Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 27) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Police launched the Hong Kong Police Force Online Applications Platform (https://www.es.police.gov.hk) today (November 27). In the first phase, the platform provides online application services for Closed Area Permits, Road Event Permits, and Location Filming, allowing the public to conveniently submit permit applications, make online payments, and check the progress of applications through a one-stop online platform.

     Among the services, applications for Electronic Tourism Closed Area Permit will be open to the public from December 1 to tie in with the second phase of the Sha Tau Kok opening-up plan (starting from January 2024).

     Through the new platform, members of the public can apply for various online services by logging in with just one account, saving time spent on queuing and filling out numerous handwritten forms. The platform supports multiple registration and login methods, including email, local mobile phone numbers, iAM Smart, and iAM Smart+, making the process of registering or logging into an account safe, convenient, and fast. In addition, the platform also provides a comprehensive digital service experience. Based on the applicants' registration particulars, the platform automatically fills out most parts of the form, sparing them from repeated data entry. After submitting an application online, applicants can check the latest progress anytime through the platform, and if necessary, supplementary documents can also be uploaded to the platform. If members of the public encounter problems during registration, login, or form filling, please call the 24-hour support hotline 8226 1886 for assistance.

     The newly launched online applications platform will put in place the initiative proposed in the Policy Address to fully digitalise all licences, services and forms involving application and approval by mid-2024, and cope with the Electronic Closed Area Permit, Electronic Closed Road Permit and other related measures introduced by Police at the end of this year.

     In future, the platform will roll out different electronic services of the Hong Kong Police Force in phases, such as applying for Sexual Conviction Record Check, Certificate of No Criminal Conviction, checking Criminal Conviction Record Data and applying for assistance in conducting academic researches, etc., so as to provide the public with a more convenient service experience.
     

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesman for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following appeal today (November 26) regarding a patient who left the hospital without prior notification:
      
     A 59-year-old male patient left KWH at around 6.15pm while he was hospitalised at Surgical Ward. 
          
     Security guards were mobilised to search the hospital compound but in vain. KWH is very concerned about the incident and has reported it to the Police.
      
     The patient is about 1.68-metre tall and of thin body build with short hair. He was wearing a blue windbreaker.
      
     The hospital appeals to members of the public to contact the Yau Ma Tei Police Station at 3661 1652 or call 999 if they know the whereabouts of the patient.

　　The annual Cantonese Opera Day, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), was held this afternoon (November 26) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) and the Hong Kong Space Museum to enable members of the public to have multi-faceted understanding of Cantonese opera, a world intangible cultural heritage item. This series of fascinating free activities had attracted around 5 300 visitors to join.
 
　　In the "Cantonese Opera Excerpts" performance staged at the Concert Hall of the HKCC, young Cantonese opera talents trained by various Cantonese opera organisations took turns to perform classic excerpts such as "Encountering Chivalry" from "The Legend of the Purple Hairpin", "Kneeling by the Pond" from "The Lioness Roars", "Pursuing Her Husband" from "Princess Shuang Yang" and "Chastising the Princess". Their enchanting performances won ovations from the audiences.
 
　　Live Chinese music and Cantonese operatic songs performances were presented at the Foyer of the HKCC and they had attracted many music fans to stay and watch. The performers included members of the Music Office's Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra which brought about familiar Cantonese music pieces such as "Pacing Horses in the Countryside in Spring", "The Lion Dance", "Moonlight on the Spring River" and "Thunder in a Drought"; winners of this year's Hong Kong Schools Music Festival Cantonese Opera Competition also performed duet or solo pieces such as "A Tearful Zhuge Liang Ordered the Execution of Ma Su", "Romance of the Phoenix Chamber", "The Return of Lady Wenji" and "A Tearful Farewell".
 
　　Furthermore, this year's Cantonese Opera Day featured various demonstration sessions on Cantonese opera make-up, costume dressing and craftsmanship of hair accessories for huadan (female lead), which included wire-twisted flower-shaped hair decorations and rhinestone decorations on the "pianzi" (oval flat pieces framing the face of female actors). The talks hosted by the lecturer of the Hong Kong Art Performance Academy (Music-Chinese Opera) on Cantonese operatic singing techniques and appreciation of the singing of Changju Bangzi Gunhua (styles of Cantonese opera songs) as well as the sharing session by experienced Cantonese opera tutors and their young students on thoughts about acquiring the skills of Cantonese opera, were also well received by families and audiences of all ages. They were amused by the charm of Chinese culture. 
 
     In addition to the live performance, demonstrations and talks, the "Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong" exhibition, which was co-organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, was held at the Foyer Exhibition Area of the HKCC. Through the display of precious artefacts, photos and textual explanations, the exhibition introduced to visitors the local development and evolution of Cantonese opera over the years.
 
　　In support of the Cantonese Opera Day, film screenings, Cantonese opera performances and an exhibition were also held at various LCSD venues (including the Hong Kong Film Archive, Ko Shan Theatre and the Red Brick Building) to further the public's understanding of the art of Cantonese opera.

                              

The following is issued on behalf of the Road Safety Council:
 
     The Road Safety Council 50th Anniversary Keep Your Cool Carnival, organised by the Road Safety Council, was successfully held today (November 26) at the HarbourChill, Wan Chai.
 
     The opening ceremony was officiated by the Chairperson of the Road Safety Council and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Mr Joe Chow; the Chairperson of the Road Safety Research Committee and Deputy Commissioner for Transport (Planning and Technical Services), Mr Patrick Ho; and the Chairperson of the Road Safety Campaign Committee, Ms Karin Wong.
 
     Mr Chow remarked that over the years, the Council and various stakeholders had spared no effort to promote road safety, resulting in a sustained decrease in the number of fatal and serious traffic accidents. In the first three quarters of this year, there were a total of 715 fatal and serious traffic accidents, marking a 47 per cent decrease compared to the figures of the same period over the past five years. Elderly pedestrians aged 65 or above are still the most vulnerable group in traffic accidents. In the first three quarters of this year, 31 pedestrians aged 65 or above died in traffic accidents, accounting for 61 per cent of all fatalities of traffic accidents involving pedestrians. The Council will continue to collaborate with the Social Welfare Department and the Road Safety Teams of various Police regions to visit district elderly centres and neighborhood centres. Elderly road safety publicity activities will also be organised in partnership with Radio Television Hong Kong to educate the elderly on road safety.
 
     Mr Chow also emphasised the Council's core focus on instilling the correct attitude towards road safety among the younger generation. This year, the Council has organised a Mr Safegg interactive educational drama tour in 25 primary schools. Through lively, interesting and diversified interactive scenarios, students can understand the importance of maintaining a "Keep Your Cool on the Road" mindset.
 
     He sincerely thanked the members of the Council, government departments and other stakeholders for their efforts and contributions. Mr Chow also urged all road users to uphold "Stay Alert, Stay Alive" and "Keep Your Cool on the Road" so as to realise the vision of "Zero Accidents on the Road, Hong Kong's Goal".
 
     At the opening ceremony, the Safety Professional Driver Awards were also presented. The event also featured a range of Mr Safegg game booths, virtual reality games and road safety education display boards to disseminate road safety messages to the public in a lively manner.