Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

     To prevent heat stroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

     If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

     Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

     If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

     A property owner was convicted and fined $130,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on June 11 for persistently failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123) (BO).
 
     The order involved a rooftop structure of about 45 square metres in size on a domestic building at Braemar Hill Road, Hong Kong. As the structure was erected without prior approval from the Buildings Department (BD), contravening the BO, a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.
 
     Failing to comply with the order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD in 2007 and 2013, and was fined $5,000 and $40,000 respectively upon conviction at Eastern Magistrates' Courts. However, the owner persisted in not complying with the order and the BD instigated prosecution against the owner for the third time. The owner was convicted again and heavily fined $130,000 this month.
 
     "Unauthorised building works may adversely affect the structural and fire safety of a building, leading to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without further delay. The BD will continue taking enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders (including instigation of prosecution) so as to achieve a deterrent effect," a spokesman for the BD said today (June 23).
 
     Pursuant to section 40(1BA) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order served on him or her under section 24(1) of the BO commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence has continued.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 23) said that 13 general out-patient clinics (see table below) will provide services during the Tuen Ng Festival this Thursday (June 25). Members of the public are reminded to make advance bookings through the telephone system as usual for an appointment.
 
     The spokesperson remarked that the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments in public hospitals will also operate as usual during the holiday to serve patients with urgent medical needs. As the Emergency Response Level in public hospitals has been activated in response to the latest situation of COVID-19, infection control measures have been enhanced with universal masking for all persons entering public hospitals and clinics. Non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultations at general out-patient clinics, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals.
 
     The latest A&E waiting time information is available on the HA website and in the "HA Touch" mobile app. To help find the appropriate family medicine doctor and related clinic service of their choice, members of the public are welcome to browse the Primary Care Directory of the Food and Health Bureau at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk.

Public holidays general out-patient clinic service
 

 
Consultation hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

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

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (June 23) announced that tenants (including licencees) who live in its public rental units and pay normal rent or reduced rent under the Rent Assistance Scheme (RAS) will not be required to pay rent for the month of July 2020. The measure is not applicable to tenants who are required to pay additional rent.
 
    The Financial Secretary introduced a series of counter-cyclical measures in the 2020-21 Budget announced on February 26, 2020, which included, among other things, paying one month's rent for lower income tenants living in the public rental units of the HA. The Legislative Council passed the Appropriation Bill 2020 on May 14. About 760 000 HA tenants will benefit from the measure.
 
     "The Government will pay the rent for July 2020 for HA tenants and licencees paying normal rent or reduced rent under the RAS. The HA will notify all tenants and licencees of the arrangement," a spokesman for the HA said.

    In addition, in view of the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, if tenants face short-term financial difficulties with rent in arrears, they could submit applications to the HA for withholding the issuance of a Notice-to-Quit. If the applications are approved, the HA will temporarily withhold the issuance of the Notice to the concerned tenants from May to October 2020.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) commenced a pilot survey today (June 23) until August 4 to test the questionnaire design and operational arrangements for the 2021 Population Census to be conducted in mid-2021.
 
     A spokesman for the C&SD said, "The population census is a large-scale and important statistical exercise. The pilot survey aims to test various aspects of the operation in advance so that any necessary enhancements can be introduced in good time before the census operation in 2021."
 
     To fit in with the modern lifestyle of Hong Kong people, the pilot survey adopts a multi-modal data collection approach. Households of the selected quarters may provide the requested information by completing an online questionnaire (www.census2021.gov.hk) or calling the Census Service Centre hotline at 182021 for a telephone interview. Alternatively, households who have received a paper questionnaire may return the completed questionnaire by post.
 
     In light of the evolving situation of COVID-19, the spokesman appealed to households to participate in the pilot survey by means of online questionnaires, telephone interviews or paper questionnaires in order to reduce face-to-face contact. The spokesman added, "Completing the online questionnaire is convenient and secure. It enables households to submit the requested information anytime and anywhere through the dedicated and secured website using their computers or mobile devices."
 
     The pilot survey covers some 40 000 quarters in four selected District Council districts, namely Wan Chai, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing and Sha Tin. All households and people staying in the selected quarters will be enumerated. About nine-tenths of the sampled quarters are subject to simple enumeration to provide basic demographic information through a "Short Form" questionnaire, while the remaining one-tenth are invited to complete a "Long Form" questionnaire about detailed socio-economic characteristics. Letters informing households in these sampled quarters are being sent out starting today.
 
     From July 18 to August 4, census officers of the C&SD will visit households who have not completed the survey to collect the requested information by mobile tablets. Each census officer will carry a staff identity card and a certificate issued by the C&SD for conducting the survey. Households are reminded to check carefully the identity of census officers before allowing them to enter their premises for interview. In case of doubt, households may call the Census Service Centre hotline at 182021.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that information collected in the pilot survey regarding individuals and households will be kept in strict confidence and will not be released to any unauthorised parties, including government departments. All questionnaires will be destroyed within 12 months after the survey has been completed.
 
     It is an established practice for Hong Kong to conduct a population census every 10 years. The next population census will be conducted in 2021. The aim is to obtain up-to-date benchmark information on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the Hong Kong population and its geographical distribution. Such information is vital to the Government for planning and policy formulation, and to the private sector and academia for business and research purposes.
 
     For more details about the Pilot Survey for the 2021 Population Census, please visit www.census2021.gov.hk.