Press conference remarks on events of HKSAR Government in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China (with photo/video)
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, held a press conference today (September 17) on various celebratory events and special offers by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; and the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung, also attended. Following are the remarks made at the press conference:
Reporter: For the largest-ever street decorations that will be put up across the city for National Day, how much did that cost and who have shouldered that part of the budget? As for total government spending, how much did the Government spend in total? And, were these monies taken from each department's respective budget, or were there more centralised budget to provide for these events? Thank you.
Chief Secretary for Administration: Thank you for your questions. Actually, we have no detailed breakdown on which department spent how much on this celebration. But I would say all the activities, all the events, some major ones, actually, they are sponsored by the commercial sector and some organisations. They are not government money. Actually for some departments and bureaux, if they need to use money, this will be absorbed in their own expenses.
Reporter: What about the decorations? How much did they cost?
Chief Secretary for Administration: No breakdown on that.
Reporter: Can you give more details of the concert hosted on September 30 and the drone show to be hosted that day? What specific elements are being implemented that relate to the 75th anniversary that make these shows unique from the other shows we have had in Hong Kong for this specific occasion?
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism: Are you referring to the event on September 30? It is an event to be held at the West Kowloon Cultural District, and it is organised by my bureau, and with the support of some outside organisations. It is composed of two parts. One is a drone show with 2 099 drones with all the different figures celebrating the 75th anniversary. For example, we will have some symbols with 75 as a figure. The other part is sort of a gathering of 1 000 youths who are coming together to sing some songs with the theme of celebrating the 75th anniversary. So it is a very good event for both people watching the drone show as well as for the youths to demonstrate their wish to celebrate this very important date for our country.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Press conference remarks on events of HKSAR Government in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 19) 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.
"Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight 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, if possible;
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 feasible. 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 minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and 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.
The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111),heat strokepage andUV radiationpage; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.
