The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, will visit Hong Kong from June 18 to 22. He will … read more
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 (June 17) that due… read more
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to the Netherlands on June 15 (Amsterdam time).
Professor Sun visited a start-up incubator and community workspace, Amsterdam Venture Studios Startup Village, built with containers being turned into offices. The village currently brings together 35 start-ups focusing on AI and quantum technology, with an aim to promoting interaction, collaboration and knowledge exchange among science, business and start-up ecosystem.
Professor Sun visited Omni Wind Tech BV in the community, a Dutch start-up that focuses on the innovative development of patented power generation technology by compact wind turbines to promote the high-performance application of wind energy in commercial and community settings. He was briefed on the company’s development strategies and core technologies, and learned about its practical mode of promoting sustainable development of clean energy through green innovation.
Professor Sun then visited Nearfield Instruments to learn about its latest technologies and global businesses. The company is a supplier of advanced metrology solutions for the semiconductor industry, focusing on high-precision measurement technology to support manufacturing in the high-end nano-electronics industry.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun met with Deputy Director-General for Foreign Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Ms Yvette Van Eechoud, to exchange views on promoting innovation and technology (I&T) collaboration. Professor Sun said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to maintaining relations with European countries, including the Netherlands. He emphasised that as an international city, Hong Kong has all along been playing the roles and functions of “super connector” and “super value-adder”. The current-term Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre and there is a broad room of collaboration between the two places in the fields of I&T.
Professor Sun also called on Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, Mr He Shiqing, to brief him on Hong Kong’s efforts in “deepening international exchanges and co-operation and better integration into the national development”. Professor Sun expressed his gratitude to the Embassy for supporting the enhanced co-operation between Hong Kong and the Netherlands in I&T development and attracting enterprises and investments.
Professor Sun concluded his visit to the Netherlands and will return to Hong Kong in the morning on June 18 (Hong Kong time).
Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (June 17) will be cancelled. If the thunderstorm warning is cancelle… read more
As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.
A spokesman for the LD said today (June 17) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the “Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and ‘Extreme Conditions'” and the “Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather” issued by the LD.
Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:
(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;
(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;
(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;
(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and
(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.
In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.
The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).
Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297. read more