Stay safe in the heat: updated tips for preventing heat stroke at work
âThe Labour Department (LD) today (May 2) launched the revised "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work"(GN) and introduced the optimised Heat Stress at Work Warning (HSWW) system to assist employers and employees in taking appropriate measures to prevent heat stroke when working under hot weather or in high-temperature environments.
A spokesman for the LD said, "In response to the views of stakeholders following the issuance of the GN by the LD last May, the LD has suitably enhanced parts of the GN to enable employers and employees to have a better understanding of its principles and recommendations and to help them implement preventive measures against heat stroke effectively."
In addition, the LD, with the assistance of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), has adjusted the cancellation mechanism of the HSWW to minimise the possibility of the warning being reissued within a short period of time after it is cancelled. At the same time, the LD will make reference to the HKO's Extremely Hot special weather tips in the issue, renewal or cancellation of the HSWW. If the HKO issues the Extremely Hot special weather tips, the LD will issue an Amber HSWW even if the Hong Kong Heat Index has not reached the level for issuing the HSWW.
Members of the public can receive notifications of the HSWW via the "GovHK Notifications" or "MyObservatory" mobile applications. The warning message will also be disseminated through government press release, HKO's webpage and the mass media.
For details of the revised GN and HSWW, please refer to the LD's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm) or the Occupational Safety and Health Council's dedicated webpage (www.noheatstress.hk ). For enquiries, please call the LD's hotline at 2559 2297 or 2852 4041.
Source: AI-generated images
Breaking news: hong kong and peru seal game-changing free trade deal
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (May 16, Arequipa time) met with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, Ms Elizabeth Galdo Marín, and jointly announced the substantial conclusion of negotiations of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and Peru on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Arequipa, Peru.
"The negotiations, which began in 2023, cover trade in goods, trade in services (including e-commerce), investment and other related areas. I am pleased to note that our shared objectives in achieving a high-quality and comprehensive bilateral FTA are met," Mr Yau said.
"Peru is Hong Kong's important trading partner in Latin America. The FTA will enhance the trade and investment ties between the two sides, provide Hong Kong products, enterprises and investors with legal certainty and better access to the Peruvian market, and bring mutual benefits to our two economies," he added.
The two sides aim to finish the few remaining issues and the respective internal procedures with a view to signing the FTA within this year. Details of the agreement will then be announced.
In 2023, Peru ranked fifth among Hong Kong's merchandise trading partners in Latin America. The total merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Peru amounted to HK$5,231 million in 2023 and grew at an average annual rate of four per cent from 2019 to 2023.
Hong Kong has so far signed eight FTAs with 20 economies, including the Mainland of China, New Zealand, the member states of the European Free Trade Association (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Chile, Macao, the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), Georgia and Australia. All FTAs have entered into force.
In addition to the FTA with Peru, Hong Kong will continue to actively expand economic and trade network, such as seeking early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and exploring FTAs or investment agreements with other potential partners in the Middle East and other regions along the Belt and Road.
Hong Kong and Peru substantially conclude free trade agreement negotiations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong and Peru substantially conclude free trade agreement negotiations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
