The Home Affairs Department today (September 8) announced that having regard to the rainstorm warning being in force, the inspection of the 2023 provisional register and the omissions list for the Rural Representative Election, as well as the deadline for lodging a notice of claim or a notice of objection with the Electoral Registration Officer, will be extended to September 11, 2023, in accordance with section 1A of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Registration of Electors) (Rural Representative Election) Regulation (Cap. 541K).

 Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the extreme conditions will continue at least until 6pm, the Education Bureau announced that classes of all schools, including evening schools, are suspended today (September 8).

     The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department today (September 8) reminded the public to remain vigilant to the risk of landslides as Hong Kong is being affected by the torrential rain brought by the trough of low pressure associated with the remnant of Haikui.
      
     Since operation from 00.44am today, the GEO Emergency Control Centre has received seven landslide reports as at 8am. Six of the landslides were on Hong Kong Island and one was in the New Territories. Geotechnical engineers have been deployed to inspect the landslide sites and offer advice to various government departments and emergency service personnel to help ensure public safety.
      
     The GEO reminded members of the public to stay away from slopes when the landslip warning is in force or under heavy rain. Motorists should avoid driving in hilly areas or parking vehicles in front of slopes. Residents living close to slopes should stay in rooms furthest away from slopes or on high floors if possible. When a notification to evacuate is received, members of the public should follow rescuers' instructions and move immediately to a safe shelter. If they witness a landslide, they should leave immediately and call the Police under safe conditions.

     A new phase of the Arts Corner in Victoria Park will be launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) this Sunday (September 10). Visitors can stroll around a wide array of traditional and trendy handicrafts, and arts services stalls while enjoying their leisure time in the park.
 
     The 22nd phase of the Arts Corner in Victoria Park will run from September 10 until August 25 next year, and will be open from 10am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays at the Bandstand in the park. The Arts Corner comprises 10 handicrafts and arts services stalls displaying and selling various kinds of handicrafts and artistic works such as fabric crafts, leather goods and ornaments, as well as providing cultural and arts services including photography and calligraphy.
 
     "The Arts Corner aims to enhance the public's interest in arts and enrich the arts atmosphere in Hong Kong. It will also make the park a more appealing and enjoyable place for visitors," a spokesman for the department said.
 
     Apart from Victoria Park, another Arts Corner and an Arts Fun Fair are being held at Hong Kong Park and Kowloon Park respectively.
 
     The 23rd phase of Hong Kong Park's Arts Corner is now open between noon and 6pm every Saturday and Sunday and on public holidays. It will continue until December 31 at the outdoor area near the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware inside Hong Kong Park. There are 10 stalls in operation including handicraft stalls selling wooden crafts and ornaments, as well as arts stalls providing cultural and arts services including sketching and photography.
 
     The 25th phase of the Arts Fun Fair at Kowloon Park is also open now, from 1pm to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays, until May 26 next year at the park's Loggia. There are 16 stalls displaying and selling craftworks including fabrics and floral ornaments as well as arts services including painting and portrait sketching.
 
     "The Arts Corners have been well received in past years. While taking a break at the Arts Corners, park visitors can also visit other facilities in the parks and spend some pleasant time there," the spokesman said.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2890 5824 (Victoria Park), 2521 5041 (Hong Kong Park) or 2724 3344 (Kowloon Park).

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (September 8) announced that the department collected 10 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in August 2023 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications.
 
     The detailed test results are available on the EMSD's website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/rl/lpg_sample_analysis_simple). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD's hotline on 2333 3762.
 
     In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements.