The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     At the invitation of the Judiciary, members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services today (June 2) visited the High Court Building and met with members of the Judiciary. Similar visits were last organised in 2019 and 2021.

     The visit started with a meeting of Panel members with the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Cheung Kui-nung; the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor; and the Judiciary Administrator, Ms Esther Leung Yuet-yin, to exchange views on topical issues relating to the administration of justice.

     Members were then given a demonstration on major initiatives on the use of technology, including the integrated Court Case Management System, remote hearing, e-bundle hearing, as well as digital evidence presentation and exhibits handling at court hearings.

     Members participating in the visit included the Chairman of the LegCo Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, Mr Martin Liao; the Deputy Chairman of the Panel, Ms Yung Hoi-yan; and Panel members Mr Paul Tse, Mr Holden Chow, Mr Dennis Leung, Ms Maggie Chan and Ms Carmen Kan.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Kwong Wah Hospital made the following appeal today (June 2) regarding the recent operation of the Accident and Emergency Department:
 
     The hospital noticed that since the new Accident and Emergency Department was put into service, the number of patients seeking medical treatment has increased significantly, from about 300 cases on weekdays to more than 400 cases. Most of the cases are semi-urgent and non-urgent cases, causing some patients having to wait a longer time. In order to ensure patients with urgent medical needs can receive medical treatment in a timely manner, the hospital appeals to non-emergency patients with stable and mild conditions to seek medical treatment in general out-patient clinics or private clinics as far as possible.
 
     The hospital iterates that it would continue to provide appropriate treatment to patients according to the severity of their medical conditions.
 

     The Government Gazette published today (June 2) contains a Legal Notice to the effect that the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury has authorised a change in the rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates. From June 5, 2023, the new annual rate of interest will be 0.8083 per cent against the current rate of 0.7667 per cent, i.e. the new rate will be $0.0674 per month per $100.

     Tax Reserve Certificates bear simple interest, and interest is calculated monthly (including part of a month) from the date of purchase to the date of payment of tax.

     Interest is only credited when certificates are used to pay tax and no interest is due where the principal value of a certificate is repaid to its holder.

     The rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates is periodically revised in line with the market trend. Currently, it is reviewed every month based on the average prevailing interest rate for the 12-month time deposit for $100,000 to $499,999 offered by the three note-issuing banks.

     The new rate will apply to all certificates purchased on or after June 5, 2023. Certificates purchased before June 5, 2023, will continue to earn interest at the rates prevailing on their respective purchase dates. Below is a summary of the interest rates for the past periods:
 

     This is always subject to the general rule that interest ceases to accrue after 36 complete months.

     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 Kwun Tong Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department (LD) will launch a wide range of occupational safety and health courses in the second half of 2023. The courses aim at enhancing the working population's understanding of the occupational safety regulations and their awareness of occupational health.   
      
     The courses cover a wide range of topics, including:
 

1. Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and Regulations
2. Gas Poisoning in Manholes
3. Confined Spaces Regulations
4. Major Safety Regulations Related to Working in Catering Trade
5. Dangerous Substances Regulations
6. Safety Management Regulation
7. Safety Regulations on Manual Handling Operations
8. Regulations Related to Safety in Hotel Industry
9. Safety Regulations on Working in Times of Inclement Weather and Hot Environment
10. Major Safety Regulations Related to Accident Prevention in Office Work and Storage Work
11. A Brief Introduction to the Regulation on Display Screen Equipment
12. Office Workstation Setup
13. Air Monitoring and Ventilation Systems in the Workplaces
14. Lighting Assessment in the Workplaces
15. Guidance Notes on Standing at Work
16. A Brief Introduction to the Regulation on Display Screen Equipment and Workstation Risk Assessment
17. A Brief Introduction on Occupational Health Hazards in Elderly Homes
18. Risk Assessments on Manual Handling Operations in Elderly Homes
19. More Exercise, Smart Work
20. Strategies for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases
21. Occupational Health in Catering Industry
22. Chemicals and Occupational Health
23. Medical Examinations for Workers Engaged in Hazardous Occupations in Industrial Undertakings
24. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries
25. Occupational Health for Security Guards
26. Chemicals and Occupational Health in Hotel Industry
27. Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment
28. Occupational Health for Office Workers
29. Health Hints on the Use of Computer
30. Prevention of Upper and Lower Limb Disorders
31. Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Office Workers
32. Occupational Health for Cleansing Workers
33. Occupational Contact Dermatitis
34. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries for Workers of Residential Care Home
35. Occupational Health for Professional Drivers
36. Work and Common Gastrointestinal Diseases
37. Occupational Stress
38. Happy Workplace
39. Work and Healthy Lifestyle
40. Work and Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension
41. First Aid in the Workplaces
42. Work and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
43. Easy Tips for Healthy Eating at Work
44. A Brief Introduction to Noise at Work Regulation
45. Noise Hazards and Prevention of Hearing Loss

 
     The courses will be conducted in Cantonese at the LD's Occupational Safety and Health Centre, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong. Enrolment is free.
      
     Members of the public can apply via the online platform www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en or by fax. Please visit the LD's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content6.htm) for more details and call 2361 8240 for enquiries.