The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 8) announced that the department tested 136 water samples collected from cooling towers in 59 buildings in its routine inspections in June this year. Four samples were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers in which the four samples were collected in June are located at 13 Sze Pei Square, Tsuen Wan; 78 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui; 4-6 Kwai Tai Road, Kwai Chung; and Hongway Garden, 7 On Tai Street, Sheung Wan. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of the cooling towers requiring appropriate disinfection work to be done. Disinfection of the cooling towers in these four cases has already been completed by the owners. Details of these four cases can be found in Annex 2. The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).

     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

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Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 8) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach and Pui O Beach in Islands District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Owing to the maintenance works on the flag poles and the podium at the Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai, the flag-raising ceremony scheduled at 8am today (July 8) will be suspended.

     An organisation conducted a public event yesterday (July 7) in which public procession started at 3.30pm from Salisbury Garden and finished at the open area of Wui Man Road outside Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. The organisation announced the event completed at 5.30pm and it was generally peaceful and orderly. During the event, Police arrested one person for failing to produce proof of identity.

     Some protestors then gathered at the vicinity of Canton Road. They even blocked Canton Road around 8pm to 9pm. From 9pm, protestors occupied northbound of Nathan Road, passing through Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei and arrived Mong Kok. Police set up cordon line at the junction of Nathan Road and Argyle Street. Police made repeated warnings to the protestors that they were participating in an unlawful assembly and urged them to leave or Police would take actions to disperse the crowd.

     After repeated but futile warnings, Police took actions to disperse the protestors around 11pm. During the process, some protestors resisted and police arrested five persons for assaulting a police officer and obstructing a police officer in the execution of duties.

     Police respect the public’s freedoms of expression, speech and assembly. It is the policy of Police to facilitate all peaceful public events while at the same time ensuring public safety and public order. Police strongly condemn the illegal acts of protestors for blocking the roads.

     Officers of the Immigration Department (ImmD) found a person under detention at Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre committing suicide by hanging herself today (July 7) afternoon while inspecting the detention cells. ImmD officers immediately called for an ambulance to send the person to hospital for rescue but the person was certified dead later.

     The deceased was a 45-year-old Vietnamese illegal immigrant who was detained pending repatriation to her home country. No irregularity was found on her when ImmD officers inspected the cell at 2.28pm. When the cell was inspected again at 2.49pm, she was found to have hung in her cell with her clothing. ImmD officers immediately rescued her and provided first aid treatment as well as called for an ambulance. The person was then sent to Kwong Wah Hospital for rescue. She was certified dead at 5.16pm.

     ImmD has reported the case to the Police and will fully cooperate with the Police in the investigation.