The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) is taking part again in the Hong Kong Book Fair this year. Through game zones and demonstrations, members of the public can find out more about the rich e-resources of the HKPL. The Hong Kong Book Fair is being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from today (July 17) to July 23 (Tuesday).

     Visitors can try out augmented reality (AR) games at the HKPL's booth at stalls A12 and A14 in Hall 1C. Participants are able to step into a story world of their choice to complete a short task or take a video clip with book characters. Members of the public can learn more about e-books and e-databases of the HKPL. Readers can also try the HKPL's e-resources on-site and experience the convenient online library services.

     The HKPL continuously enhances its digital collection. Designed for children aged between 4 and 11, the Kids InfoBits educational database released this month covers various topics including arts, people, sports and science. Magazines, news, pictures and educational videos suitable for children are also available in the database while the reading function is useful for junior English learners. OverDrive eBooks launched in February this year offers about 5 000 English e-books including leisure reading materials, children and young adult collections, fiction and biographies for readers to explore in the worlds of literature, technology, commerce, economics, social science and more.

     The Chinese e-book collections HyRead and SUEP in the HKPL's digital collection are popular among readers. The leisure and popular reading materials offered are suitable for people of all ages.

     The HKPL provides over 310 000 e-books and 77 e-databases, 28 of which can be accessed via the Internet. Members of the public can log in to their library accounts to read online or download to computers and mobile devices for e-reading anywhere and anytime. Hong Kong residents who have never applied for library cards or HKPL e-accounts can visit the HKPL's website to apply for e-accounts and enjoy immediate access to the diversified e-resources.

     Please visit the HKPL's booth at the fair or visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/e-resources/index.html to know more about the e-resources.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs originally scheduled for tomorrow (July 18) at 10:45 am has been cancelled.
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

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

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that the lifesaving services at Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (July 17). The lifesaving services at the beach were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (July 17) met post-secondary students with disabilities participating in a government summer internship scheme to learn about their internship experience at a tea gathering at the Central Government Offices. He said that the scheme aims to strengthen the students' competitiveness before entering the workforce, and encouraged them to work hard to equip themselves to contribute to the community.
 
     Mr Law said, "The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) launched an internship scheme for students with disabilities in 2016 and about 250 students have taken part in this learning journey so far. I am pleased to note that some alumni of the scheme have been offered employment by private enterprises or government departments of their choice upon graduation. The scheme also enables civil service colleagues to appreciate the talents and potential of these students.
 
     "The prominent feature of this internship scheme is that appropriate training and briefings are provided for the interns to enhance their understanding of the operation and work of their respective departments. Also, each intern has a mentor. The mentor, who is an experienced colleague, assists students to adapt to the work environment and cope with work challenges."
 
     Miss Jennifer Shum, an alumna of the internship scheme in 2017 with visual disability, has become an Executive officer II, and she talked about her experience at the tea gathering.
 
     Miss Shum said that apart from gaining practical work experience, the internship had also allowed her to personally experience the well-established work procedures and harmonious working atmosphere of the Government. She decided to join the challenging Executive Officer grade upon graduation. She said that the CSB had provided her with the necessary facilitating measures in the written test, such as provision of examination papers printed in a larger font size, which had given her an opportunity to compete in the recruitment exercise with other candidates on an equal footing. She added that her current department had also taken the initiative to provide her with a larger computer monitor and documents printed in a larger font size, allowing her to unleash her potential in the job alongside her colleagues.

     Two of the interns, Miss Maggie Cheng and Miss Apple Fan, are providing administrative support at the Official Languages Division of the CSB and the Housing Department respectively. Miss Cheng expressed her appreciation for the placement, which has provided her with a valuable learning experience and made her understand that despite her disability, she could display her capability at work. She added that she would encourage her peers with disabilities to join the scheme. Miss Fan said that the internship experience ignited her interest in administrative work and she believed that the experience acquired from the internship would strengthen her competitiveness when applying for relevant government jobs.
 
     Another intern, Miss Priscilla Pang, has been tasked to assist in the work relating to barrier-free facilities and provide executive support to consultative committees in the Labour and Welfare Bureau. She thanked her supervisors for providing guidance and arranging assignments progressively according to her ability, which helped her better adapt.
 
     Applauding the interns' proactive working attitude, mentors took the view that persons with disabilities are equally competent to work in different positions. One of the mentors, Mr Kelvin Cheng, said he hoped that, apart from accomplishing the duties assigned, the interns would be able to discover their own talent, gain job satisfaction and build self-confidence through the internship.
 
     The CSB has doubled the number of internship places for students with disabilities from an average of 50 a year to 100 in 2018. This summer, more than 60 post-secondary students with disabilities were assigned to about 40 government bureaux and departments for an internship of about eight weeks to take up various duties including making preparations for setting up and updating databases and technical systems, editing departmental publications, event management, graphic design and production, developing teaching aids and providing support for enquiry counter services, so as to enable them to gain practical work experience.

    

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has recorded a gradual increase in pollution levels since this morning (July 17). According to the EPD's forecast, it is expected that the AQHI at some general and roadside air monitoring stations may reach the "Serious" level later today.

     Under the influence of the outer subsiding air of tropical cyclone Danas, the weather in Hong Kong today is hazy with sunny periods and light wind. Hong Kong is being affected by an air mass with higher background pollutant concentrations. Higher than normal levels of ozone and particulates have been recorded in the territory since noon. The sunshine enhances photochemical smog activity and the rapid formation of ozone and fine particulates in the Pearl River Delta region. The high level of ozone has promoted the formation of nitrogen dioxide, particularly in parts of the urban areas and at the roadside.

     According to the Hong Kong Observatory, a southwesterly airstream will bring a few showers and thunderstorms to the south China coast in the latter part of this week. It is expected that pollution levels will be improved by then.

     With a health risk category in the "Very High" range or above, children, the elderly and persons with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities to a minimum or avoid such activities. The general public is advised to reduce, or reduce to a minimum, outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce time staying outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. As health effects of air pollutants may vary for individuals, persons who are in doubt or are experiencing discomfort should seek advice from health-care professionals. The public may visit the Centre for Health Protection's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/3557.html) for more information on the health effects of air pollution and related health advice.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) urges all schools to visit the EDB's website for appropriate measures to safeguard students' health and take note of changes in the index. The relevant hyperlink is as follows:
www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/admin/about-activities/sch-activities-guidelines/index.html.

     When the AQHI is at the "Very High" level, employers of outdoor workers performing heavy manual work are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees, such as reducing outdoor physical exertion and the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. At the "Serious" level, employers of all outdoor workers are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees.

     Members of the public can check the current AQHI readings at the EPD's website (www.aqhi.gov.hk/en.html) or call the hotline at 2827 8541.