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 (May 3) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Turtle Cove Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Upper Cheung Sha Beach and Tong Fuk Beach in Islands District; and Hap Mun Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (May 3) invited tenders for the contract for the establishment of an Agricultural Park in Kwu Tung South (Phase 1) (Contract No. ND/2018/02).
      
     The works are scheduled to commence in September 2019 and will take about 24 months to complete. The works mainly comprise:
 
* formation works for about 7.5 hectares of land;
* related infrastructures including drainage, sewerage, irrigation, water supply, utilities and street lighting;
* associated park facilities including basic lodging and storage units; and
* construction of about 900 metres long access road and footpaths (including a culvert bridge about 5m wide, and two vehicular bridges with associated footpaths of about 20m and 40m long respectively) connecting the existing Tsiu Keng Road.
 
     The CEDD has appointed Jacobs China Limited as the consultant to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and further particulars from the company at 6/F, 633 King's Road, North Point.
      
     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. The closing time for the tender is noon on June 28, 2019. 
      
     Details of the tender notice are available at the CEDD's website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender/contract/tender/index.html). For enquiries, please call Jacobs China Limited at 2880 9788 during office hours.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     Hongkong Post today (May 3) announced the postal service arrangements for the day following the Buddha's birthday (May 13). No mail delivery and no mail collection will be provided. All post offices will be closed except for the General Post Office and the Airport Post Office. The business hours of the two offices will be from noon to 5pm and 8am to 5pm respectively. General postal services will be provided. Details of services available will be advertised at the respective post offices.
                    
     For more information, customers may visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk or call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.   

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 2) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection.

     The case involves a 5-year-old girl with underlying illness, who has presented with fever and oxygen desaturation since April 26. She was admitted to the Caritas Medical Centre's Paediatric Special Care Unit for treatment today.

     Her sputum sample tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia. She is now in a critical condition.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had received seasonal influenza vaccination for the current season and had no travel history during the incubation period.

     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     "Although the winter influenza season has ended, members of the public aged 6 months or above (except those with known contraindications) who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Meanwhile, the public should continue to adopt strict personal, hand and environmental hygiene practices against respiratory illnesses and other infectious diseases," the spokesman added.

     The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express for more information.