The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 9) that On Sau Road Park in Kwun Tong District has been reopened, while Jordan Valley Swimming Pool in the same district will be reopened at 2.30pm today.
These venues were temporarily closed earlier for for clearance and urgent repair works.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
With the extreme conditions caused by recent adverse weather as well as the typhoon last week, blood collection services were severely affected. The spokesperson of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (September 9) urgently appeals to members of the public to donate blood as the inventories have been depleted to a very low level, with only four days of stock. The blood collection service has resumed normal and the BTS urgently appeals to donors, especially Type O, to come forward for blood donation in order to facilitate clinical transfusions of patients in need.
As a token of thanks, every blood donor who donates successfully at donor centre or mobile donation vehicle during September 9 to 15 will receive a "Captain Blood Denim Cooler Bag" (see Annex), while stocks last.
Members of the public aged between 16 and 65 (donation is possible up to the age of 75 if predetermined conditions are met), weighing 41 kilograms or above and in good health are eligible to give blood. The BTS reminds donors to make appointment by calling the BTS donor centres, booking online or via the "HK Blood" mobile apps. For details, please visit www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 9) that Kowloon Bay Sports Centre in Kwun Tong District and Causeway Bay Sports Ground in Wan Chai District will be respectively reopened at noon and 1 pm today.
These venues were temporarily closed earlier for clearance and urgent repair works.
Hong Kong Customs on September 7 detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 900 grammes of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $700,000.
A 48-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 5 while his delayed check-in travel bag arrived in Hong Kong on September 7. During baggage examination, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside the false compartments of the bag. The male passenger was subsequently arrested when retrieving his delayed travel bag at the airport on September 7.
An investigation is ongoing.
Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
The Marine Department (MD) together with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducted a joint operation against the improper use of bright light for fishing and illegal fishing activities in the southern waters of Hong Kong on September 7.
During the operation, officers inspected the relevant waters, no vessel was found to be using bright light improperly for fishing and engaged in illegal fishing.
A spokesman for the MD reminded the public that under the Shipping and Port Control Regulations (Cap. 313A), vessels are allowed to use bright light for fishing in the areas where bright light fishing is permitted. However, the use of bright light on any vessel for the purpose of fishing or attracting fish in Hong Kong waters shall comply with the requirements of Cap. 313A and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation (Cap. 548F), i.e. a bright light shall be so constructed, shaded, installed and used that no light emitted from it shall be visible, whether directly or by reflection from any source other than sea surface, above a horizontal plane passing through the lowest edge of the light source. A person who contravenes the related legislation commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $5,000 upon conviction.
In addition, under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171), only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters and only the fishing methods listed on its Certificate of Local Fishing Vessel Registration can be employed for fishing by the vessel. Any offender upon conviction is liable to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.
To ensure the order of marine traffic and navigation safety of vessels, in addition to daily patrols and enforcement actions in various districts of Hong Kong waters, the MD also maintains close co-operation with the Marine Police and the AFCD from time to time to conduct target-based joint operations, including inspections of suspected improper use of bright light for fishing and illegal fishing activities. From January to August 2023, the MD conducted a total of 31 special operations in areas including the waters of southern Lantau Island, southern Lamma Island, south of Hong Kong Island and east of Hong Kong. Eighteen fishing vessels were suspected of violating relevant marine legislation. The MD is now taking follow-up actions and will instigate prosecution against these fishing vessels.
The MD will continue to step up patrols to combat the improper use of bright light for fishing activities so as to ensure safe navigation. The department will also meet with local fishery organisations from time to time to distribute relevant publicity and education materials to the trade. Information on the proper use of bright light for fishing is available on the MD's website: www.mardep.gov.hk/en/publication/materials/pdf/publf.pdf.
