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:

     As the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 has been cancelled, the Judiciary has announced that all hearings of the courts/tribunals will be resumed/held as scheduled tomorrow (August 1). 

     Those who were due to attend court hearings today (July 31) but were affected by the issuing of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8, including the jurors, should do so at 9.30am tomorrow .

     Court/tribunal registries and offices will also open as usual tomorrow.

     The No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal issued at 1.40pm today (July 31) by the Hong Kong Observatory remains in force.
 
     The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 25 temporary shelters in various districts and 205 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
 
     As at 8pm, the 1823 Government Call Centre has received 10 reports of fallen trees. The Drainage Services Department has received one confirmed flooding case. The Civil Engineering and Development Department has received one report of landslide.
 
     According to the Hospital Authority, as at 8pm, a total of 16 people, including six men and 10 women, have sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.
 
     Tram, Peak Tram and ferry services were suspended. On air traffic, the Airport Authority Hong Kong reported that a total of 562 flights have been delayed and 25 flights have been cancelled today.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) of the Security Bureau at around 5pm today (July 31) to understand the measures and works undertaken by various departments in response to Tropical Cyclone Wipha.
 
     Mr Cheung directed all officers on duty to remain vigilant in discharging their duties and closely monitor the city's situation. They should take all possible and immediate actions to handle emergencies, so as to protect the lives and property of Hong Kong people.
 
     He also expressed his appreciation to civil servant colleagues and staff members in other organisations for their dedication and hard work during inclement weather to ensure that Hong Kong continues to be safe and orderly.
 
     The EMSC will be activated when no. 8 gale or storm signal is hoisted to co-ordinate the resources and emergency response operations across various departments.

  

     A man who went missing in Mong Kok has been located.

     Chan Che-hung, aged 62, went missing after he left an elderly home on Prince Edward Road West on July 29 night. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located on Boundary Street in Kowloon City this morning (July 31). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
     
 

     The Hong Kong Observatory issued No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal at 1.40pm today (July 31).
 
     The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 23 temporary shelters in various districts and 150 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
 
     As at 5pm, the 1823 Government Call Centre has received five reports of fallen trees. No reports of landslide and flooding have been received so far.
 
     According to the Hospital Authority, as at 5pm, a total of nine people, including four men and five women, have sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.
 
     Tram and Peak Tram services were suspended. On air traffic, the Airport Authority Hong Kong reported that a total of 397 flights have been delayed and 22 flights have been cancelled today.