The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (July 26) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Choi Park-lai.

     A leading traditional Chinese almanac expert, Mr Choi edited the calendars in different versions of the Chinese almanac, playing a pivotal role in relevant Chinese cultural heritage. He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2015.

     "Mr Choi was dedicated to promoting Chinese culture throughout his life and spared no effort in introducing the Chinese almanac to the general public. He was benevolent and cared for the younger generations, contributing significantly to the community.

     "On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mrs Lam said.

Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:
 
     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 26) that due to power failure, Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool and Sha Tin Jockey Club Public Squash Courts in Sha Tin District have been temporarily closed for urgent maintenance works until further notice.

     Sport for All Day (SFAD) 2018 will be held on August 5 (Sunday). The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will open its leisure facilities for public use without charge and will organise free recreation and sports programmes at designated sports centres in the 18 districts. Members of the public are encouraged to join the event with their families and friends for a healthy Sunday.

     Booking for free use of land-based leisure facilities and crafts at water sports centres on the day can be made at the Leisure Link booking counters at LCSD venues (excluding Self-service Kiosks) from 9am this Sunday (July 29) on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The leisure facilities available for free use on SFAD 2018 include:

* Indoor leisure facilities: badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, American pool tables, billiard tables, sport climbing walls, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms, activity rooms, dance rooms and a cycling track;
* Outdoor leisure facilities: tennis courts, tennis practice courts, bowling greens, batting cages, sport climbing walls, archery ranges, rope courses and golf facilities (excluding camp facilities, sports grounds and artificial/natural turf pitches);
* Public swimming pools (excluding Wan Chai Swimming Pool); and
* Crafts at water sports centres.

     Each person can only book one free session irrespective of the type of leisure facility. No prior booking is required for public swimming pools. Interested users may line up at the pool entrance before a session starts for free admission on a first-come, first-served basis on August 5.

     If a hirer fails to take up a facility 10 minutes after the starting time of the booked session, the facility will be allocated to walk-in participants on a first-come, first-served basis. The facility shall be used for the same purpose as that for which it has been booked by the original hirer. The user shall surrender the facility to the original hirer immediately upon the latter's arrival.

     The LCSD appeals to hirers to arrive on time and make the best use of the booked facilities. Hirers should cancel their bookings as soon as possible if they are unable to use them.

     Leisure Link patrons may cancel a booking via the Internet before the booked session starts. If the hirer is not a Leisure Link patron, he or she should cancel the booking before the booked session starts via any Leisure Link Self-service Kiosk, or submit the cancellation request in person or by proxy at the booking counter of any LCSD leisure venue at least 30 minutes before the session starts (and at the latest before 8.30pm for booked sessions starting at 9pm or later) by producing a completed booking cancellation form together with the user permit and the original or a photocopy of his or her identity document. Booking cancellation forms are available at the booking counters of LCSD leisure venues or can be downloaded from the LCSD's website.

     All users of leisure facilities should observe the Conditions for Free Use of Leisure Facilities and the existing Conditions of Use of Recreation and Sports Facilities under the LCSD. To ensure cleanliness in public swimming pools, swimmers should also observe the pool rules, maintain personal hygiene and help keep pool water clean.

     Members of the public can also participate in various free recreation and sports programmes on SFAD 2018. In the afternoon of that day, the LCSD's designated sports centres in 18 districts will hold different activities including health talks and exercise demonstrations, fitness corner activities, programmes for persons with disabilities, parent-child sports programmes, and sports participation activities.

     Enrolment for these free programmes has commenced. Members of the public can register at LCSD District Leisure Services Offices or designated venues on a first-come, first-served basis.

     For details of SFAD 2018, please refer to the designated webpage. For enquiries, please call 2414 5555.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) and the Communications Authority (CA) today (July 26) jointly launched a public consultation on the proposal to administratively assign 4 100 MHz of spectrum in the 26 GHz (24.25 – 27.5 GHz) and 28 GHz (27.5 – 28.35 GHz) bands for the provision of public mobile services including fifth generation (5G) mobile services, and the proposed arrangements for charging spectrum utilisation fee (SUF).

     The CA also announced an updated Spectrum Release Plan for 2018 – 2020 where an additional 200 MHz of spectrum below 6 GHz would be made available for the provision of 5G services.

     "Together with the 200 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band announced earlier, a total of 4 500 MHz of new spectrum in multiple frequency bands will be made available for use in 2019/2020 for the provision of 5G services, which amounts to eight times the existing 552 MHz of spectrum assigned for the provision of public mobile services. This makes Hong Kong the first economy in the world to release such a significant amount of spectrum to support the development of 5G services. Hong Kong will be well placed to launch a new generation of telecommunications services, to capture new market opportunities and to facilitate innovative smart city applications powered by 5G services," a spokesman for the CA said.

26 GHz and 28 GHz bands
—————————–

     "Taking into account the ample supply of spectrum in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands, the technical characteristics of these high frequency bands and the feedback from the industry in response to an earlier invitation for expression of interest, we take the view that there are unlikely to be competing demands for spectrum in these bands. We consider it appropriate to assign the spectrum concerned administratively," the spokesman continued.

     "The new spectrum can provide sufficient bandwidth for delivery of ultra high speed mobile data transmission up to 20 gigabits per second and be deployed for service provision in any locations in Hong Kong," the spokesman added.

     The 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands are the lowest millimetre-wave bands supported by the 5G standard announced last month. It is expected that 5G standard compliant equipment and devices operating in these bands will gradually be available in the market next year. To enable early launch of 5G services in Hong Kong, the CA proposes to allocate the entire 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands to mobile service on a co-primary basis with fixed service and fixed satellite service (Earth-to-space) with effect from April 1, 2019, by which time the existing assignments in the 26 GHz band will be vacated.

     The CA also proposed that among the 4 100 MHz of spectrum in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands, 3 300 MHz to 3 700 MHz of spectrum will be assigned for the provision of large-scale public 5G services in Hong Kong and each operator will be assigned not more than 800 MHz of spectrum. The remaining 400 MHz to 800 MHz of spectrum in the two frequency bands is proposed for assignment to entities interested in providing 5G services in specified geographical locations with the use of the spectrum on a shared basis, such as in university campuses, industrial estates, technology parks or the airport. Each operator will be assigned not more than 400 MHz of spectrum. The sharing arrangement aims to widen the scope of 5G services, increase the choice of service suppliers, and facilitate the development of innovative 5G applications.

     On the SUF, a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said, "In view that the CA proposes to administratively assign the spectrum in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands, SCED proposes not to charge any SUF if less than 75 per cent of the spectrum in these frequency bands has been assigned or occupied.

     "A SUF will be chargeable only if the frequency bands become congested (i.e. 75 per cent or more occupied) and are anticipated to become more congested in the future."

     Making reference to other SUF levied under the existing SUF charging scheme for spectrum assigned administratively, SCED proposes to set the level of SUF at $21,600 per MHz per annum for spectrum to be assigned for provision of large-scale public 5G services; and at $1,080 per MHz per annum for specified geographical location services if the 75 per cent threshold is reached.

     The consultation paper can be downloaded from the websites of the CA and the CEDB at the links below:
www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_711/cp20180726_e.pdf
www.cedb.gov.hk/ccib/eng/paper/pdf/cp20180726_e.pdf.

     Views from the industry and other stakeholders are welcome on or before August 22, 2018. After taking into account the views and comments received in response to the public consultation, SCED and the CA aim at finalising their respective decisions and inviting applications for assignment of spectrum in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands by the end of 2018, so that the spectrum can be deployed for the provision of 5G services starting from April 1, 2019.

Additional 5G spectrum below 6 GHz
—————————————–

     The CA also announced the release of an additional supply of 200 MHz of spectrum for public mobile services. This spectrum is in the 4.9 GHz band (4.83 – 4.93 GHz band) (for territory-wide use) and the 3.3 GHz band (3.3 – 3.4 GHz band) (limited to indoor use). Both frequency bands are suitable for providing extensive coverage of public mobile services, including 5G services, in Hong Kong.

     The updated Spectrum Release Plan for 2018 – 2020 can be downloaded from the CA’s website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_613/spectrum_plan2018_en.pdf).

     Meanwhile, SCED and the CA plan to conduct another public consultation in the third quarter of 2018 on the proposed arrangements for the allocation and assignment of the spectrum in the 3.3 GHz and 4.9 GHz bands, as well as for charging SUF. Spectrum in these new frequency bands is expected to be available for assignment around mid-2019.
 

     As the Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate precautions to prevent heat stroke when working in a hot or humid environment.
 
     Heat stroke may occur if an employee works in a hot or humid environment for prolonged periods of time, as the body may fail to regulate its temperature by effective heat dissipation through sweating.
 
     The early symptoms of heat stroke include feeling thirsty, fatigue, nausea and headache. Later, the victim may experience shortness of breath, rapid and weak pulse, dizziness, confusion or even loss of consciousness and convulsion.
 
     For example, construction workers, cleaning workers, kitchen workers and porters are more prone to heat stroke when working for long hours in such an environment, especially if appropriate preventive measures have not been taken.
 
     The LD reminds employers to arrange for a suitable assessment of the risk of heat stress in the work environment and take appropriate preventive measures. The LD has produced two leaflets entitled "Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Construction Sites" and "Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Outdoor Cleansing Workplaces" respectively. Employers engaged in construction or outdoor cleaning work are advised to refer to these checklists in assessing the risk of heat stress at their workplaces. As for heat stress assessment at a workplace in general, employers can refer to a booklet entitled "Risk Assessment for the Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" produced by the LD.
 
     The LD also reminds employers and employees to take the following precautions to prevent heat stroke:
 
Employers
———
(1) Take heed of the weather report and adopt shift work arrangements for employees to reduce their exposure to the hot environment, or arrange appropriate rest breaks for them during very hot periods;
(2) Avoid working under direct sunlight and set up temporary sunshade wherever possible;
(3) Provide cool potable water for employees at all times during work. If necessary, provide drinks containing minerals for employees to replenish loss of electrolytes during profuse sweating;
(4) Minimise physical demands by using tools or mechanical aids at work;
(5) Increase air flow by enhancing ventilation or air-conditioning as appropriate;
(6) Isolate heat-generating facilities at the workplace and use insulating materials to minimise heat dissipation to the other work areas; and
(7) Provide relevant information and training for employees on heat stroke such as preventive measures and first aid treatment.
 
Employees
———
(1) Wear clothing made of suitable materials (for example, cotton) that is loose-fitting and light-coloured to help heat dissipation, minimise heat absorption and allow sweat evaporation;
(2) Wear a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors;
(3) Drink plenty of water or other appropriate beverages to replenish the fluids and electrolytes lost through sweating; and
(4) Whenever there are any symptoms of heat stroke, inform supervisors and take appropriate actions immediately.
 
     Some employees may have difficulty in adapting to a hot working environment owing to their own health conditions. Employers should take this into account and consider the recommendations of their doctors when assigning work to these employees.
 
     In addition to the publications on risk assessment, the LD has produced a leaflet entitled "Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment" for the public. The publications can be obtained free of charge from the offices of the Occupational Health Service of the LD, or downloaded from the department's webpage at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_9.htm.
 
     The LD organises occupational health talks in public places and at its own training venues regularly to raise employers' and employees' awareness of occupational health. Details of health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work in a hot environment in July to September are as follows:
 
(A)
Dates: August 2, 13 and 30; and September 13 and 24 (am)
July 30; August 8 and 22; and September 5, 20 and 27 (pm)
Time: Half-day
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Labour Department, 13/F, Kolour·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories
 
(B)
Dates: July 27 and August 10 and 20
Time: Half-day, morning
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department, G/F,
Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong
(MTR Kwun Tong Station Exit A1)
 
(C)
Date: August 13
Time: 3pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit E)
 
(D)
Date: September 14
Time: 3pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Activity Room I, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(Opposite Victoria Park, MTR Tin Hau Station Exit B)
 
     For enrolment or enquiries about these occupational health talks, please call 2852 4040 or 2361 8240 (for talks organised at the Occupational Safety and Health Centre). Moreover, the LD also provides an outreach health education service and occupational health nurses will, on invitation, disseminate occupational health information at workplaces at a convenient time. Please contact the nursing officer at 2852 4062 for details. All these health talks are free of charge.