The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 23) 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.

     Police are investigating a murder case happened in Sheung Shui yesterday (June 22) afternoon in which a woman died.
     
     At 5.23pm, Police received a report from a man that his 56-year-old girlfriend was injured and collapsed in a flat in Wah Min House, Wah Sum Estate.

     Police officers sped to the scene and found the woman lying in the flat. Sustaining multiple injuries, she was certified dead at scene.

     Initial investigation revealed that the deceased allegedly had a dispute with her boyfriend and was assaulted by him with hands. Police arrested the 59-year-old man for murder at scene. He is being detained for further enquiries.

     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

     Active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Tai Po District is underway. Anyone who witnessed the case or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3543.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Health Services went to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to conduct a duty visit to two hospitals of Tier III Class A in ZhongShan and Shenzhen today (June 22) to understand their medical standards, services and facilities, as well as the implementation of the Elderly Health Care Voucher GBA Pilot Scheme (Pilot Scheme). Members also explored how to further promote cross-boundary medical co-operation. They returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
 
     Members visited the ZhongShan Chenxinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in the morning. The hospital is the country's first Guangdong-Hong Kong jointly built hospital of Tier III Class A integrating both Chinese and Western medicine. It is also one of the first batch of designated hospitals approved by the Guangdong Provincial Government to use eligible Hong Kong drugs and medical devices. Members learnt that the hospital provides one-stop cross-boundary medical transfer services. The hospital was included in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Pilot Scheme early this year and is expected to gradually allow eligible Hong Kong elderly persons to use Elderly Health Care Vouchers (EHCVs) to pay for the fees of healthcare services starting from the third quarter of this year. Members visited facilities and operations of the hospital, and discussed issues such as collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine, the use of EHCVs, Mainland medical insurance, Hong Kong people seeking medical treatment at the hospital, and cross-boundary medical transfer with the management of the hospital.
 
     Members went to Shenzhen to visit the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital in the afternoon to learn about the hospital's operations, especially the operations of the out-patient clinics of Department of Family Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Department of Dental Surgery, which are the most popular departments visited by Hong Kong people. Members also exchanged views with officials of the Health Bureau and the hospital management on issues such as EHCVs, cross-border medical collaboration, the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in GBA, eHealth+ development plan, and Hong Kong people taking out mainland medical insurance.
 
     A total of 12 members and non-members of the LegCo Panel on Health Services attended the visit. The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, also led a Government delegation to join the duty visit.

        

     â€‹Correctional officers stopped two persons in custody from assaulting another person in custody at Tong Fuk Correctional Institution today (June 22).

     At 12.16pm today, a 55-year-old and a 59-year-old male persons in custody attacked a 48-year-old male person in custody at a workshop. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailants and called for reinforcement.

     During the incident, the victim sustained an injury to his nose, while one of the assailants sustained an injury to his hand. After examination and treatment by the institution Medical Officer, the victim was referred to a public hospital for further treatment.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The three persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug, burglary and driving without a licence in July 2012, March and June 2024 respectively.