â€‹Two Smart Prison projects of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), namely the Integrated Custodial and Rehabilitation Management System and the Social Visit e-Booking Service, have won the Hong Kong Smart City Initiative of the Year at the GovMedia Awards 2024.
      
     The GovMedia Awards recognise outstanding government initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region to honour organisations that exemplify leadership, creativity and impactful results in public services. The CSD is committed to introducing innovative technology projects in correctional facilities to create a modernised working environment. The award for the CSD's Smart Prison projects affirms the Department's efforts in introducing innovative technology elements.
      
     The CSD fully implemented the Integrated Custodial and Rehabilitation Management System in all its correctional institutions last year, integrating eight core operation systems and reinforcing digital management to enhance operational efficiency.
      
     The Social Visit e-Booking Service was fully implemented in November last year to facilitate visitation. Apart from shortening the registration and waiting time for visitors at correctional institutions, the Service also allows visitors to manage their bookings and check the latest visit status of persons in custody so that they can plan their visits conveniently.
      
     To align with the Government's Smart City development blueprint, the CSD will continue to provide more convenient e-services to members of the public.

  

     The Government announced today (June 20) that to assist Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above in applying for JoyYou Cards so that they can continue to enjoy the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme), eight temporary JoyYou Card application service centres on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories will commence operation from next Monday (June 24).

    From August 25 this year, all Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above must use a JoyYou Card to enjoy the $2 Scheme. Existing Anonymous Elder Octopus and ordinary Personalised Octopus will no longer be applicable. As for eligible persons with disabilities aged below 60, they can continue to enjoy the $2 Scheme using the Personalised Octopus encoded with "Persons with Disabilities Status" and need not apply for a JoyYou Card.

     To assist persons in need in submitting applications or supplementary information as soon as possible, Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) will set up the following eight temporary JoyYou Card application service centres from next Monday until August 31 (see Annex for location maps):
 

• Conference Room, 2/F, Kennedy Town Community Complex (12 Rock Hill Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong);
• Conference Room, G/F, Leighton Hill Community Hall (133 Wong Nai Chung Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong);
• Room 210, 2/F, Wong Tai Sin Community Centre (104 Ching Tak Street, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon);
• Conference Room, Mong Kok Community Hall, L2, Mong Kok Complex (557 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon);
• Conference Room, G/F, Tai Yuen Community Hall (Tai Yuen Estate, Tai Po, New Territories);
• Conference Room, 4/F, North District Community Centre (2 Lung Wan Street, Sheung Shui, New Territories);
• Activity Room, G/F, Kwai Fong Community Hall (2 Lai Fong Street, Kwai Chung, New Territories); and
• Conference Room, G/F, Long Ping Community Hall (Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long, New Territories).

     The opening hours of these service centres will be 9am to 8pm from Mondays to Fridays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. They will be closed on Sundays and public holidays. Members of the public who need assistance in applying for a JoyYou Card may visit these service centres during opening hours.

     In addition, the Government has stepped up publicity to remind eligible persons to apply for JoyYou Cards as soon as possible, and has made good use of district and service networks to provide assistance to eligible persons with disabilities and elderly persons to make an application.

    OCL will send out a JoyYou Card to an eligible applicant within four weeks upon receipt of a duly completed application. Applicants who have not received their JoyYou Cards four weeks after completing the application may call the hotline at 3147 1388 (press 0 after choosing the language to contact operators directly). For applications with incomplete information, OCL will also issue SMS or letters to the applicants concerned for follow-up. Applicants who received relevant SMS or letters should submit the supplementary information as soon as possible. Otherwise, their applications will not be processed further.

     Furthermore, eligible beneficiaries who have not yet applied for a JoyYou Card could also submit their applications by post or via the Octopus App to OCL. Members of the public may visit the JoyYou Card webpage (www.octopus.com.hk/joyyou/en) for videos illustrating steps for making an application and distribution points for paper application forms (with a postage-free return envelope).

     A JoyYou Card carries a personal photo and the name of the eligible beneficiary as proof of eligibility for enjoying the $2 Scheme. Each eligible person will be issued with one card only. The Government accepted JoyYou Card applications from Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above (born in 1956 or before) in batches from June 1, 2022. Some 1.3 million applications, equivalent to around 92 per cent of estimated eligible applicants, have been received to date.

     A man who went missing in Tseung Kwan O has been located.

     Mui Pak-lam, aged 86, went missing after he left his residence on Ngan O Road on June 18 morning. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
    
     The man was located in a hospital on Pok Fu Lam Road last night (June 19). No suspicious circumstances were detected.

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