The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers. Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) announced that the opening of the poll for the District Council Ordinary Election this morning (November 24) was delayed for three minutes at the polling stations at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool (E0101) and Buddhist Lim Kim Tian Memorial Primary School (S1401), as longer time was used to complete specific procedures before the start of the poll. After taking into consideration relevant circumstances, the EAC has decided to extend the polling hour for the polling stations for three minutes to 10.33pm.

     According to section 5(g) of the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, the Commission may do such other incidental act or thing or exercise such powers as it considers necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions under this or any other Ordinance.
 
     "The polling hours for ordinary polling stations are from 7.30am to 10.30pm today, 15 hours in total. Long queues have been formed in some polling stations this morning, because electors cast their votes at approximately the same time. We appealed electros to wait patiently and orderly. Polling staff will serve electors as soon as possible," a spokesman for the EAC said.

     For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (November 24) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 23) that the import into and sale in Hong Kong of romaine lettuce produced in Salinas, California, the United States (US), has been suspended with immediate effect, as the product might have been contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. The CFS urged the trade to stop using and selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it. 

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice from the US Food and Drug Administration about the investigation of an outbreak of E. coli infections that was likely linked to the consumption of romaine lettuce produced in Salinas, California, which was suspected to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of romaine lettuce produced in the area concerned."

     The spokesman said that CFS preliminary investigations found that a supplier, Wing Kee Product Ltd, had sold a kind of prepackaged salad mix that contained the romaine lettuce concerned. The retailer concerned removed from shelves, stopped sale of the affected product and initiated a recall according to CFS' instructions. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the hotline at 2299 1133 during office hours.  

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: baby spring mix
Brand: organicgirl
Place of origin: Salinas, California, US
Net weight: 5 ounces /142 grams

     The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the abovementioned affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.  

     The spokesman said that the CFS would also enhance surveillance of romaine lettuce produced in the US at import and retail levels.

     People will contract E. coli causing gastro-intestinal disease through consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as hemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people. Moreover, due to poor personal hygiene, person-to-person transmission of this pathogen is possible through the oral-faecal route. E. coli cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking. 

     The CFS has informed the US authorities concerned of the import suspension and alerted the trade to the incident. The Centre will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is on-going. 

     In response to the violent incidents in the Polytechnic University (PolyU), a number of rioters remain on campus. Police have all along emphasized two fundamental principles: 'peaceful resolution' and 'flexibility'.
      
     Some of those remain on campus are underage. For those under 18 years old, Police reiterate today (November 23) that Police will arrange an appropriate adult to accompany them. All underage persons leaving the campus are required to have their personal particulars registered and to be photographed. They will not be arrested at scene but Police reserve every right to pursue or take any legal actions in the future.
      
     In the past few days, Police actively engaged with different sectors for dialogues and solutions, including Poly U staff, principals, social workers, lawyers, Legislative Councillors, religious leaders and clinical psychologists.
      
     Police reiterate that a peaceful resolution is always our aim to solve the ongoing conflicts. Police appeal to all staying in the campus to leave in a peaceful manner and pledge to bring offenders to justice in a fair manner.

     Taking into consideration transportation service disruptions, and to ensure the safety of patients and staff members, the Department of Health today (November 23) announced that its methadone clinics with evening services will be closed earlier at 9pm today.

     Please visit the following website for the information of methadone clinics: www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_mc.html.