The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled "Occupational Health in Catering Industry" on October 23 (Wednesday). The talk will introduce the occupational health hazards and their preventive measures for employees working in catering industry to enhance their awareness of occupational health. Demonstration and practice of workplace exercise are included.
 
     The talk will be given by the LD's occupational health nurse at 3.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
 
     The LD will hold another talk entitled "Occupational Health of Office Workers Series (I) Health Hints on the Use of Computer" on October 28 (Monday). The talk will briefly introduce the Occupational Safety and Health (Display Screen Equipment) Regulation, and elaborate on the occupational health hazards and preventive measures associated with prolonged use of computers, to enhance employees' occupational health awareness. Demonstrations and practice of workplace exercises will also be included.

     â€‹The talk will be given by the occupational hygienist and occupational health nurse at 6.30pm at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay.

     Both talks will be given in Cantonese. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. Interested participants can register online (www.oshsreg.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call 2852 4040.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (October 14) announced that the Green Welfare NGOs scheme is open for a new round of applications from today.

     The Government launched the Green Welfare NGOs scheme in 2021 to support welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct energy audits and energy-saving projects at their premises. Under the scheme, the EMSD provides one-stop services to welfare NGOs free of charge such as conducting baseline energy audits, replacing existing air conditioners with the more energy efficient variable-speed ones and replacing existing lighting with light-emitting diode (LED) lighting at their premises.

     The new round of applications will be carried out in two batches with opening and closing dates as follows:

     First batch: from October 14 to November 29, 2024; and
     Second batch: from November 30, 2024, to January 31, 2025.

     Interested welfare NGOs can obtain detailed information on the scheme from the website (www.energysaving.gov.hk/en/competitions/green_welfare_ngos.html). For enquiries, please contact the EMSD at 3528 6351 during office hours or by email (gwngo@emsd.gov.hk).

     â€‹The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), proudly hosted the "Hong Kong Meets America – Pop Art Exhibition" at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on October 11 to 13 (New Jersey time). This vibrant event successfully promoted cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the United States (US), drawing in art lovers and families alike.

     Curated by the beloved Hong Kong creative brand Chocolate Rain, the exhibition showcased a dazzling array of exhibits featuring iconic landmarks and culinary delights from both Hong Kong and New York. Visitors enjoyed giant inflatables of Hong Kong's signature pineapple bun with butter, egg tarts, fish balls, and milk tea, alongside whimsical 3D figurines of New York's Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and classic yellow cabs.

     At the opening ceremony on October 12, the Director of the HKETONY, Ms Maisie Ho, spoke about the exhibition's unique blend of tradition and contemporary aesthetics.

     "The exhibition's title, 'Hong Kong Meets America' truly reflects our mission to celebrate the colorful cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the US. The American Dream Mall has transformed to an immersive showcase of iconic landmarks and culinary delights from both sides," she said.

     Ms Ho also highlighted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's commitment to advancing the city's arts, cultural, and creative industries, with the aim of positioning Hong Kong as an East-meets-West hub for international cultural exchange.

     She also took the opportunity to invite audience to visit Hong Kong and experience its dynamic metropolitan charm, rich cultural heritage, and a full calendar of events year-round.

     "In the first eight months of this year alone, nearly 30 million visitors explored our dynamic city. The colorful exhibits you see here are just a glimpse of what awaits you in Hong Kong. We warmly invite you to experience its lively metropolitan charm, rich cultural heritage, and a calendar filled with exciting events throughout the year," she added.

     The exhibition not only featured stunning art installations but also offered a variety of engaging activities, including seven DIY workshops conducted by the founder of Chocolate Rain, Prudence Mak, and her team over the three days. Participants had the opportunity to unleash their creativity and take home complimentary Hong Kong Meets America-themed souvenirs.

                

     â€‹The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 14) that eight animals were found dead in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) yesterday (October 13), including one De Brazza’s Monkey, one Common Squirrel Monkey, three Cotton-top Tamarins and three White-faced Sakis. The LCSD had liaised with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Necropsy and laboratory tests have been arranged immediately to help find out their cause of death.

     While awaiting test results, the Mammals Section of the HKZBG will be closed from today for disinfection and cleaning works. We will also closely monitor the health conditions of other animals. During this period, other facilities of the HKZBG will remain open.

     â€‹The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a building in Ho Man Tin this morning (October 13), in which a male worker, while dismantling a bamboo scaffold at the external walls of the building, fell from height to the ground. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

     The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the dismantling, alteration and use of the bamboo scaffold at the external walls of the building. The contractors cannot resume the work until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

     The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

     To prevent workers from falling from height while dismantling bamboo scaffolds at external walls of buildings, the LD reminds employers to take suitable safety measures, including providing every worker engaged in the work with a suitable safety harness that is attached continuously to a suitable and secure anchor point, an independent lifeline or a fall arresting system, and ensuring the proper use of the safety equipment by the workers concerned throughout the work.

     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years on conviction on indictment; or $3 million and imprisonment for six months on summary conviction.

     In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.