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 (April 23) that since the water off Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District is now suitable for swimming, the red flag has been lowered.

     The red flag was hoisted at the beach earlier on after a red tide was found.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will invite applications from tomorrow (April 24) until May 31 from eligible individuals and organisations for the Jockey Club IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (28th Round) and the Central Fund for Personal Computers (40th Round).
           
     The objectives of the Jockey Club IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment are to support non-governmental and non-profit-making organisations providing services or schooling for persons with visual impairment (PVIs) to acquire advanced Chinese screen readers, Braille displays and accessories to assist PVIs to surf the Internet, and to subsidise individual PVIs in need to purchase these devices for the purpose of studying or employment and with genuine financial difficulty. Previous beneficiaries of the Scheme may re-apply if there are proven genuine financial difficulties and needs for study or employment purposes.
           
     The items supported under the scheme are advanced Chinese screen readers, Braille displays of 40 cells and accessories/portable devices.
           
     Successful organisation applicants will be supported in full for purchasing a high-performance Chinese screen reader set (capped at $9,800) and/or Braille displays (capped at $36,000) and/or accessories (capped at $66,300) on the reference list under the Scheme. Successful individual applicants will be sponsored to purchase a high-performance Chinese screen reader set with an amount not more than $9,800 and/or accessories/portable devices not more than $49,600 in value and/or Braille displays on the same reference list not more than $32,400 in value.
           
     Eligible organisations may lodge their applications by completing the designated forms. For individual applications, nomination from subvented non-governmental rehabilitation organisations, the student affairs offices of local tertiary institutions, principals of local secondary/primary schools, or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department (LD) is required, and applications should be submitted through the nominating organisation in the designated form together with the quotations for the items concerned. Invitation letters have been sent to the relevant organisations to invite nominations.
           
     As for the Central Fund for Personal Computers, the Fund aims to assist eligible persons with disabilities in acquiring the required computer facilities for self-employment or receiving supported employment services at home with guidance and follow-up services to be provided by the referral rehabilitation organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the LD. Applicants must:
      
(a) be users of rehabilitation services of and nominated by rehabilitation service organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the LD;
(b) have difficulties in engaging in open employment;
(c) provide a viable business plan which has to use computer facilities;
(d) have financial difficulty in acquiring the required computer facilities;
(e) be capable of using computer to carry out the business plan; and
(f) have the consent of the nominating organisations or the LD to provide guidance and follow-up services after the applicants' acquisition of the computer facilities.
           
     For enquiries, please contact the Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch of the SWD at 3586 3594, through email to eoimc@swd.gov.hk or by fax to 2834 7046.
           
     Details of the above schemes are available on the SWD website (www.swd.gov.hk) and CyberAble.net (www.CyberAble.net). Information notes and application forms can be downloaded from the websites.
 

     The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li, today (April 23) signed a Letter of Intent on Cultural Exchange and Co-operation with the Director of the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, Mr Tian Kai, to strengthen cultural exchange and collaboration between the two sides and facilitate the sharing of resources.

     In the coming five years, the two sides will strive to strengthen exchange and collaboration, such as organising new exhibitions through co-curation and loan of exhibits. Communication among museum professionals of both sides will be enhanced by knowledge sharing and training activities including museum forums and thematic seminars. Collaboration in exchange and training on heritage conservation will be enhanced. Co-operation plans will be formulated to promote research and education on antiquity studies. The two sides will also work closer to create synergy by exchanging information on co-organising major exhibitions with foreign museums.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department endeavours to deepen its relationship with Mainland museums and cultural institutes. Agreements were signed last year with several of them, including the Shanghai Museum, the Hubei Provincial Museum, the National Museum of China and the Nanjing Museum.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter 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.

     Hongkong Post today (April 23) announced the postal service arrangements for Labour Day on May 1. No mail delivery and no mail collection will be provided. All post offices will be closed except for the General Post Office and the Airport Post Office. The business hours of these two offices will be from noon to 5pm and 8am to 5pm respectively. General postal services will be provided. Details of services available will be advertised at the respective post offices.
                    
     For more information, customers may visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk or call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.