The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     The Judiciary has announced that having regard to the situation in the vicinity of Jordan, subject to any directions of the presiding Judge or Judicial Officer, all hearings of the Lands Tribunal and Labour Tribunal originally scheduled today (November 18) and thereafter until further notice have been or will be adjourned to a date to be fixed. Relevant parties of the proceedings should keep in view of public announcements.
 
     The registries and offices of the two Tribunals have also been closed today until further notice.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) today (November 18) appeals to the public, to accord top priority to the well-being of patients, to work together to maintain normal public hospital services. Currently, there are traffic disruptions over the territory, blocking access to public hospitals. HA appeals to the public to avoid blocking access roads in the vicinity of hospitals to avoid affecting patient services.
 
     The HA spokesperson said, "patient conveyance, inter-hospital patient transfer and operation of individual hospitals have already been affected to a certain extent. The HA is also concerned about the possible impact to patient food, blood products and other supplies, and in particular urgent patient specimens due to the traffic disruptions."
 
     In response to social media posts initiating public assembly in HA workplaces, the spokesperson for HA appeals against holding these activities in public hospital access roads, within the hospitals and areas adjacent to hospitals including the HA Building which locates next to Kowloon Hospital and Hong Kong Eye Hospital, to ensure smooth hospital operations and a suitable environment for patient care.
 
     The HA has already reminded members of public and staff, in different platforms at various occasions, that public assemblies should not be held in public hospitals to avoid causing conflicts. Staff expressing views should be mindful of the perceptions of patients and their families, as well as relations with the patients. The HA also advised colleagues to avoid exposing themselves to undue risks of legal and professional responsibilities.
 
     The HA trusts that staff will continue to uphold their professionalism and mutual respect to provide an equitable service regardless of the patients' identity and background. This is a universal value to be supported and safeguarded by the community at large.

     The Registration and Electoral Office today (November 18) made the following statement to clarify online rumours about the design of ballot papers:

     November 24 (Sunday) is the polling day of the District Council Ordinary Election. For every ballot paper issued on the polling day, there is an angled cut at the upper left corner on its front. This is to facilitate electors with visual impairments to insert their ballot papers into braille ballot paper templates correctly so that they can mark the ballot papers by themselves. The angled cut is not formed by polling staff deliberately to spoil the ballot paper, as online rumours have falsely claimed.

      

     At around 8am today (November 18), a large group of masked rioters who have been holed up in Hong Kong Polytechnic University suddenly charged at Police cordons, many holding petrol bombs. After repeated warnings were ignored, Police officers deployed the minimum necessary force to disperse the rioters, including the use of tear gas. The rioters are hereby warned to stop their unlawful acts. 
 
     To ensure public safety, Police appeal to everyone inside the Polytechnic University to drop their weapons and dangerous items, remove their gas masks and leave via the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge in an orderly manner. They should follow Police instructions and must not charge at Police cordons.
 

     Following is the opening remarks by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board and Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2019 today (November 18):

Distinguished guests, friends from the maritime community, ladies and gentlemen,
     
     Good morning. First of all, let me extend my warmest welcome to you all for joining the Hong Kong Maritime Week 2019. I am delighted to see so many friends, old and new, from home and afar. 

     The Hong Kong Maritime Week 2019 could not have happened without your unfailing support. Amid the social unrest, your presence speaks for itself and means a lot to us and to Hong Kong.

     2019 marks the fourth year of the Hong Kong Maritime Week, which has grown into a signature event for Hong Kong. Keeping up the momentum and aspiration, we bring together the global maritime community to Hong Kong where minds meet and transcend borders. After all, Hong Kong is a truly international maritime centre.

     This year, over 40 events are staged by local and overseas partners. They range from international conferences, forums, to light-hearted activities such as visits, exhibitions and family fun days. 

     Let me highlight some key events that bear special significance. We are delighted that the International Chamber of Shipping has established its first Asian office in Hong Kong. Its launching ceremony will be held this Thursday. The Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference, our anchoring event which requires little introduction, will be held tomorrow. Apart from popular programmes and seminars organised by Lloyd's List and Mare Forum, there are several new events too. These include the Captain's Table to be held tomorrow, which is a global start-up competition organised for the first time in Hong Kong by the Young Shipping Professional Network, and certainly last but not least the Capital Link Hong Kong Forum to be held next door right after this opening ceremony.

     "Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much." Helen Keller's statement about a century ago speaks equally well today. With a sluggish economic outlook and social unrest across the globe, strong headwinds are coming our way for the entire maritime community. It is all the more important that we band together to weather the storm. With the invaluable inputs and contributions of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board and trade members, the Government is taking proactive measures to further the maritime industry. These include introducing tax concession for ship leasing businesses, facilitating measures to attract overseas maritime principals to Hong Kong, funding injection for maritime manpower development and service expansion of the Hong Kong Shipping Register. We are determined and committed to supporting each and every member of our maritime community, local and global.

     Our voyage will not stop just because the sea is rough. Instead, we build a greener and better ship to rise above the storm. On behalf of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for your unswerving support. I wish you all an enjoyable and rewarding sharing and exchange during the Hong Kong Maritime Week 2019. Thank you.