A Correctional Services officer stopped a male person in custody from committing self-harm at Stanley Prison today (November 11).

     At 3.56am today, the 62-year-old person in custody was found cutting his wrist using a ball pen inside a cell. The officer immediately stopped the act and called for a reinforcement. The person in custody was found conscious. After receiving an examination and treatment in the institution hospital, he was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. A clinical psychologist of the department will follow up on the case.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in its custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, the improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first aid services."

     The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in October 2011.

     The opening hours of the URBTIX outlet at Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan, will be revised to 10am to 6pm daily from November 18 (Monday) onwards, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 11). If there is an URBTIX performance at the venue in the evening, the outlet will remain open until 30 minutes after the performance starts.

     For details of the locations and opening hours of other URBTIX outlets, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ticket/counter.html. Tickets can also be purchased via the website (www.urbtix.hk) and the mobile ticketing app "My URBTIX" (Android and iPhone versions) throughout the day, and through the credit card telephone booking hotline 2111 5999 from 10am to 8pm daily.

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (November 11) that public transport services have been seriously affected due to various incidents over the territory. The TD appeals members of the public to pay attention to latest traffic announcements.

     A number of stations and routes of the MTR network are affected to varying degrees, causing delay in the overall service. Services of the following routes have been suspended temporarily:

* East Rail Line from Lok Ma Chau/Lo Wu to University Station; and
* Tseung Kwan O Line from Po Lam/ LOHAS Park to Yau Tong Station

     MTR has been providing free shuttle bus services for the above routes with temporary service suspension. In addition, affected stations, including Tung Chung, Kwai Hing, Kwai Fong, Lam Tin, Whampoa, Sai Wan Ho, Sha Tin and Heng On, have been closed.

     Regarding road traffic, due to road blockages in many districts, traffic has been seriously affected. In particular, the Kowloon exit of the Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnel is seriously paralysed with road blockage on Chatham Road and the roads in the vicinity. Traffic is also congested in San Wan Road in Sheung Shui, Fanling Highway Tai Po bound near MTR Fanling station, Nathan Road North bound near Dundas Street and Shau Kei Wan Road near Tai On Street and the situation may last for some time.

     As at 11.30am, over 70 sets of damaged traffic lights have yet to resume operation in various districts. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to be patient and pay attention to road safety when passing through the affected junctions. 

     The TD urges commuters using public transport services to allow more travelling time. Traffic conditions and railway services may change within a short period of time. Members of the public are advised to continue to stay tuned to the latest traffic news. Details are available at TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/tc/home/index.html) or mobile application "HKeMobility".

     The Home Affairs Department announced today (November 11) that, due to suspension of services at the original office of the Returning Officer for three Existing Villages (including Hoi Pong Street, Nam A and Tai Long) and two Indigenous Villages (including Kau Sai San Tsuen and Uk Cheung) of the Rural By-election on December 8, 2019, the address of the office of the relevant Returning Officer to receive nomination forms has been changed to 2/F, Sai Kung Government Offices Building, 34 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung, New Territories. Nominees of the Rural Areas concerned who want to submit their nomination forms must personally hand in the completed nomination forms to the relevant Returning Officer at the aforesaid address today.

     The nomination period for the Rural By-Election runs from October 29 to 5pm today.

     For enquiries, please call 2152 1521.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     In response to a social media post initiating public assembly in individual hospital and organising activities to distribute and wear black masks, the spokesperson for Hospital Authority (HA) today (November 11) appeals against holding these activities in public hospital access roads and within the hospitals to ensure smooth hospital operations and a suitable environment for patient care.
 
     The HA has already reminded members of the public and staff, in different platforms at various occasions, that public assemblies should not be held in public hospitals. Staff expressing views should be mindful of the perceptions of patients and their families, as well as relations with the patients. The HA trusts that staff will continue to uphold their professionalism and mutual respect to provide an equitable service regardless of the patients' identities and backgrounds. This is a universal value to be supported and safeguarded by the community at large.
  
     "Public hospitals are always crowded with people, and in particular, fragile elderly and mobility-impaired patients. Public assemblies are not suitable in public hospitals as they will affect patient transfers and safety, order and operations in hospitals to a certain extent," the HA spokesperson said.
 
     The HA hopes that all would accord top priority to the well-being of patients, safeguarding a tranquil environment in public hospitals so as to enable healthcare staff to focus on patient care duties. The HA believes that public hospitals have the duty to provide a safe, stable and quiet environment to patients. The HA appeals to the support of different stakeholders in the community and the professions to ensure trusted and good carer-patient relations.