Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

     To prevent heat stroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

     If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

     Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

     If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

     The Hong Kong Student Aid Society Limited has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (June 22), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said. 

     For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678. Information on flag days is available at the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew) and the GovHK portal (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing contact information of the flag-selling organisations and information on the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_recentlyap). For enquiries about the detailed flag-selling arrangements, please contact the individual flag-selling organisations.

     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities covered by the Public Subscription Permit issued by the SWD have also been uploaded to the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/fundraising).

     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.

     Police condemn protestors for blocking Harcourt Road, Arsenal Street and Gloucester Road started at about 10.50am yesterday (June 21) and further besieged the Police Headquarters (PHQ) in Wan Chai.

     The acts of the protestors seriously affected the work of Police, including the provision of emergency services to the public. The Report Room service in Wan Chai Police Station has been suspended since around 1.40pm yesterday. 60 calls of 999 hotline in Wan Chai Division could not be immediately handled. Extra resources were deployed to follow up. As staff members could not enter PHQ, the follow-up service of e-Report Centre has been suspended from 11pm yesterday.

     Nine female and four male staff members were sent to hospital for treatment with considerable delay during the blockade in the vicinity of PHQ last night.

     While besieging PHQ, the protestors used mills barriers and sundries to block the entrance and exit gates, threw eggs at PHQ, drew graffiti on the outer walls, and covered the closed-circuit television on the outer wall of PHQ with adhesive tapes. They also splashed oil onto Police officer and targeted laser beam at Police officers’ eyes.

     Police have shown the greatest tolerance to the protestors who assembled outside PHQ, but their means of expressing views have become illegal, irrational and unreasonable. Police will stringently follow up on these illegal activities.

     As the Police Headquarters (PHQ) is surrounded by protestors with roads obstructed in the vicinity, staff members are not able to enter PHQ, the follow-up service of e-Report Centre will be suspended from 11pm today (June 21) until further notice. For emergencies, please call 999.

     Since possible traffic disruption is expected on the Hong Kong Island, the Customs and Excise Department announces that the Customs Headquarters Building Open Day scheduled from 9am to 7.25pm tomorrow and the day after tomorrow (June 22 and 23) will be postponed. Ticket holders please keep their tickets and visit the department's website (www.customs.gov.hk) for the rescheduling arrangements.