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 (May 4) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his attendance yesterday (May 3, Tbilisi time) at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Tbilisi, Georgia.
      
     In the morning, Mr Chan participated in the Constituency Meeting of the ADB Annual Meeting, where he discussed ADB's work direction and strategy with representatives from a number of member countries. Topics discussed included the future areas of focus, how to better utilise the bank's capital and lending capacity, strengthening knowledge transfer and human resources training, and more.
      
     Assisting ADB developing member countries in effectively addressing climate change is one of the main themes of this year's Annual Meeting. Speaking at the Constituency Meeting, Mr Chan highlighted that Hong Kong possesses a vibrant and high-quality financial market, which can efficiently connect market funds with projects to assist member countries in need to combat climate change and engage in green and low-carbon transition. Hong Kong also actively promotes insurance-linked securities products, and has facilitated the issuance of a number of catastrophe bonds. They have not only helped transfer and spread of the relevant risks to the securities market, but also extended disaster protection to more people. Moreover, Hong Kong's flourishing green tech ecosystem can provide innovative and practical solutions for green development in different countries.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Chan met with Executive Director representing Hong Kong, China's constituency in the ADB Board of Directors, Ms Rachel Thompson, and Deputy Executive Director, Ms Lisa Wright. They discussed how Hong Kong could better assist ADB developing member countries in sustainable development. Mr Chan said that green tech, green finance, and digital transformation should also be the focal points and key areas of support for member countries by the ADB. Beyond offering financial and professional services, Hong Kong, China may also share its knowledge and experiences in the above areas with ADB members, such as collaborating on relevant activities and human resources training programmes.
      
     Thereafter, Mr Chan met with the Minister of Finance of Georgia, Mr Lasha Khutsishvili. They exchanged views on strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations, investment cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, etc. Mr Chan said that Hong Kong is an international financial centre with high-quality and excellent professional services, and has well-established air and maritime networks. He is confident that Hong Kong can become an important platform for Georgian enterprises to expand their businesses in the region, and serve as a vital bridge that connects them with the vast market of Mainland China. Mr Chan also explained to Mr Khutsishvili on the latest economic situation in Hong Kong.
      
     In the late afternoon, Mr Chan paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Georgia, Mr Zhou Qian. They exchanged views on the latest developments of Hong Kong and Georgia. In the evening, Mr Chan also attended a reception hosted by the ADB.
      
     Mr Chan will continue to attend events of the ADB Annual Meeting today (May 4, Tbilisi time).

          

     The Labour Department (LD) today (May 4) reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees during and after rainstorm warnings and "extreme conditions" as early as possible, including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and remote work (if applicable). These arrangements not only can ensure the safety of employees and smooth operation of organisations, but also are conducive to maintaining good labour-management relations.
 
     "Employers should make prior work arrangements and contingency measures for staff which are reasonably practicable. In drawing up and implementing the work arrangements, employers should give prime consideration to employees' safety and the feasibility of employees travelling to and from their workplaces. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the different situations faced by individual employees, such as their place of residence and the road and traffic conditions in the vicinity, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach with due regard to their actual difficulties and needs," an LD spokesman said.
 
     To avoid misunderstanding, disputes and confusion, employers should consult and engage employees when drawing up the arrangements and make appropriate updates or amendments based on the experience of each occasion and the needs of both employers and employees as well as the actual situations. The work arrangements should cover the following matters:
 
* arrangements in respect of reporting for duty;
* arrangements in respect of early release from work;
* arrangements in respect of resumption of work (e.g. the number of hours within which employees should resume duty after the warning concerned is cancelled or "extreme conditions" comes to an end, when safety and traffic conditions allow);
* arrangements in respect of remote work such as work from home (if applicable) (e.g. duty and work arrangements during and after rainstorm warnings and "extreme conditions");
* arrangements regarding working hours, wages and allowances (e.g. calculation of wages and allowances in respect of reporting for duty and absence); and
* special arrangements in respect of staff required to report for duty in times of adverse weather or "extreme conditions".
 
     "Employers should conduct a timely and realistic assessment of whether there is any need for requiring staff to report for duty at workplaces when rainstorm warning or 'extreme conditions' is in force. In making the assessment, employers should take into account the safety of employees, the business nature, operational needs and urgency of service, with due regard to the manpower requirements, staffing establishment and individual situations of employees, and keep the number of staff at workplaces to the minimum as far as possible," the spokesman added.
 
     If a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued during working hours, employees working indoors should continue to work as usual unless it is dangerous to do so. Supervisors of employees working outdoors or in exposed areas should suspend outdoor duties as soon as practicable. They should arrange for their employees to take shelter temporarily and resume duty only when weather conditions permit. If the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is still in force by the end of working hours, employees should stay in a safe place until the heavy rain has passed. A suitable area in the workplace should be made available by employers as temporary shelter for employees.
 
     If the Government makes an "extreme conditions" announcement, apart from those required by employers to report for duty at workplaces, employees are advised to stay in the place they are currently in or in safe places when "extreme conditions" is in force, instead of heading for work. Employees who have already reported for duty at workplaces could continue to work as usual in a safe manner. If the workplaces are in danger, employers should release staff from work early under feasible conditions and in a safe manner or make available a safe place as temporary shelter for employees. If the working time ends while "extreme conditions" is still in force, employers can release employees from workplaces in a safe manner or provide a suitable area as temporary shelter for those still at workplaces.
 
     If it is necessary for employees to report for duty at workplaces under adverse weather or "extreme conditions", employers should discuss and agree with them in advance on the duty arrangements and contingency measures. If public transport services are suspended or limited when the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" is in force, employers should provide safe transport services for employees travelling to and from workplaces, or grant them an extra travelling allowance.
 
     The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.
 
     "As natural calamities cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume work on time due to adverse weather or 'extreme conditions', employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonuses or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, or ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty," he said.
   
     Employers should note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. If employees are required to work in times of tropical cyclone warnings, rainstorm warnings or "extreme conditions", employers should ensure that the risks at work are reduced as far as reasonably practicable. Moreover, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" is in force.
 
     The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     "The Social Welfare Department announces that while the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, child care centres, centres providing after school care programmes, elderly services centres and day rehabilitation units, including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres, integrated vocational training centres and day activity centres, which normally operate on Saturdays, will remain open during their normal operating hours. If necessary, members of the public can contact the centres to make arrangements for the safe return home of their children and family members."

     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, schools should implement contingency measures to ensure the safety of students. 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.