A Government spokesman said today (September 2) that the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau had obtained the approval by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, to activate the "government-wide mobilisation" level to co-ordinate emergency operations. The Government is working full steam to perform relief work following the passage of Super Typhoon Saola, aiming for the community's full return to normal operations and resumption of citizens' daily lives as early as possible.
 
     As Saola is moving away from Hong Kong, the Government promptly mobilised a quick response unit comprising over a hundred of civil servants from different departments to provide support in several districts. The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, led some members to Sha Tau Kok to assist the elderly members who had stayed in a temporary sheltering facility to return to their elderly homes.
 
     Members of the quick response unit also went to Tung Chung Heung to carry out clean-up work, removing garbages, fallen branches and leaves on roads. In addition, the members went to Kwun Tong to help residents remove sandbags. They also cleaned the pavement of Hoi Pong Road, Lei Yue Mun and the Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre which was used as a temporary shelter.
 
     The Government is grateful to all supporting members and colleagues from different departments for their dedication and efforts in enabling the community to resume normal as soon as possible. The spokesman stressed that it is only through the concerted efforts of the Government and all sectors of the society that the damage and impact of Saola can be minimised.

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address that the Government would enhance the mobilisation protocol by introducing a "government-wide mobilisation" level, under which a list of designated personnel from various departments would be drawn up in advance to ensure that a quick response unit formed by government employees could be mobilised promptly during major crisis requiring considerable manpower support to handle the incident.

              

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 2) that Praya Street Sports Centre and Peng Chau Sports Centre in Islands District has been reopened for public use, while Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre in Kwun Tong District will be reopened at 8pm today.

     The sports centres were temporarily closed earlier on for use as temporary shelters operated by respective District Offices of the Home Affairs Department.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     The Immigration Department announced that members of the public who had booked but were unable to apply for identity cards at Registration of Persons (ROP) Offices as scheduled due to Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above yesterday (September 1) and today (September 2) may approach the ROP Offices concerned on any subsequent working days for applications without the need to make a new appointment. It is not necessary to call for seeking confirmation on the above arrangement. However, applicants must approach the ROP Offices concerned during the relevant service hours for processing. Applicants should bring along the appointment slip, if available, or quote the telephone appointment reference code for follow-up. Subject to the situation of the day, the waiting time for processing may be longer. Please refer to the Annex for the working hours and scope of services provided at ROP Offices.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department announces that the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui has been reopened.

     For details of ferry schedules, please contact relevant shipping companies direct.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department announces that the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan has been reopened.

     For details of ferry schedules, please contact relevant shipping companies direct.