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 (July 4) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Deep Water Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, St Stephen's Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach, Pui O Beach, Upper Cheung Sha Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Tong Fuk Beach in Islands District; Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung 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 4) will be suspended.

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

     The Legislative Council Commission will hold a closed special meeting at 10.30am tomorrow (July 4).

     Police will conduct risk assessment when deciding on the manpower deployment and actions to be taken in handling public events. Police actions on July 1 were taken as a result of a number of considerations and continued risk assessment. The risk assessment conducted for the July 1 events was comprehensive and complicated. One of the most important considerations was the vital need to protect the safety of those present at scene, including protestors, journalists, police officers and others.

     Police noticed on the internet beforehand that some individuals have claimed to resort to radical acts, including initiating “dust storm explosion” and “threaten to fight until death”. On July 1, protestors not only used offensive weapons such as mills barriers and iron poles, but also poisonous and inflammable chemicals to attack Police officers. If protestors tried to ignite the chemicals inside the Legislative Council Complex (Complex), which is an indoor confined space, the consequence would be unimaginable. The options on force to be taken were also very limited inside such an indoor confined space. Besides, protestors also controlled without authority the electrical installations inside the Complex which could turn the scene into total darkness at any time, critically increasing the risk faced by the people present at scene.

     In addition, when the protestors began to storm into the Complex, a large-scale public procession was taking place in the vicinity. Any Police action may affect people's emotions and lead to a deterioration of the situation, the consequences of which may be unpredictable.

     Based on the above considerations, Police did not take immediate actions at the Complex and had avoided as far as possible physical encounters with the protestors. As a result of these decisions, there were no serious casualties throughout the incident.

     Police will resolutely pursue the protestors for their illegal and violent acts at the Complex on July 1. The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau is now actively investigating and collecting evidence relating to the incident in order to bring the offenders to justice.

     Police reiterated that the actions taken on July 1 were a result of continued risk assessment and thorough considerations. Police hoped that there will not be unnecessary speculations about Police’s operation on the day.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) co-hosted a series of events in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on July 2 (Rotterdam time) to promote business opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

     The events were jointly organised by the HKETO, Brussels, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Invest Hong Kong and the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association. The events started with a business seminar on business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area. In her welcoming remarks at the business seminar, the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau, said that aspirations for the Greater Bay Area development are very high. "The Greater Bay Area's wide-ranging strengths, diversified markets and far-reaching development opportunities herald a new economic era for Hong Kong. Innovation and technology, advanced manufacturing, high-end services, trade, transport and more will drive the economy of the Greater Bay Area and meet growing middle-class aspirations. And Hong Kong will be at its fast-beating economic heart," she said.

     Miss Chau added that Hong Kong will lead the way in several key sectors, from financial and professional services to trade and transport, as well as playing a vital role in innovation and technology. Dutch companies are welcome to partner with Hong Kong in seizing the enormous opportunities of the Greater Bay Area, which has a population of more than 70 million people, she said.

     The Director of Research of the HKTDC, Mr Nicholas Kwan, was one of the speakers at the business seminar. Mr Kwan gave a detailed account of the background, purpose and opportunities of the Greater Bay Area.

     The business seminar was followed by a cocktail reception and dinner. The Commissioner of Inclusive Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Office of the Department of Justice, Dr James Ding, also attended the dinner and gave a keynote speech to promote Hong Kong as a legal and dispute resolution services centre for the Greater Bay Area.