Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     A public procession is underway in Tai Kok Tsui. With reference to the agreement between the Police and organiser, the participants should proceed from Anchor Street through Hoi Wang Road towards Hoi Ting Road.   

     Police are aware that a large number of participants have deviated from the approved route and proceeded to Nathan Road towards Tsim Sha Tsui, affecting the traffic in the area.

     Police appeal to members of the public not to deviate from the approved route. The participants concerned are participating in an unauthorised assembly, an illegal act. Since the traffic is seriously affected, members of the public traveling to Mongkok and Tsim Sha Tsui and shop owners in the areas should pay attention to the latest situation.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, will depart for Tokyo, Japan, tomorrow morning (August 4) to meet with Japanese senior government officials and trade representatives to exchange views on the latest developments of elderly care and gerontechnology.
 
     Dr Law will meet with the State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Mr Yoshinori Oguchi, and representative of the Cabinet Office to exchange views on matters of mutual interest. He will also call on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Kong Xuanyou.
 
     While in Tokyo, he will visit public and private organisations providing elderly-friendly services as well as elderly care and community facilities. He will also attend expert panel discussion sessions with the elderly care food sector and service providers of technology products to get an update on their application of technology in elderly and rehabilitation care.
 
     Representatives of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the Hong Kong Jockey Club will join parts of the trip.
 
     Dr Law will arrive in Hong Kong on August 7. In his absence, the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, will be the Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following announcement today (August 3):

     Four patients (aged 45 to 64) in a male ward for severe intellectual disability had presented with respiratory symptoms since July 30. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive to Enterovirus/Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

    The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 3) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District as Grade 3, which means the water quality has improved and the beach is suitable for swimming. The red flag has been lowered.

     The red flag was hoisted on the beach earlier on due to the water quality being classified as Grade 4 and unsuitable for swimming.

     The Government today (August 3) dismissed rumours on the Internet concerning the implementation of curfew in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government said the rumours are totally unfounded.