A partial lunar eclipse will occur in Hong Kong in the small hours of July 17 (Wednesday). As the elevation of the moon will be rather low during the eclipse, the event will be best observed at places with an unobstructed view to the southwest if weather permits.
 
     The eclipse will begin at 2.42am with the maximum eclipse occurring at 5.31am. This partial lunar eclipse has an umbral magnitude of 0.66, meaning that 66 per cent of the moon’s diameter will enter into the umbra (total shadow) of the Earth at the time of the maximum eclipse. Details of the partial lunar eclipse are set out in the following table:
 

 
     Members of the public can watch the whole event via a webcast to be jointly provided by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre, the Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Solar Tower‧Camp on the following webpage: www.hko.gov.hk/gts/event/webcast-20190717.htm.
 
     For the latest weather conditions and the astronomical observation conditions on July 17, please refer to the 9-day weather forecast issued by the Hong Kong Observatory (www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/currwx/fnd.htm) and the Weather Information for Astronomical Observation webpage (www.hko.gov.hk/gts/astronomy/astro_portal.html).
 
     The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will occur on January 11, 2020. It will be a penumbral lunar eclipse.

     Two Vietnamese illegal workers were jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (June 26).

    During operation "Twilight" on June 24, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a restaurant in Tuen Mun. A male Vietnamese illegal worker and a female Vietnamese illegal worker, aged 34 and 43 respectively, were arrested. When intercepted they were working as dish washing workers. An employer suspected of employing the illegal workers was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

     The two illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.

     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.

     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase, and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.

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 Golden Beach, Cafeteria New Beach and Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (June 27). The lifesaving services at these beaches were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.

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 announced today (June 27) that the red flags at Pui O Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District have been lowered and these beaches have been reopened.

     These beaches were temporarily closed earlier on after sightings of dead fish from unidentified sources. 
 

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 27) published the 2017 Air Pollutant Emission Inventory for Hong Kong.

     Every year, the EPD compiles an annual local emission inventory for six key air pollutants, namely sulphur dioxide (SO2); nitrogen oxides (NOx); respirable suspended particulates (RSP or PM10); fine suspended particulates (FSP or PM2.5); volatile organic compounds (VOC) and carbon monoxide (CO), and analyses the data according to the emission sources including power plants, vessels, motor vehicles, aviation and other combustion sources.

     Hong Kong's total emissions in 2017 were 16 160 tonnes of SO2, 84 960 tonnes of NOx, 4 020 tonnes of RSP, 3 120 tonnes of FSP, 25 520 tonnes of VOC and 57 110 tonnes of CO. Due to the ongoing control measures for power plants, vessels and motor vehicles, the emissions of SO2, NOx, RSP and FSP in 2017 were reduced by 7 to 9 per cent compared to the 2016 levels, and have been reduced by 34 to 80 per cent since 2001.

     Details of the 2017 Air Pollutant Emission Inventory and the 2017 Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Report can be found at www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/data/emission_inve.html.