The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is inviting applications from eligible persons or organisations for the IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (8th Round) and the Central Fund for Personal Computers (50th Round) from today (September 10) until October 10. 

     The IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment supports non-profit-making organisations providing services or schooling for people with visual impairment (PVI) and tertiary institutions to acquire advanced Chinese screen readers, Braille displays and accessories/portable devices to facilitate PVI's browsing the Internet, and to subsidise individual PVI with financial difficulties to purchase these assistive devices for meeting their needs on studying or employment.

     Eligible organisations may lodge their applications by completing the designated forms. Eligible persons are required to apply through nominations by non-governmental organisations operating subvented rehabilitation services, the student affairs offices of local tertiary institutions, principals of local secondary/primary schools, or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department (LD).

     The Central Fund for Personal Computers aims to assist persons with disabilities in acquiring the necessary computer facilities for self-employment or receiving supported employment service at home. Applicants must be receiving services from rehabilitation service organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the LD. Applications should be submitted through the nominating organisations.

     The SWD has issued invitations to the relevant organisations for making nominations and applications. Details and application forms of the two schemes are available on the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/rehab/cat_fundtrustfinaid) and CyberAble.net (cyberable.swd.gov.hk/en/index.html). For enquiries, please call 3586 3594 or email to eoimc@swd.gov.hk.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 10) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     "The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

     "Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight are more vulnerable to heat stroke. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;
• Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day if feasible. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     
     â€‹The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

    
     â€‹If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
     
     â€‹The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather report and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.

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 Transport Department (TD) today (September 10) reminded members of the public that to facilitate the holding of horse race meetings in the Happy Valley during the 2024/2025 Season, the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in phases on the race dates from tomorrow (September 11) in the vicinity of the Happy Valley Racecourse.

Special traffic arrangements
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1. From 50 minutes prior to the start of the first race (day and evening meetings) or from 6pm (night meetings), the section of Wong Nai Chung Road southbound between Queen's Road East and the slip road leading to the Aberdeen Tunnel will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic (except for vehicles heading for the Aberdeen Tunnel). Meanwhile, the section of Wong Nai Chung Road southbound between Village Road and the slip road leading to the Aberdeen Tunnel will be converted to one-way northbound until all the horse races end and when it is safe to reopen the roads to normal vehicular traffic.  

2. From about 35 minutes before the start of the last race, the following road sections will be closed to all vehicular traffic until the closed road sections reopen:
(i) the slip road connecting Wong Nai Chung Road and the Aberdeen Tunnel;
(ii) the section of Wong Nai Chung Road southbound between Queen's Road East and the slip road connecting Wong Nai Chung Road and the Aberdeen Tunnel;
(iii) the section of Wong Nai Chung Road southbound between Village Road and near Parsee Cemetery;
(iv) the section of Leighton Road westbound between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
(v) the section of Morrison Hill Road southbound between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

Public transport service arrangements
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1. In connection with the above road closure and traffic diversion arrangements, franchised bus and green minibus routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race. Meanwhile, the bus stops on Leighton Road eastbound near Matheson Street, Morrison Hill Road southbound near Sports Road and at the junction of Leighton Road westbound and Wong Nai Chung Road will also be temporarily suspended;  

2. The tram stop on Wong Nai Chung Road outside the Hong Kong Cemetery will be suspended from about one hour prior to the start of the last race; and  

3. In connection with the horse race meeting arrangements at the Happy Valley Racecourse, the taxi stand on Sung Tak Street and on-street parking spaces on Wong Nai Chung Road southbound between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be temporarily suspended in the following periods:
(i) Day meetings – from 11am to 7pm
(ii) Evening meetings – from 4.30pm to 11.59pm
(iii) Night meetings – from 5pm to 11.59pm

     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of affected areas will be very congested during the horse race meetings. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas as far as possible. Members of the public planning to go to the affected areas are advised to use public transport services as far as possible. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary.

     For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk), mobile application "HKeMobility" or passenger notices issued by the relevant public transport operators.

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (September 10) that the stall enhancement works at the Queen Street Cooked Food Market have been completed, and the Market will officially resume full operation on Thursday (September 12).

     The Queen Street Cooked Food Market is the first project of the market stall enhancement pilot scheme under the Market Modernisation Programme. The project mainly focuses on beautifying the dining area and the appearance of the stalls, which includes enhancing the ceiling and lighting, replacing floor tiles, and reconfiguring dining furniture to create a bright, clean, and unified style, fostering a warm and comfortable dining atmosphere. The FEHD has also completed other routine maintenance and repair works, including replacing escalators and lifts, renovating restrooms, and replacing or repairing electrical and mechanical equipment and building services installation within the Market.

     With the endeavour of the FEHD and the Architectural Services Department, the stall enhancement works at the Queen Street Cooked Food Market commenced in February this year and were completed in August. The enhanced Queen Street Cooked Food Market features 11 cooked food stalls offering a variety of Chinese and Western delicacies, and provides more than 200 seats for the public.

     The FEHD will continue to advance other market development projects to keep public markets abreast with the times to meet public needs.