Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     "The Social Welfare Department announces that due to the inclement weather and possible damages of traffic and road facilities, members of the public are advised not to take their children or family members to the child care centres, centres providing after school care programmes, elderly services centres and day rehabilitation units, including sheltered workshops and integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres today (September 17). Members of the public who have a genuine need to receive the services mentioned are advised to contact the service units concerned and confirm their operation conditions in advance."

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 17) that due to damages brought about by Tropical Cyclone Mangkhut, the following venues/facilities have been temporarily closed for clearance and urgent repair works until further notice.
 
     Hong Kong Island
     1. Eastern District:
         – Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground
 
     2. Southern District:
         – Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre
         – St. Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre
 
     Kowloon
     1. Wong Tai Sin District:
         – Nan Lian Garden
 
     New Territories
     1. Sai Kung District:
         – Hong Kong Velodrome (arena)
         – Chong Hing Water Sports Centre
         – The Jockey Club Wong Shek Water Sports Centre
 
     2. Tai Po District:
         – Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre

     A Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman announced today (September 17) that the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence (MCD) is now closed for repair work as its tensile structure was seriously damaged due to Tropical Cyclone Mangkhut.
 
     As the MCD has already planned for closure in early next year for facility improvement and revamping of its permanent exhibition, the renovation and necessary repair works will be planned and implemented on a holistic basis.  It is anticipated that the MCD will be closed for a relatively long period of time until further notice.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 17) that Fung Kam Street Sports Centre in Yuen Long District, which has been used as a temporary shelter operated by Yuen Long District Office of the Home Affairs Department, is now temporarily closed until further notice.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (September 17) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for staff in times of typhoons and rainstorms, including resumption of work after a typhoon warning is cancelled. This will help maintain good labour-management relations and ensure the safety of employees and the smooth operation of organisations.
 
     "For staff who have practical difficulties in resuming work promptly upon cancellation of a typhoon or rainstorm warning, employers should give due consideration to the circumstances of individual employees and handle each case flexibly, " an LD spokesman said.
 
     "As typhoons and rainstorms are natural occurrences that cannot be avoided, employers should not deduct wages or allowances of employees who are absent from or late for work because of inclement weather. Neither should employers dismiss an employee summarily based on these grounds," he said.
 
     The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance.
 
     Employers should not deduct annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days employees are entitled to under the Employment Ordinance to compensate for the loss of working hours resulting from employees' failure to report for duty upon the issue of Typhoon Signal No. 8 or the announcement of a Black Rainstorm Warning. An employer who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the relevant provisions under the Employment Ordinance is liable to prosecution.
 
     Employers should also note that they have an obligation to maintain a safe workplace for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.
 
     Under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for death or injury incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is in force.
 
     To provide practical guidelines and samples of work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees, the LD has issued the booklet "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms". The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).