The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (December 1) that due to special circumstances which may possibly happen nearby, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art will be closed at 6pm to ensure the safety of venue users and staff members. The department will closely monitor the situation and announce venue arrangements in a timely manner.

     Subject to the situation, more cultural and leisure facilities in the same district and any other districts which may be affected will also be closed early and at short notice to ensure the safety of venue users. Members of the public who plan to go to those venues are advised to contact the venues concerned or 1823 in advance.

     The Human Resources Planning Commission launched a new one-stop online manpower information portal (www.talent.gov.hk) today (December 1). The portal consolidates human resources information and data from different sources with a view to providing more comprehensive information to the local labour force, the younger generation in particular, to assist people to make informed choices in respect of career, training and development pathways.
 
     The Commission, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, was established in April 2018 to advise the Government on the formulation of comprehensive human resources strategies for Hong Kong to further develop the city into a high value-added and diversified economy. Through consolidating resources and efforts of the Government and various sectors, the Commission helps to examine, review and co-ordinate policies and measures on human resources in a holistic manner.
 
     Mr Cheung said, "Information on human resources is available from various sources but scattered. The Commission therefore decided to co-ordinate a one-stop manpower information portal to provide the local labour force with more convenient access to relevant information so as to facilitate their planning for career development with regard to the prevalent trends of technological advancement and the transformation of industries. Such information is also useful to young people and secondary school students in their life planning, allowing them to harness opportunities for upward mobility and tackle future challenges."
 
     The newly launched manpower information portal comprises the following elements:
 
(i) An integrated occupation database covering more than 300 occupations, including information on key tasks of the occupations, skill requirements and entry requirements;

(ii) A database on local courses listed in the Qualifications Register and large-scale open online courses listed in a major overseas education platform;

(iii) Consolidated listings of government job vacancies and tens of thousands of vacancies from several key local private job boards;

(iv) A monthly online magazine named "Explorer", which introduces trending topics concerning careers and workplaces; and

(v) Career quizzes for users to explore suitable occupations.

     The portal will be updated regularly to ensure the information remains relevant and can reflect the latest market trends.

     The development of the portal is a new initiative announced in the 2019 Policy Address. The Commission will keep monitoring usage of the portal and enhance its design and content as appropriate.

     Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 4 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $2.7 million at Hong Kong International Airport on November 28.

     Customs officers first inspected an air express parcel arriving in Hong Kong from France on that day and found about 1kg of suspected ketamine concealed inside two packets of dog food. Then they found about 3kg of suspected ketamine concealed inside nine boxes of chocolates in an air mail parcel from Germany.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested two men, aged 58 and 20, suspected to be in connection with the cases in Tai Wai and Sai Ying Pun on November 29 and yesterday (November 30) respectively.

     The arrested men have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts and Eastern Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 2) respectively.

     Including the two abovementioned cases, Hong Kong Customs had effected four drug trafficking cases from Europe to Hong Kong via parcel or cargo over the past week. A total of 29kg of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $19 million were seized. Five persons were arrested.

     Customs will maintain close contact with Hong Kong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcel and express courier channels.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     The Government launched a public consultation today (December 1) on the proposed adoption of up-to-date safety standards promulgated by the relevant standards institutions for toys and some children's products listed in Schedule 2 (Schedule 2 products) under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Cap 424).

     The Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance stipulates that a person must not manufacture, import or supply a toy or Schedule 2 product unless it complies with all the applicable requirements contained in any one of the safety standards specified in Schedules 1 and 2 respectively to the Ordinance. The standards specified are international standards or standards adopted by major economies. The Government keeps in view updates to the standards so as to apply up-to-date and operative versions to products supplied in Hong Kong.  

     As the safety standards specified for toys and for eight classes of  Schedule 2 products, namely (i) "babies' dummies", (ii) "baby walking frames", (iii) "child safety barriers for domestic use", (iv) "children's cots for domestic use", (v) "children's high chairs and multi-purpose high chairs for domestic use", (vi) "children's paints", (vii) "playpens for domestic use" and (viii) "wheeled child conveyances", have been updated, the Government proposes to adopt the up-to-date versions of those safety standards. Details of the proposal are set out in a consultation note available on the website of the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at www.cedb.gov.hk/citb.

     Members of the public are welcome to send their views on the proposal in writing to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, or by email to tcpso_standards_updates@cedb.gov.hk, on or before December 31, 2019.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (December 1).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.