A spokesman for the Drainage Services Department (DSD) said today (March 24) that the DSD received a report on sewer leakage at Seaview Promenade, Deep Water Bay, in the evening yesterday (March 23). An investigation was immediately conducted and it was confirmed that the concerned sewer is a 450 millimetres diameter pressurised sewage main. The DSD is carrying out emergency repair works. The quality of the nearby waters will potentially be affected. Members of the public are advised not to swim at Deep Water Bay Beach and Repulse Bay Beach or the nearby waters to protect public health.
      
     The DSD commenced the construction and rehabilitation of sewage rising mains in Southern District in January this year, to construct about 8.8 kilometres of sewage rising mains connecting the sewage pumping station at Island Road, Southern District, to the sewerage system at Ap Lei Chau Bridge Road, including the construction of about 1.5km subsea twin pressurised sewer to replace the above concerned pressurised sewage main, to enhance the overall stability of the sewage system.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (March 24) is actively following up and investigating an incident of a falling examination lamp in a treatment room at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan (HKAH-TW). In addition, the DH has issued a special alert to inform the stakeholders in Hong Kong that if they are using the same model (i.e. Polaris® 50) of examination lamp, they should contact the local supplier.

     According to the HKAH-TW's report, upon a doctor finished a procedure for a patient in a treatment room of the Urgent Care Centre last night, the examination lamp suddenly fell while a healthcare staff assisting the doctor was trying to adjust it, hitting both of them. Upon examination, neither suffered any major injuries and did not require hospitalisation for treatment. The patient, who was in the treatment room at the time of the incident, was not injured.

     After the incident, the hospital stopped using the room in question in the evening of the same day, and asked the supplier to immediately send staff to inspect all examination lamps of the same model in the hospital to ensure safety. As a precautionary measure, the HKAH-TW has also requested the supplier to inspect all lights manufactured by the same supplier (Draeger Hong Kong Limited) but of different models in the HKAH-TW. The DH has requested the HKAH-TW to submit an investigation report. The DH will carefully assess the findings of the investigation and the measures taken by the hospital, and take appropriate follow-up actions to ensure patient safety and prevent similar incidents.

     On the other hand, the DH has contacted the local supplier of the device to learn more about the incident. Preliminary information indicated that the medical device in question is a Class I general medical device under the Medical Device Administrative Control System. The DH will notify stakeholders of the incident, including the Hospital Authority, all private hospitals, licensed private healthcare facilities and relevant medical professional bodies, and inform them to contact the local supplier, Draeger Hong Kong Limited, as soon as possible if they are using the device concerned. The DH will also issue a special alert on the Medical Device Division's website. The DH has requested Draeger Hong Kong Limited in writing today to proactively notify the affected customers and take follow-up action.

     The DH would continue to liaise closely with the HKAH-TW and the supplier concerned, and follow up on the case to safeguard patient safety.

     Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at a media session after chairing the Sports Commission meeting this afternoon (March 24):
 
Reporter: First of all, can you just recap in English like other any specific performance indicators or factors that justify the decision to keep Tier A funding for snooker and tennis? How will the Sports Commission ensure that this decision does not unfairly disadvantage other sports, like other types of sports, that are also seeking funding? Is this one of the decisions? You mentioned that the Sports Commission will review the EVSS (Elite Vote Support Scheme) for greater flexibility in recognising sports with unique strengths or growing popularity? Is there a timetable to complete the review and are there any sports that you have in mind that might fit in the new requirements? Thank you.
 
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism: The review of the EVSS has just been done. That is what the Sports Commission has just discussed and that was the outcome of the review of the EVSS. The outcome is that tennis and billiard sports will continue to stay at Tier A elite sports in the coming two years. The reasons being are that we have reviewed the criteria, the one in particular being adjusted, in the past we required that for a sport to stay at elite (sports) (Tier) A, first of all, it has to be a sport that is included in the Olympic (Games) or the Asian Games in the four past events or upcoming two events. In these six events, at least three would include this sport. So, this would pose difficulty for billiard sports, for example. But recognising this difficulty which is not within the control of the sports association itself, we have decided to adjust the scheme a little bit, so that we will count from 1997, the year that we started to compete in the name of Hong Kong, China. From then till now, at least three times a sport will have to be included in either the Olympic (Games) or the Asian Games. If that is the case, they would be qualified to stay in Tier A elite sports. Billiard sports will meet the criteria upon this adjustment.
 
     For tennis, we would advise that on top of the Olympic (Games) or Asian Games, normally for other sports, World Championship is also an important event that would be counted or considered for whether a sport can be included or stayed within the elite zone. But for tennis, they don't have a world champion tournament as such. So, we have decided to take into account outcome in Grand Slam events, and also the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup outcome. It is an adjustment that is fitting for tennis in which we are also making good performances recently. Of course, this is a system that is ever-evolving in light of the latest development of the sports sector. We will continue to see if adjustment is necessary in the future times to come. Thank you.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (March 26) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     Meanwhile, the Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025, the Buildings Energy Efficiency (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Supplementary Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Merchant Shipping (Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships) Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bills will be adjourned.
 
     On Government motion, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will move a proposed resolution under the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation Ordinance to resolve that the maximum percentage prescribed for section 13(2) of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation Ordinance is 95 per cent. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
 
     On Members' motions, Mr Dennis Leung will move a motion on accelerating the development of a smart government to better assist the public in integrating into the life in the Greater Bay Area. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Chan Siu-hung and Mr Steven Ho will move separate amendments to Mr Leung's motion.
 
     Mr Tommy Cheung will move a motion on reviewing the effectiveness of the small class teaching mode in primary and secondary schools. The motion is set out in Appendix 3. Mr Chu Kwok-keung will move an amendment to Mr Cheung's motion.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     â€‹The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) is highly concerned about recent safety incidents suspected to have been caused by passengers carrying and using lithium battery power banks (power banks) on aircraft. Following a notice issued last month reminding the aviation industry to strictly enforce relevant regulations regarding the carriage of items by passengers onboard, the CAD met with representatives from local airlines last Friday (March 21) and issued a new notice today (March 24) to update the requirements and regulations for local airlines regarding passengers carrying and using power banks, with a view to further enhancing aviation safety.
      
     According to the latest requirements, in addition to complying with the International Civil Aviation Organization's relevant regulations on the carriage of items by passengers onboard, starting from April 7, local airlines should not allow their passengers to use power banks to charge other portable electronic devices and/or recharge power banks during flight. Stowage of power banks in the overhead compartments is also prohibited with the same effective date.
      
     For any queries, passengers are advised to check with relevant airlines on the latest regulations before their flight.
      
     The CAD will continue to maintain close communication with relevant parties and actively follow up on the implementation of these new regulations.