Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 26) 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.

     “The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. 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 place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable, and start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Get into a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index remains high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear loose long-sleeved clothing made of close-woven fabrics;
• Wear a wide brim hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming or sweating; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     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.

     The public may get more information from the DH’s Health Education Hotline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather 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. read more

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:      Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force:    … read more

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 pro… read more

     Christian & Missionary Alliance Church Union Hong Kong Limited has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (May 26), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said. 
 
     For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the Charitable Fund-raising Control Team at 2832 4311 during office hours. Information on the flag days of the month is available at the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew/). Permits for flag days containing contact information of the flag-selling organisations and information on the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_recentlyap/). For enquiries about the detailed flag-selling arrangements, please contact the individual flag-selling organisations.
 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities covered by the Public Subscription Permit issued by the SWD have also been uploaded to the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/fundraising).
 
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at Tai Kwun Opening Ceremony today (May 25):

Simon (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), Dr Simon Ip), Bernard (Chairman of the Jockey Club Central Police Station Advisory Committee, Mr Bernard Chan), Dr Shan (Director of the Palace Museum, Dr Shan Jixiang), Mr Song (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Song Ru’an), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. Tonight’s occasion is a much awaited appointment on my calendar. Indeed, the opening of the Central Police Station Compound – now named “Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts” is much anticipated by many people in Hong Kong.

     Almost a year into my tenure as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I have to say that apart from hard work, there have been moments of frustrations. But all these are worth it because of the exclusive honour and privilege given to the Chief Executive to officiate at the formal opening of several heritage projects, which are so close to my heart. They include the Viva Blue House, The Murray and now Tai Kwun.

     Standing here tonight, I am overwhelmed with joy, relief and pride. The conservation of the Central Police Station Compound was conceived and presented as a gift from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to the people of Hong Kong in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. After more than a decade of dedication, patience and perseverance on the part of the Club and the many experts and workers involved, the people can now rejoice at the grandeur of the gift they have received. The project has brought the Central Police Station Compound, which has long been a critical piece of our heritage, to revitalised and re-imagined life. The effect is much better than one could have imagined. This gift is certainly worth the wait.
 
     As the advocate for many of Hong Kong’s heritage conservation projects in my then capacity as Secretary for Development, there is always a personal attachment and obligation on my part that makes me worried about the satisfactory completion of each and every of these projects. Tai Kwun is a particularly sensitive project given the scale, its location, public expectations, the cost, the compatibility of the two additional structures with the old buildings, etc. It is therefore for me a big relief to see all these factors being taken care of so well, thanks to the work of design architect Herzog & de Meuron, represented by Ascan Mergenthaler here, the conservation expert Michael Morrison, the executive architect Rocco Yim, the Project Director Mike Moir and most importantly, the generosity of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in committing to a heftier investment of $3.8 billion, well exceeding the original $1.8 billion when I announced this project in October 2007. I hope nobody will label this as a cost overrun!

     From today onwards, Tai Kwun will become a much valued cultural precinct in Hong Kong, a hang-out area for the young and the artistic, a place for people of all ages to be reminded of Hong Kong’s past, and a “must-see” for tourists. It will be a shining example of Hong Kong’s heritage conservation work and a landmark of “Conserving Central” – a major initiative announced in 2009 aiming at taking Central, Hong Kong’s century-old CBD to even grander and newer heights. Our descendants will be proud of the legacy we have left.

     While this good evening is a culmination in a decade of determined efforts by the Jockey Club, what should not go unnoticed is the value that the Club has attached to public engagement throughout the process. The Club has fully embraced the views expressed by the public and the neighbours in revising the design of the two newly added structures, in preserving as well F Hall which is actually not a graded historic building, in enhancing connectivity through a very functional and interesting elevated walkway, in actively working with the arts and cultural sector on the software of the project.
 
     I have worked with four successive chairmen of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in this project over the past decade and let me thank them one by one. To Ron, who is both a mentor and a great friend, I thank him for his vision and courage in taking on this mega project which I am sure he knew at the time that it would be costly, time-consuming and complicated. To John, in his former incarnation as an Administrative Officer like myself, I thank him for his wise counsel and humility in responding to public views and knocking down Herzog & de Meuron’s design from 200 metres to 80 metres. To Brian, a distinguished accountant, for his professional prudence in managing the project and only mildly complaining about the escalated cost and to Simon, for his calmness and stature in regaining public trust after the partial collapse of Block 4 in 2016 and in overseeing the most difficult part of commissioning this grand project. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to express my deepest admiration and thanks to Winfried, the Club’s CEO, who has been an anchoring force throughout a protracted journey.

     On behalf of the people of Hong Kong, my most sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its vision in bringing Tai Kwun to magnificent life. I am sure every visitor will enjoy this place as much as I do.
 
     I wish you all a very enjoyable evening.
 
     Thank you very much. read more