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     At around 6pm today (August 10), some protestors set barricades on Tai Po Road (Shatin Section) and the roundabout on Che Kung Miu Road, blocking roads, and seriously affecting the traffic in the area. 
      
     Police warn protestors to stop blocking the roads and other illegal acts immediately. Police appeal to members of the public to avoid travelling to the area and stay tuned to the latest traffic arrangement.
 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 10) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

 
     Separately, the CHP reported that the suspected MERS case pending results yesterday (August 9), upon preliminary testing, tested negative for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS-CoV," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "As the Hajj pilgrimage will begin soon, pilgrims visiting Mecca in Saudi Arabia should be vigilant against MERS. Those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease and immunodeficiency, are more likely to develop severe infections if they are exposed to MERS-CoV. Pilgrims should hence consult healthcare providers before travel to review the risk and assess whether a pilgrimage is advisable. Pilgrims visiting Mecca may refer to the DH's advice. If pilgrims feel unwell during the two weeks after returning to Hong Kong, they should wear a surgical mask and seek medical attention immediately and inform a doctor of their recent travel history," the spokesman added.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (August 10) that in light of possible mass gathering activities in various districts, Oi! will be closed tomorrow (August 11). Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool, Cheung Sha Wan Sports Centre, Pei Ho Street Sports Centre, Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum and Un Chau Street Public Library in Sham Shui Po District, as well as the swimming pool, tennis courts and bowling greens of Victoria Park, the soccer pitches and tennis courts of Quarry Bay Park, Causeway Bay Sports Ground, Java Road Sports Centre, Quarry Bay Sports Centre, the Hong Kong Central Library, Electric Road Public Library, North Point Public Library, Quarry Bay Public Library and the Hong Kong Film Archive on Hong Kong Island will be closed at 1pm. Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre will also be closed at 2pm. Subject to the situation in the vicinity, more cultural and leisure facilities in the same district may 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 in the districts are advised to contact the venues concerned in advance.

     Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) is busy promoting the Hong Kong film industry at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2019 (the Festival).
      
     Proving popular at the event is the award-winning Hong Kong film "Still Human", which is featured in the Visions of Asia section of the Festival. Actress Crisel Consunji joined the media session at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila today (August 10) to share her filmmaking experiences. The Director-General of HKETO Jakarta, Mr Law Kin-wai, also spoke at the event on the efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) in promoting the local film industry.
      
     To promote Hong Kong's film industry and celebrate the achievements of "Still Human", HKETO Jakarta hosted a reception yesterday evening (August 9) prior to the film screening. Speaking at the reception, Mr Law said that the HKSARG has been a staunch supporter of the local film industry, injecting $1 billion into the Film Development Fund in May this year to help the Hong Kong film industry continue to thrive. "Still Human", for instance, was a winning project under the First Feature Film Initiative funded by the Film Development Fund. "The film is a showcase of the rich cultural and talent exchanges between Hong Kong and the Philippines", Mr Law added.
      
     The Festival, which is being held from August 2 to 13 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, aims to encourage the creation of new cinematic works and cultivate a new breed of filmmakers.

     In response to media enquiries on the phone call between the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam and the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Mr Dominic Raab yesterday (August 9), the Chief Executive's Office said the following:

     At the request of the British Consulate-General Hong Kong, Mrs Lam spoke with the new Foreign Secretary of the UK, Mr Raab over the phone yesterday morning (Hong Kong time). During the 20-odd minutes of conversation, Mrs Lam stressed that since Hong Kong's return to the Motherland, "One Country, Two Systems" has been successfully implemented in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and that the rule of law has been the core value of the city.

     Mrs Lam introduced to Mr Raab the background and objectives of the legislative amendment exercise and emphasised that the legislative amendment exercise was put to a complete stop two months ago. She said that while the HKSAR Government respects the diverse views held by members of the public on various issues as well as the freedoms of speech and assembly, it will not let violence and illegal behaviours disrupt public order. She also mentioned to Mr Raab the work being done by the Independent Police Complaints Council in accordance with its statutory functions.

     Mrs Lam pointed out at the end that she and the relevant policy bureaux have been attaching great importance to collaboration between Hong Kong and the UK on areas including trade, economic affairs and culture in the past two years and expressed the hope that bilateral relations can be further strengthened.