The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (August 27) appealed to the public not to buy two non-approved portable cassette cooker models. If members of the public have purchased the cookers, they are a… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 27) 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:
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 pro… read more
Upon the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, ​the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council invited the members of the publicity delegation to visit Hong Kong to speak on the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee). The HKSAR Government today (August 26) held two seminars to promote the spirit of the Plenary Session at the Central Government Offices and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, with more than 1 200 participants. The members of the publicity delegation who visited Hong Kong to speak on the spirit of the Plenary Session are the Vice-chairperson of the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People’s Congress and the Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr Shen Chunyao, and the Secretary of the CPC Leadership Group of the Ministry of Commerce and the Minister of Commerce, Mr Wang Wentao.
The two seminars were hosted by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee. The participants of the seminar held this morning at the Central Government Offices included HKSAR government officials, Members of the Executive Council and Legislative Council, representatives from the Judiciary, and representatives from important statutory bodies; and the participants of the seminar held this afternoon at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, were from various sectors of the community, including Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress, HKSAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, representatives from major political organisations and community groups, industrial and commercial sectors, professional sectors, education sectors, media organisations and youth representatives. The seminar held this afternoon has been broadcasted live by RTHK and the government website.
Addressing the seminar, the Chief Executive expressed his sincere gratitude to the Central Government for attaching great importance and offering staunch support and to the members of the publicity delegation for visiting Hong Kong to speak to all sectors of the community on the spirit of the Plenary Session. The participants and members of the public have benefited greatly by having more profound and deeper understanding of the spirit of the Plenary Session.
He said, “The Plenary Session does not only lead the country towards Chinese modernisation and high-quality development, but is also crucial to the development, prosperity and stability of Hong Kong in the long run. History has proven that Hong Kong has been playing an active role in the country’s reform and opening up. Facing the complicated international landscape, Hong Kong will achieve better development through further reforms, including further leveraging its distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world under ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, as well as constantly striving innovative breakthroughs in policies, mechanisms and systems, and continuously reinforcing and enhancing its own advantages in the process of promoting its own development and highly integrated development with the Mainland. This enables Hong Kong to make good use of its strengths to serve the country’s needs and to facilitate the country’s effort in going global while attracting foreign investment to the Mainland market, in order to strive for promoting the high-quality development of the country and Hong Kong and the advancement of Chinese modernisation.”
The Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zheng Yanxiong, said in his speech that the Resolution of the Plenary Session relating to Hong Kong has a very heavy weight, consisting the Central Government’s care, favour and high hopes for Hong Kong. It will provide a strategic pivot for Hong Kong to better play its unique role and bring new major opportunities in the a new stage of “advancing from stability to prosperity”. The members of the publicity delegation’s elaboration helps the public to gain a better understanding on the spirit of the Plenary Session.
Mr Shen expressed at the seminar that he felt that Hong Kong people, various sectors and the governance team were very concerned about the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session, which fully reflected Hong Kong people’s concern for the Central Government’s major plans and national development, and Hong Kong’s desire to play a role in it. Mr Shen closely focused on President Xi Jinping’s important speech at the Plenary Session and the Plenary Session’s Resolution, from a deep understanding of the theme of the Plenary Session and further comprehensively deepen reform and the importance of promoting Chinese modernisation, deeply understand the guiding ideology, overall goals and major principles of further comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively master measures and tasks proposed in the Resolution, and go all out to implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session and explain it in depth.
Mr Wang emphasised the importance of fully and faithfully understanding the major reform measures put forward by the Resolution and made in-depth elaborations on “economic structural reform as the spearhead”. He also emphasised that Hong Kong’s role in the country’s reform, opening-up and the progress of modernisation process has been, is and will continue to be unique and important. As Hong Kong enters a new stage of “advancing from stability to prosperity,” it must integrate into the tide of reform, actively align with national strategies such as the “15th Five-Year Plan” and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and fully seize the historical opportunities brought about by national development. Hong Kong must strive to be a “super connector” and “super value-adder” under the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world, and to continuously create a wonderful chapter of “One Country, Two Systems” on the new reform journey.
The Chief Executive hoped that all participants and the general public would learn and understand the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, make initiatives to understand, respond to and embrace changes while being proactive, pragmatic, perseverant and dedicated, shoulder the responsibility of further deepening reform comprehensively, integrate the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in their respective positions, in a bid to make greater contributions to the building of a great country in all respects and advancing toward national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation.
During the interactive session, participants exchanged their views actively. To allow members of the public to learn about the spirit of the Plenary Session, the Government has arranged RTHK as well as the government website to broadcast live the second seminar. The full version of the second seminar will also be uploaded to the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm). The HKSAR Government urged members of the public to watch the seminar so as to get a full understanding of the content and significance of the spirit.
Construction Safety Week (CSW) 2024, co-organised by the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC), commenced today (August 26) and will run until August 30. Under the theme of “Safety for All, 4S Stands Tall”, various events will be held including the CSW conference, visits to construction sites and the award presentation ceremony of the 30th Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme.
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that to promote full adoption of the Smart Site Safety System (4S) in the industry, the Government, in addition to leading by example in public works contracts, introduced a series of enhanced measures this year with a view to promoting the adoption of the 4S in private development projects, including:
(1) The Buildings Department has introduced a mandatory measure since July 1, 2024. When granting the first approval or major revisions of superstructure plans of private development projects, conditions are imposed under the Buildings Ordinance to require registered contractors to adopt the relevant 4S for building works with estimated cost exceeding $30 million and involving the use of mobile plants and tower cranes.
(2) The DEVB and the CIC launched the 4S Labelling Scheme and have been issuing labels to work sites with proper adoption of the 4S to facilitate identification and monitoring. Nearly 150 construction sites have been issued with labels and a total of 500 construction sites are expected to be issued with labels within this year.
(3) The scope of subsidy under the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) has been extended since May 20, 2024 to cover the relevant additional expenses in various aspects of adopting the 4S, including upgrading the network capacity, additional manpower to be employed for system operation, maintenance and technical support, arising from the use of the 4S.
(4) An enhanced measure will be launched this week to extend the applicant eligibility of the CITF to local mobile plant / tower crane rental companies. According to information of the industry, there are more than 10 000 such facilities in Hong Kong, of which over 70 per cent are rented by various contractors from rental companies. Therefore, subsidising rental companies to install the 4S in the first place can save time and facilitate the adoption of the 4S at related facilities on construction sites.
Noting that all members of the project teams have their respective roles and responsibilities in safeguarding site safety, Ms Linn called on all industry stakeholders to proactively fulfil their safety responsibilities and make concerted efforts to enhance site safety for the sustainable development of the construction industry.
The Chairman of the CIC, Mr Thomas Ho, appealed to the construction sector to adopt the 4S at construction sites. He also stressed that all industry stakeholders should fulfil their responsibilities in ensuring site safety and play their role in providing a safe working environment.
The CSW Conference commenced right after the kick-off ceremony. Experts and project teams shared with the audience their experience in adopting the 4S and enhancing site safety. An exhibition on the 4S was also held at the venue.
CSW, launched in 2012, aims to promote a zero-accident site environment and a caring environment in the construction industry. The campaign has received support from various sectors of the community including professional groups, organisations, trade associations and labour unions. Details of this year’s CSW are available at www.safetyweek.hk.
