​Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (July 20):
 
Reporter: Now that the threshold for compulsory land sale has been lowered, besides setting up designated offices, what other measures or support would be in place to help affected flat owners? Specifically, would the government consider building new buildings within the same district to accommodate them? Secondly, over the San Tin Technopole development, you mentioned that the government is considering allowing developers who win bid for a land to take on the responsibility of forming land, could you explain the rationale behind this decision and whether there is a concrete plan for how much of the area would be developed with this approach.
      
Secretary for Development: On your first question regarding the compulsory sales, first of all, I must make it very clear that the compulsory sale regime is to facilitate the redevelopment of our aged buildings in the private market. So it is activities in the private market, activities between the private owners of individual flats and those developers who are interested in acquiring their flats. So there is no question of government going into this market and having flats built to rehouse those owners affected. It is a private market activity. Of course, the government has also been rolling out land and the Urban Renewal Authority has also been taking forward redevelopment projects in the urban area. That means there will be new flats in the urban area anyway to help with the decanting with the movement of the owners out of their aged buildings. But again, this is a private activity to happen or happening in the private market, not about government intervention of building private housing for rehousing.
      
     As to what type of support we will give to the minority owners affected by compulsory sale applications, we will be shortly establishing a dedicated support centre. This centre will report to the Development Bureau, so it is a government-led setup. And this centre will provide support for the minority owners in terms of legal advice and independent valuation advice which they will need to tackle the compulsory sale applications. We will also engage the Urban Renewal Authority to invite them to help promote the joint sales among owners who would like to join together and have their flats redeveloped without having to wait for developers to approach them. So we will use a multi-pronged approach to assist minority owners.
      
     As to your second question about the use of this new concept in developing the Northern Metropolis, it may not necessarily be applied to the San Tin Technopole. But this new concept is about the government designated a rather large region in the Northern Metropolis and having that region tendered out to a consortium and require the consortium to deliver what the government required of that land, including private residential, commercial gross floor area and also infrastructure and community facilities. This approach will help reduce the cash flow burden on the government because we do not have to use the public coffers, use public funding to do the site formation and other infrastructure on our own. Whoever is the consortium successfully tendering the land for that region, they will make a bid and in that bid they will take account of the capital cost that they have to incur and give the government a reasonable revenue, so we think it will help in terms of speed and also in terms of government cash flow.
      
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Police today (July 20) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.

     Qiu Huijian, aged 50, went missing after he was last seen in Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate on July 17 night. His family made a report to Police yesterday (July 19).

     He is about 1.8 metres tall and of medium build. He has a squared face with yellow complexion and is bald.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0321 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Hong Kong Volunteer Programme of the 15th National Games was launched today (July 20) with the aim of recruiting approximately 10 000 members of the public to participate in voluntary work for the events of the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) to be held in Hong Kong.
 
     Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Programme today, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said that Hong Kong being a co-host of next year's NG, NGD and NSOG is not only a recognition of Hong Kong's sports development by the country, but also an opportunity for the whole community to participate in and personally support this national event, contributing to the sports development of the country. He called on members of the public, companies and organisations to enthusiastically sign up for the Programme, implementing the spirit of "Let's volunteer for the National Games".
 
     Other officiating guests at the launching ceremony included the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Joe Wong; the Head of the National Games Coordination Office, Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the Chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Service, Ms Melissa Pang; and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Volunteers Association, Mr Andy Kwok.
 
     The Agency for Volunteer Service and the Hong Kong Volunteers Association have been appointed by the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau as the assisting organisations of the Programme. The two organisations will assist in co-ordinating the recruitment of volunteers, as well as their training, work allocation and management.
 
     From now until September 20, persons aged 18 or above (as of December 31, 2024), holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card and able to speak Cantonese and Putonghua, can visit the Programmme's website at www.2025ngvolunteer.hk for making online applications. Organisations interested in taking part as group volunteers can also apply through the assisting organisations within the application period.
 
     Applicants who have passed the interviews and completed the training courses will be appointed as volunteers to provide services during the test events and games to be held in Hong Kong, including reception services upon arrival and departure, audience services, guest reception, crowd control, transport and logistics, as well as catering management.
      
     For details of the Programme, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Volunteer Programme of the 15th National Games at www.2025ngvolunteer.hk.
      
     The 15th NG will be held from November 9 to 21, 2025, lasting for 13 days. Hong Kong will organise eight competition events, namely, Basketball (men U22), Cycling Track, Fencing, Golf, Handball (men), Rugby Sevens, Triathlon and Beach Volleyball, as well as one mass participation event, Bowling.
      
     The 12th NGD and 9th NSOG will be held from December 8 to 15, 2025, lasting for eight days. Hong Kong will organise four competition events, namely, NGD events Boccia, Wheelchair Fencing and Para Table Tennis (TT11), and NSOG event Table Tennis, as well as one mass participation event, Para Dance Sport.
      
     For more information about the NG, NGD and NSOG, please visit the dedicated webpage under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau at www.cstb.gov.hk/tc/national-games/index.html.

        

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 20) 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.

     "Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight 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, if possible;
• 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 feasible. 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 minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and 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.

    
     â€‹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.