Swimming Pool in the Islands District will be closed by the end of the second sessional break for swimming pools. Other land-based leisure facilities in the Islands District will be closed at 8pm.
    
     Apart from Yau Ma Tei Theatre in Yau Tsim Mong District to be closed at 6pm, other performance venues will be closed after completion of events. All libraries and museums will stay open until normal closing hours.
    
     Subject to the situation, more cultural and leisure facilities in the same districts and any other district which may be affected will also be closed early and at short notice to ensure the safety of venue users. Members of the public who plan to go to those venues are advised to visit the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/index.html) or contact 1823 in advance.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 17) that Tuen Mun Swimming Pool in Tuen Mun District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
     ​Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:
 
​     "Although the roads and public transport services in the territory have gradually resumed, there are still uncertain factors currently. The Social Welfare Department announces that for the sake of safety, members of the public are advised not to take their children or family members to child care centres, centres providing after school care programmes, elderly services centres or day rehabilitation units including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres and day activity centres tomorrow (November 18). These centres will, however, remain open to serve those whose families cannot provide alternative care for them. Members of the public who have the need for the services mentioned may contact the service units concerned in advance."

     Taking into consideration transportation service disruptions, and to ensure the safety of patients and staff members, the Department of Health today (November 17) announced that its methadone clinics with evening services will be closed earlier at 9pm today.

     Please visit the following website for the information of methadone clinics: www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_mc.html.

     Rioters continue to occupy roads outside The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. At around 10am today (November 17), rioters charged at Police officers using lethal weapons including bricks, petrol bombs, bows and arrows. At around 2pm, a member of the Force Media Liaison Cadre was hit in the calf by an arrow. He was next to the Kowloon Rosary Church at the junction of Chatham Road South and Austin Road, around 30 meters away from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
      
     The injured officer has been conveyed to the hospital in conscious state. He was carrying out media liaison duties at that time, when a large group of journalists were reporting in the same area. Such an attack poses a grave threat to the safety of everyone at scene.
      
     Police severely condemn the violent acts of all rioters and are conducting dispersal and arrest operations. Due to the deteriorating situation, members of the public are advised to avoid going to the vicinity of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.