The Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is still in force. Temporary shelters opened by the Home Affairs Department are at the annex.
      
     For enquiries, please contact the HAD's hotline on 2572 8427.

     Police today (May 4) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwai Chung.

     Lau Tsui-lin, aged 71, went missing after she left her residence in Kwai Fong Estate yesterday (May 3) morning. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.55 metres tall, 63 kilograms in weight and of fat build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short grey and black hair. She was last seen wearing a dark red T-shirt, black trousers and beige shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9415 4459 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at a media session after attending a radio programme to elaborate on enhancing the review mechanism of the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) this morning (May 4):

Reporter: You said the new way to decide the minimum wage would not reduce the wage. How do you see some in the business sector worried that the new change would actually make more burden on employers? How many workers will be benefitted from the new change?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The improved mechanism just approved by the Chief Executive in Council consists of two parts. The first part is that we are going to review the SMW on an annual basis. In order to do that, the Minimum Wage Commission recommended and we agreed that we have to adopt a formula-based approach. With the formula-based approach, that will enable the Commission, also the Government, to adjust the SMW on a yearly basis. If you look at the composition of the formula, it has taken into account, on the one hand, the need to protect those earning the SMW that their wage is being protected; and also at the same time to ensure that the formula is affordable and acceptable to the business sector. It has already struck a balance between different needs and demands. So, we believe it shouldn’t affect the overall competitiveness of our business sector and it should be affordable to them. Right now, around 0.6 per cent of our workforce are receiving the SMW and that translates into about 17 000.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Attention TV/radio Announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 4) that as lifeguards are unable to go to Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District by public transport due to road flooding, lifesaving services at the beach have been suspended until further notice. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is now in force, classes of all schools are suspended this afternoon. Schools which are in session should continue until the end of school hours. They should ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home.