Mobile Libraries 2, 6 and 9 will suspend services during designated periods in June and July for routine maintenance, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 29).

     Mobile Library 2 will suspend services from June 5 to 17. The affected service points are Tsui Ping Estate and On Tat Estate in Kwun Tong; Fortune Estate and Maple Street in Sham Shui Po; Sheung Tak Estate, Hau Tak Estate and Po Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O; and Chevalier Garden, Pok Hong Estate, Lee On Estate, Sui Wo Court, Mei Lam Estate and Saddle Ridge Garden in Sha Tin. For enquiries about Mobile Library 2 services, please call 2605 1071.

     Mobile Library 6 will suspend services from June 12 to 17. The affected service points are Shau Kei Wan Market on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, Lei Tung Estate and Ap Lei Chau Estate in Ap Lei Chau, the First Aid Station at Shek O Beach and Tsui Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O. For enquiries about Mobile Library 6 services, please call 2505 4690.

     Mobile Library 9 will suspend services from June 26 to July 8. The affected service points are South Horizons in Ap Lei Chau, Oi Tung Estate in Aldrich Bay, Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan, Tin Wan Estate in Aberdeen, Sheung Wan Cultural Square and Tai Hong Street in Lei King Wan. For enquiries about Mobile Library 9 services, please call 2505 4690.

     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 29) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the State of Aguascalientes in Mexico, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Mexico for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry meat was imported into Hong Kong from Mexico in the first three months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Mexican 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.

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 (May 29) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at a media session after attending Starting a New Chapter in Hong Kong Social Welfare Summit jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Social Welfare Department and the Heart to Heart Joint Action today (May 29):

Reporter: Mr Sun, may I know what do you think about Mr Zheng (the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zheng Yanxiong)'s speech? Do you think his speech is actually adding pressure on the welfare sector to perform better and even for promoting patriotic values? Do you think the Government will have to set key performance indicators for the social welfare sector?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I am sure Mr Zheng's speech is a full recognition of the contribution and good work of our social welfare sector. What he outlines is three broad directions, mainly once again calling upon the welfare sector to stay true to our mission, to unite together and to provide support and services to those in need in a very concrete way. What the Director saying is fully in line with what Peter (the Chairman of the Heart to Heart Joint Action, Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon) and I have been trying, together with the platform, that is to unite the whole sector, making use of our very wide network services, our very great social workers, and all people for providing much needed services to our elderly and the disabled. This is a way to help us to unite together and to make use of our resources, to make use of our energy, and most important of all, to make use of our passion to build a better and caring Hong Kong.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) announced today (May 29) that the Phase 1 building of the Hospital's Redevelopment Project has been completed. Following the commencement of services in phases in late April this year, the new Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department will open at 7.30am this Wednesday (May 31) to provide a more comprehensive 24-hour emergency medical care to patients.
 
     Patients seeking A&E service must pay particular attention to the entrance and the drop-off point to the new A&E Department of KWH, which will be relocated from Waterloo Road to Pitt Street.
 
     The Hospital Chief Executive of KWH, Dr Tang Kam-shing, said, "The area of the new A&E Department is nearly 2.6 times larger than that of the existing Department, reaching 6 400 square metres, and an additional Emergency Medicine Ward, isolation areas for infection control and 24-hour computerised tomography (CT) scan service are newly provided. The average daily attendance is around 300 at present. The capacity and facilities of the new A&E Department have been further enhanced, which can streamline the consultation process. The number of consultation rooms will increase once the new A&E Department commences service. Together with the newly added Emergency Medicine Ward, it will help improve patient's waiting situation."
 
     The Chief of Service (Accident & Emergency) of KWH, Dr Chan Tung-ning, said, "Upon the service commencement of the new A&E Department, it is believed that it will help strengthen the overall A&E services of the Kowloon Central Cluster."
 
     In line with the development of "Smart Hospital", eAED and In Patient Medication Order Entry (IPMOE) will be implemented in the new A&E Department of KWH. In order to ensure the smooth operation of the electronic systems in the new A&E Department, the two systems have been put into a trial run in the existing A&E since late April.
 
     Upon the opening of the new A&E Department, the existing A&E located on the ground floor of the East Wing will be closed. KWH has notified the Fire Services Department and various public transport operators of the relevant arrangements and has put up notices at the Yau Ma Tei MTR Station and the main streets in the vicinity of the hospital to remind the public of the date and time of the relocation of the A&E Department. The information of relocation arrangement has also been uploaded to the hospital's website for the public to browse and obtain the latest information. For enquiries, the public can call 3517 5220 during office hours.