In order to continuously build a "Sport for All" culture in the community, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise the Sport For All Day 2023 on August 6 (Sunday). Most leisure facilities under the purview of the LCSD will be open for free use and recreation, and sports programmes will be held in designated sports centres across districts. Participants can also view a live webcast of sports demonstrations. Members of the public are welcome to participate in the event.

     The focal activity of Sport For All Day this year is "fitness exercise for wellness". The LCSD will organise a series of physical fitness demonstrations and play-in sessions for public participation to encourage the public to pursue a healthy body and mind lifestyle through regular physical exercise.
      
     The LCSD will hold diversified and free recreation and sports programmes from 2pm to 6pm on August 6 at designated sports centres in 18 districts. Health talks, fitness corners, sports activities for parents, children and adolescents, as well as sports demonstrations and fun games for the elderly and persons with disabilities, will be arranged. Activity coupons will be distributed from 8.30am on July 24 (Monday) at LCSD District Leisure Services Offices and designated venues in the 18 districts.
      
     Sports demonstrations will be featured in a live webcast via the event dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad) and the "LCSD Plusss" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LCSDPlusss) on the event day from 2pm. Members of the public can experience the vigour of sports demonstrations at home through online platforms.
 
     At the same time, various LCSD leisure facilities will also be open for free use by the public on Sport For All Day 2023 to develop a habit of regular exercise. Booking for the free use of facilities on August 6 can be made at Leisure Link booking counters in various districts (except self-service kiosks) and via Internet booking, starting from 7am on July 31 (Monday) onwards, on a first-come, first-served basis (the Leisure Link booking counter services at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre will start from 7.45am, and those at water sports centres, holiday camps and District Leisure Services Offices will start from 8.30am). Each person can only book one free session irrespective of the type of leisure facility. Due to the anticipated high use of online booking services by the public, it may take a longer time for users to log onto the system for booking during peak hours in the morning.
      
      The leisure facilities open for free use by the public on August 6 include:

• Indoor leisure facilities: badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, American pool tables, billiard tables, sport climbing walls, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms, activity rooms, dance rooms and a cycling track;
• Outdoor leisure facilities: tennis courts, tennis practice courts, bowling greens, batting cages, sport climbing walls, archery ranges and golf facilities (excluding camp facilities, sports grounds, as well as artificial and natural turf pitches);
• Public swimming pools (excluding Wan Chai Swimming Pool, and Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool which is temporarily closed for redevelopment); and
• Craft at water sports centres (recreational kayaks, pedal-driven boats, sampans and colour boats at Chong Hing Water Sports Centre are available for free use by campers only).

 
     No prior booking is required for public swimming pool facilities. Members of the public may line up at the entrance of swimming pools before the start of a session. Free admission is offered on a first-come-first-served basis.
 
     Sport For All Day 2023 is co-organised by the Department of Health; the Sports Medicine Team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the Sports Medicine and Health Science Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China; and the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled. Please visit the dedicated website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad for details.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 14) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on July 2 (Sunday) in Meeting Room N101, L1, New Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 340 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. The list of marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(1) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(5) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html.

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, proceeded to Hamburg from Berlin yesterday (June 13, Hamburg time) to continue his visit in Germany, where he paid a visit to the Nexperia wafer fab. Nexperia B.V. is among the world top-ten semiconductor companies with business around the globe with research and development (R&D) facilities established in the Hong Kong Science Park.

     Professor Sun, accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong, received a briefing on the company's latest development plan and technologies. He encouraged the company to proactively consider setting up or expanding businesses in Hong Kong.

     Professor Sun said, "Hong Kong has entered a new stage of advancing from stability to prosperity. I look forward to having more world-leading technology enterprises, including companies focusing on R&D and production of microelectronics to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong, with a view to further boosting the development of the technology industry and I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong and supporting Hong Kong developing into an international I&T centre."

     Professor Sun later visited AI.Hamburg where he was briefed the group's work which promotes the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) and brings together leading initiatives in the field of AI to actively support local economy and society in the application of AI.

     Professor Sun, on the same day, paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Consulate General in Hamburg, briefing Consular General, Mr Cong Wu, on Hong Kong's continuous efforts in integrating into the national I&T development. He thanked the Consulate General for supporting Hong Kong to enhance collaboration with Germany in I&T development, and attracting enterprises and investment.

     Professor Sun will proceed to Munich on June 14 (Hamburg time) morning to continue his visit in Germany.

    

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (June 14) will be cancelled.

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (June 13) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.