The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been informed by three flag day organisers that regional flag-selling activities in public places originally scheduled to be held today (August 19) have been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.
 
     Three charities had been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today. They are, on Hong Kong Island, the Urban Peacemaker Evangelistic Fellowship Limited; in Kowloon, Hong Kong Alzheimer's Disease Association; and in the New Territories, the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the organisations concerned. Contact information of the organisations is as follows:
 

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and 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_flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
 
     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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

    The Judiciary has announced that because of the issuing of the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No.9, all hearings of the courts/tribunals will be adjourned this morning (August 19).

    Hearings will remain adjourned this afternoon if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above is still in force at or after 11am.

    Court and tribunal registries and offices will also be closed until further notice.

Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     All face-to-face classes and on-campus activities have been suspended in schools in view of the development of the COVID-19 epidemic. Nevertheless, some schools have commenced the new school year and remained open to take care of students who have to go back to school due to lack of carers at home. As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal no. 8 or above is now hoisted, the above-mentioned schools will be temporarily closed to students today for safety reasons.

     The Hong Kong Observatory replaced the No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal by the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9 at 1.30am today (August 19).

     The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 36 temporary shelters in various districts and 50 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

     As at 1.30am, the 1823 Government Call Centre has received 5 reports of fallen trees. No reports of landslide and flooding have been received so far.

     According to the Hospital Authority, as at 1am, no people have sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.

     All overnight franchised bus services were suspended.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No.9 has been issued, the Marine Department reminds vessel owners, masters and persons-in-charge of vessels that they should take precautionary measures immediately and properly secure their vessels at safe locations.

     In case of an accident, a report should be made immediately to the Vessel Traffic Centre at 2233 7801.