As the Hong Kong Observatory has issued the very hot weather warning, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate precautions to prevent heat stroke.
 
     Heat stroke could occur if an employee works in a hot or humid environment for prolonged periods of time, as the body may fail to regulate its temperature by effective heat dissipation through sweating.
 
     The early symptoms of heat stroke include feeling thirsty, fatigue, nausea and headache. Later, the victim may experience shortness of breath, rapid and weak pulse, dizziness, confusion or even loss of consciousness and convulsion.
 
     For example, construction workers, cleaning workers, kitchen workers and porters are more prone to heat stroke when working for long hours in such an environment, especially if appropriate preventive measures have not been taken.
 
     The LD reminds employers to arrange for a suitable assessment of the risk of heat stress in the work environment and take appropriate preventive measures. The LD has produced two leaflets entitled "Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Construction Sites" and "Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Outdoor Cleansing Workplaces" respectively. Employers engaged in construction or outdoor cleaning work are advised to refer to these checklists in assessing the risk of heat stress at their workplaces. As for heat stress assessment at a workplace in general, employers can refer to a booklet entitled "Risk Assessment for the Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" produced by the LD.
 
     The LD also reminds employers and employees to take the following precautions to prevent heat stroke:
 
Employers
———
(1) Take heed of the weather report and adopt shift work arrangements for employees to reduce their exposure to the hot environment, or arrange appropriate rest breaks for them during very hot periods;
(2) Avoid working under direct sunlight and set up temporary sunshade wherever possible;
(3) Provide cool potable water for employees at all times during work. If necessary, provide drinks containing minerals for employees to replenish loss of electrolytes during profuse sweating;
(4) Minimise physical demands by using tools or mechanical aids at work;
(5) Increase air flow by enhancing ventilation or air-conditioning as appropriate;
(6) Isolate heat-generating facilities at the workplace and use insulating materials to minimise heat dissipation to the other work areas; and
(7) Provide relevant information and training for employees on heat stroke such as preventive measures and first aid treatment.
 
Employees
———
(1) Wear clothing made of suitable materials (for example, cotton) that is loose-fitting and light-coloured to help heat dissipation, minimise heat absorption and allow sweat evaporation;
(2) Wear a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors;
(3) Drink plenty of water or other appropriate beverages to replenish the fluids and electrolytes lost through sweating; and
(4) Whenever there are any symptoms of heat stroke, inform supervisors and take appropriate actions immediately.
 
     Some employees may have difficulty in adapting to a hot working environment owing to their own health conditions. Employers should take this into account and consider the recommendations of their doctors when assigning work to these employees.
 
     In addition to the publications on risk assessment, the LD has produced a leaflet entitled "Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment" for the public. The publications can be obtained free of charge from the offices of the Occupational Health Service of the LD, or downloaded from the department's webpage at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_9.htm.
 
     The LD organises occupational health talks in public places and at its own training venues regularly to raise employers' and employees' awareness of occupational health. Details of health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work in May and June are as follows:
 
(A)
Dates: May 25, June 4, 19 and 26 (am)
           May 16, June 7 and 22 (pm)
Time: Half-day
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Labour Department, 13/F, KOLOUR·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories
 
(B)
Date: May 23
Time: 6.30pm to 8pm
Venue: Activity Room I, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(Opposite Victoria Park, MTR Tin Hau Station Exit B)
 
(C)
Dates: May 29 and June 8
Time: Half-day, morning
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department, G/F,
Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong
(MTR Kwun Tong Station Exit A1)
 
(D)
Date: June 13
Time: 3pm to 4:30pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit E)
 
     For enrolment or enquiries about these occupational health talks, please call 2852 4040 or 2361 8240 (for talks organised at the Occupational Safety and Health Centre). Moreover, the LD also provides an outreach health education service and occupational health nurses will, on invitation, disseminate occupational health information at workplaces at a convenient time. Please contact the nursing officer at 2852 4062 for details. All these health talks are free of charge.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (May 15):
 
Reporter: Mrs Lam, President Xi also suggested that only patriotic scientists would get funding, and only people who love the country and Hong Kong would be able to, you know, participate in national level programmes. Do you think that this will affect academic freedom in any way?

Chief Executive: Not at all, because I read the guidelines issued jointly by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance. The guidelines do not specifically refer to the so-called prerequisite that you have mentioned. But in the instructions given by President Xi Jinping, he did mention about the importance of giving more support to scientists and researchers in Hong Kong who love the country and love Hong Kong. I think this is only a matter of terminology, but of course, in Hong Kong we do expect, whether you are a scientist, a researcher, a government official like myself, to love our country and love Hong Kong, so that is nothing unusual. I think some commentators have read too much into this term, and additionally, because I have the privilege of having read this letter from the fellows to President Xi, in fact it was in their letter that they appealed to President Xi for his support, because these scientists said that they are doing great work, not only for Hong Kong but for the country, and they want to do more for the country ("希望報效國家"), so in response, the President made those remarks that these researchers have really touched him because they really want to contribute to the country. I think this is only very natural.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Hong Kong Monetary Authority Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
———————————————————
     
     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning May 21, 2018:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued today (May 15) a tentative issuance schedule for Exchange Fund Bills and Notes (EFBNs) for the coming quarter of July to September 2018. The schedule contains information on the tentative tender dates, tender sizes and issue dates of individual issues, representing rollover of maturing issues and taking into account planned adjustments to the maturity spectrum of the EFBNs portfolio.
 
     The quarterly schedule is issued in the second month of each quarter (i.e. February, May, August and November), covering the EFBNs tenders in the following quarter.
 
     It should be noted that the tender dates, tender sizes and issue dates projected in the advance issuance schedule are tentative. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Bills are to be confirmed and announced at least 4 business days prior to the respective tender dates. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Notes are to be confirmed and announced 7 business days prior to their respective tender dates. The HKMA may make changes in the light of prevailing market conditions.

     The 2018 Bun Carnival will stage its grand finale, the Bun Scrambling Competition, at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground in Cheung Chau in the night of May 22 (Tuesday). A total of 12 finalists will vie for the championships in the men's and women's divisions.

     Trophies will be awarded to the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in the men's division and the champion in the women's division. The "Full Pockets of Lucky Buns" award will continue to be presented this year to commend the participant who grabs the most buns.

     To make the event more appealing, any male or female athlete who has won the first prize three times in the Bun Scrambling Competition from 2016 will become the "King of Kings" or the "Queen of Queens" of the competition and be awarded a trophy.

     An opening ceremony to launch the Bun Scrambling Competition will be held at 11.30pm on May 22 (Tuesday). The competition will start at midnight on May 23 (Wednesday) according to tradition. An invitation relay with 10 teams from Macao, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and local Cheung Chau organisations will be held immediately after the individual competition. The organisers, together with the Islands District Council, the Islands District Office, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Transport Department, will implement various crowd management measures to maintain public order on the night. Detailed arrangements were announced at a joint press conference today (May 15).

     The Chairman of the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, Mr Yung Chi-ming; the Chief Leisure Manager (New Territories West) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Ms Fanny Ho; the Assistant District Officer (Islands), Mr Benjamin Au; the Divisional Commander (Cheung Chau) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Mr Wilson Ng; Senior Transport Officer of the Transport Department Miss Florence Ho; and member of the Islands District Council Ms Lee Kwai-chun attended the press conference.

     Ms Fanny Ho said at the press conference that four spectator zones will be set up on the competition night at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, which can accommodate about 1 650 people. The distribution of free admission tickets will start at 10pm. Members of the public can queue up at Pak She First Lane, next to Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road to get admission tickets. Each person can obtain one ticket on a first-come, first-served basis while tickets last. Spectators who have got their tickets should follow instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers for admission, which is expected to start from 10.30pm. Spectators should enter Zone 1 to Zone 4 in sequence.

     Notices will be put up at Central Pier No. 5 informing the public of the schedule and arrangements of the event. Notices and enquiry counters will also be set up at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier and at the entrance of Pak Tai Temple Playground, where staff will be on hand to address public enquiries.

     She added that the organisers will monitor the weather conditions on the night. The Bun Scrambling Competition will be cancelled in case of inclement weather, including thunderstorms, to ensure public safety. As stipulated in the prospectus, awards would then be determined based on the results of the selection contest and a prize presentation would be held immediately. Since the Bun Scrambling Competition is traditionally held at a specified period during the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, no replay of the competition would be organised in such circumstances.

     Mr Ng said police officers would be deployed for crowd management. He called on the public to co-operate, follow instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers, and be patient in crowded places.

     On the arrangements for public transport services, Miss Florence Ho said the Transport Department would closely monitor passenger demand for public transport services and would stay in close contact with ferry and bus companies to make necessary and appropriate arrangements to meet demand.

     She added that as many visitors will be leaving Cheung Chau after the event, New World First Ferry will arrange a special sailing from Cheung Chau to Central at 1.15am on May 23.

     The bus companies will operate a special bus service of cross-harbour route 104R running from Central Pier No. 5 to Mong Kok from about 1.10am to 2.30am on May 23. Overnight bus services departing from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal will be progressively diverted via Central Pier No. 5 from about midnight to about 2.50am for passengers' convenience. These routes are Citybus' routes N8X (to Siu Sai Wan) and N90 (to South Horizons) and cross-harbour routes N182 (to Kwong Yuen, Sha Tin), N619 (to Shun Lee, Kwun Tong) and N368 (to Yuen Long West).

     Speaking on rescue operations during any possible emergencies, Mr Au said St John Hospital would make appropriate manpower arrangements on the day for the provision of accident and emergency services, while the Hospital Authority will render assistance when necessary. The Government Flying Service will also deploy helicopters and strengthen its manpower.

     Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the LCSD, the 2018 Bun Carnival is presented with the support of the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office, the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union, and the Islands District Council.

     For enquiries on the above activities, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the department's website.