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 (January 5) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     The Marine Department today (January 5) reminded masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in Hong Kong waters to proceed at a safe speed and exercise extreme caution because restricted visibility of less than 2 nautical miles has been reported.

     Appropriate sound signals shall be made when underway or at anchor. All vessels must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea.

     Also, when radar is used without the benefit of adequate plotting facilities, the information obtained from the equipment is rather limited and should be construed accordingly.

     Visibility reports are broadcast by the Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) on VHF channels 02, 12, 14, 63 and 67.

     In the event of an accident, a report shall be made immediately to the VTC at Tel: 2233 7801.

     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 (January 5), 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 are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Wong Tai Sin last night (January 4) in which a 32-year-old woman died.

     At about 8pm, a light goods vehicle (LGV) driven by a 28-year-old man was travelling along Lung Cheung Road towards Wong Tai Sin. When approaching Hammer Hill Road, it reportedly crashed into a kerb and an electric meter box.

     The 32-year-old female passenger was thrown out of the LGV. Sustaining multiple injuries, she was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 8.31pm.

     The driver sustained no injury and was arrested for dangerous driving causing death. He is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 2305 7500 or 2305 7570.  

     Police today (January 4) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Chow Yue-wen, aged 78, went missing after he was last seen at MTR Kwun Tong Station yesterday (January 3) night. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a grey jacket, beige trousers, black shoes, carrying a black rucksack and a red recycle bag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.