The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
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 (April 27) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District; and Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.
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 (April 27) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Turtle Cove Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and 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.
The Dharmasthiti Group has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (April 27), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.
For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678. Information on flag days is available at the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew) and the GovHK portal (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing contact information of the flag-selling organisations and information on the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_recentlyap). For enquiries about the detailed flag-selling arrangements, please contact the individual flag-selling organisations.
Details of the charitable fund-raising activities covered by the Public Subscription Permit issued by the SWD have also been uploaded to the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/fundraising).
In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.
A pair trawler suspected of operating illegally was intercepted in an anti-illegal fishing operation jointly mounted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Marine Police and the fisheries authority of Shenzhen in the waters off the Tung Ping Chau area last night (April 25).
At about 11.50pm last night, AFCD officers found two trawlers suspected to be pair trawling in the waters west of Tung Ping Chau. They signalled to the vessels to stop for an inspection but the vessels failed to comply. AFCD and Marine Police officers chased and intercepted one of the vessels. Apparatus suspected to be used for trawling were seized on board the intercepted vessel. About 50 catties of catch was released back to the sea on site.
Three Mainland men found on the vessel were arrested for suspected to have contravened the Fisheries Protection Regulations by using prohibited fishing gear. Charges were laid against them today (April 26). They will appear at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 27).
The other vessel, although fled away into Mainland waters, was later intercepted by the fisheries authority of Shenzhen.
An AFCD spokesman reminded the public that the ban on trawling came into force on December 31, 2012. Under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance, any person who contravenes the ban is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
The spokesman said that trawling is a non-selective fishing operation which damages the seabed and marine ecosystems. A ban on trawling brings this harmful depletion to a halt, enabling marine ecosystems to be gradually improved and be better conserved in the long run.
The spokesman said, "The AFCD, the Police and relevant authorities in the Mainland will continue to carry out joint enforcement operations to crack down on illegal fishing activities."
