To further facilitate the application for transitional housing by those in need, the Housing Bureau (HB) has strengthened its co-ordination and improved the application process. A central common application form is launched today (June 20) to help the public make one-stop application for different transitional housing projects. 

     Through this form, the applicants can apply for up to three transitional housing projects at the same time with different priorities based on their individual needs. Once the forms and supporting documents are received, the HB will first centrally and preliminarily process the applications, and then refer them to the respective operating organisations for follow-up based on the applicants' priority. 

     An HB spokesperson said, "After unifying the format, distribution and collection method of the form, applicants no longer need to submit separate applications to different transitional housing projects. This not only makes it more convenient for the applicants but also reduces the administrative work and processing time for the operation organisations. This will speed ​​up the matching process and improve the living environment of the applicants as soon as possible." 

     The form is distributed and collected through various channels, including the one-stop thematic transitional housing website (www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/transitional/tenantapplications.html), various operating organisations, the Transitional Housing Information Counter (located in the Hong Kong Housing Authority Customer Service Centre), and the Cash Allowance Office of the Housing Department.

     In addition to the form, the HB is actively preparing to set up a unified platform to facilitate online applications for transitional housing. The unified platform is tentatively planned to be launched in the third quarter of 2023.

     The Government has been promoting the development of transitional housing in the past few years. By actively assisting non-governmental organisations to make use of short-term vacant land and premises, about 7 000 units have been put into service so far to alleviate the housing difficulties faced by applicants waiting for traditional public rental housing and those who are inadequately housed. 

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 20) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Deep Water Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island as Grade 2, which means the water quality has improved and the beach is suitable for swimming. The red flag has been lowered.

     The red flag was hoisted on the beach earlier due to the water quality being classified as Grade 4 and unsuitable for swimming.

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees' risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work", detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers' and employees' reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department's thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
      
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited relating to a fraudulent website and internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 20) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in La Plata Partido of the Province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 110 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Argentina in the first three months of this year. 

     â€‹"The CFS has contacted the Argentinian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.