The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Members of the public are invited to attend the Hospital Authority (HA) Board Meeting to be held on June 29 (Thursday) at 4pm. 

     The HA Board Meeting has been open to members of the public since 1998 to demonstrate the continuous effort of the Authority to enhance its transparency and public accountability. The HA Board holds meetings at regular intervals to discuss major health policy issues that have impacts on the public. Through these open meetings, the community is able to understand more about the role and functions of the HA Board as well as the operation and services of the HA and its hospitals.
 
     The HA Board will discuss the following agenda items in the coming meeting:
 

• Annual Report on the Operation of the Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes; 
• Progress Report on Strategic Priorities; and
• Cluster Presentation Programme – New Territories East Cluster – Advances in Fetal Therapy.

 
     The meeting agenda and papers will be made available to the public at the meeting. Members of the public are reminded that they can attend the Board Meeting only as observers and will not be participating in the meeting discussions.
 
     Members of the public who are interested in attending the coming Board Meeting have to make an advance booking by contacting the Secretariat of the HA Board at 2300 6797 during office hours. To facilitate booking arrangements, members of the public are advised to provide their names and contact telephone numbers. In view of the limited seating available in the public gallery of the meeting venue, seating will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 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.

     "Children, the elderly, the obese and those with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, 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;
• 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 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.

     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 sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply 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.

     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.

     A man who went missing in Sau Mau Ping has been located.

     Hon Mo-chung, aged 29, went missing after he left his resident in Upper Ngau Tau Kok Estate on April 26 afternoon. His family reported to Police on May 6.

     The man was located on Kau Yuk Road, Yuen Long last night (June 26). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and is organising the HA 50th Anniversary Photo Contest to invite the public to appreciate the designs and features of public housing from various perspectives through aspects such as light and shade, showcasing the unique charm of these housing estates.

     The call for entries for the photo contest is open today (June 27) until August 6. With the themes of "Public housing vistas" and "Buildings and design aesthetics of public housing", there are three submission categories: "Open Group", "Resident Group" and "Staff Group". For each category, there will be a champion, first runner-up, second runner-up and 10 merit awards. Participants must submit their work to the contest webpage: HA50PhotoContest.com. Details of the photo contest are also available on the webpage.

     "The public housing estates under the HA not only provide residents with a safe place to live but also create a pleasant living environment. Many estates have become photography hotspots for local leisure travellers. We hope the photo contest will help people to better understand public housing and appreciate the unique cultures of different housing estates," said a spokesman for the HA.

     "The HA's public housing estates carry many treasures by way of architecture, art, and cultural life. We have specifically launched the "Blueprint x Footprint" Treasure Hunting self-guided tour of housing estates and uploaded the information on the portal for the HA's 50th anniversary: hos.housingauthority.gov.hk/50A/TreasureHunt/en/index.html. There are three themes for the self-guided tour: "Architecture x Aesthetics", "Arts x Living", and "Landscape Garden", exploring the unique charm of different housing estates. We hope these initiatives will be the source of inspiration for the participants' works," the spokesman added.

     The supporting organisations of the photo contest include local professional organisations and photographic societies, namely the Construction Industry Council, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Hong Kong Institute of Housing, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Hong Kong Institute of Planners, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects, the Photographic Salon Exhibitors Association, the Hong Kong Cameras Club Ltd, the Chinese Photographic Association of Hong Kong Ltd, the Photographic Society of Hong Kong and the United Artist Photographic Association.

     The theme of the HA's 50th anniversary is "Carving for the Future". "Carving" symbolises the HA's persistent efforts over the years to partner with stakeholders from all walks of life to build better homes for Hong Kong residents. "Future" signifies the HA's unswerving commitment to lead the development of subsidised housing for overcoming the challenges ahead. In the future, the HA will organise a series of celebratory activities, including a basketball tournament, local dialogue series and a public exhibition, etc. The public is invited to join in.

     The HA was established in April 1973 to provide affordable and quality public housing for those in need. The spokesman said, "We are grateful to Hong Kong people who have been walking hand in hand with the HA over the past half century in building better homes. As we move on towards a new milestone, the HA will continue to promote the healthy development of public housing and make every effort to enhance its speed, quantity, quality and efficiency, for creating blissful and high-quality homes for Hong Kong people."