Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
During a typhoon, you are advised not to touch any broken electrical cables. Report such cases to the electricity companies immediately. Touching broken electrical conductors can cause an electric shock and may result in fatality.
The Islands District Office (IDO) announced that the flood alert system specially put in place for Tai O residents has been activated, following the forecast by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) that serious flooding may occur in Tai O.
According to the forecast of the HKO, the sea level at Tai O may rise to 3.3 metres above Chart Datum or more at around 8am tomorrow (August 19) under the influence of the tropical cyclone, and may lead to tidal back flow and serious flooding in the low-lying areas of Tai O.
The IDO has activated an emergency co-ordination centre at the Tai O Rural Committee Office, jointly set up by the IDO, the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Police, the Social Welfare Department, other government departments concerned and relevant non-governmental organisations. The emergency co-ordination centre will co-ordinate any necessary evacuation, rescue and emergency relief efforts for Tai O. In addition, temporary shelters respectively at the Tai O Rural Committee Office and the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office on the ground floor of Lung Tin Shopping Centre, as well as the Lung Tin Transit Centre have been opened for residents in need.
The Police, the FSD and the Civil Aid Service personnel will help affected residents, if needed, to move to the temporary shelter or other safe locations.
Residents living in the low-lying areas of Tai O are advised to take shelter at a safe place before the flood arrives. The IDO will monitor the situation closely and co-ordinate with other government departments to render full assistance to residents in need.
As Typhoon Warning Signal No. 8 (T8) will soon be in force, the Labour Department (LD) today (August 18) reminded employers to make work arrangements for staff during and after typhoons and rainstorms.
An LD spokesman said, "In drawing up and implementing the work arrangements, employers should give prime consideration to employees ' safety and the feasibility for employees to travel to and from their workplaces. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the situations faced by individual employees, such as their place of residence and the road and traffic conditions in the vicinity, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach with due regard to their actual difficulties and needs.
"Under special situations, if it is necessary for employees to report for duty under adverse weather conditions, employers should work out arrangements for their transportation, safety, meal, rest place and more. If public transport services are suspended or limited when T8 or above is in force, employers should provide safe transport services for employees travelling to and from workplaces, or grant them an extra travelling allowance."
The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance.
The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Typhoons and Rainstorms", which provides a reference for employers and employees on the work and resumption of work arrangements in the event of the Government issuing the post-super typhoon "extreme conditions" announcement, as well as the major principles, the framework, the reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation for reference in drawing up the work arrangements under adverse weather conditions. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Kowloon West Cluster made the following update today (August 18):
According to the contact tracing result of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), one more 80-year-old female patient was confirmed as a Candida auris carrier while not having signs of infection. The patient had stayed in the Medicine and Geriatric Ward of PMH and the Extended Care Ward of North Lantau Hospital (NLTH) and has been discharged.
Furthermore, NLTH arranged an admission screening for a 69-year-old male patient on August 4. His screening specimen was confirmed to carry Candida auris without signs of infection. The patient had stayed in the Medicine and Geriatric Ward of PMH, the Surgical Ward of PMH and the Extended Care Ward of NLTH and has been discharged.
PMH and NLTH have continued contact tracing for the patient. A 75-year-old male patient who had stayed in the Surgical Ward of PMH and a 91-year-old male patient who had stayed in the Extended Care Ward of NLTH were confirmed as Candida auris carriers while not having signs of infection. Both of them have been discharged.
In accordance with the prevailing guideline, the two hospitals have conducted the following enhanced infection control measures:
1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
2. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures; and
3. Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients.
The two hospitals will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patients. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
The Marine Department has received notification from the Hong Kong Pilots Association Limited that due to the tropical cyclone, the pilotage services would be suspended from 9.30pm today (August 18). Shipowners, agents, masters and other port users are advised to pay attention.