American Citizens Services
May 2009 American Citizens Services Newsletter
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau
Welcome to the May newsletter! Here are this month's topics:
New Topics:
Continuing Topics of Interest:
H1N1 FLU OUTBREAK
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy:
• Stay informed. Check our website at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov, which will be updated regularly as information becomes available. Additional information is also available by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hotline in the United States at 1-800-232-4636 or the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) hotline in Hong Kong at 2125-1111.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing by infected people, so take everyday actions to stay healthy. The CDC recommends the following steps to stop the spread of flu germs:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.
For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_003
TYPHOON SEASON
The annual rainy and typhoon season has begun and is expected to last until September. Please be advised that if a Black Rainstorm Warning OR Typhoon Signal 8 or above is announced by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Consulate General will be closed. If the Black Rainstorm Warning is lowered to a Red, or the Typhoon Signal is lowered to Signal 3 before 1:00 p.m., the Consulate will reopen on the same day within one hour of the lowering. In such a situation, there will be no need to reschedule your appointment.
All individuals with American Citizens Services appointments are requested to return to the Consulate General with their original appointment confirmation letters anytime from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. OR 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. (except Wednesday afternoons) within five working days after the Consulate re-opens.
Please monitor radio and television broadcasts or the Hong Kong Observatory's website at http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm to stay informed about the latest weather conditions.
UPCOMING CLOSURES
The Consulate General will be closed in May on the following holidays:
Friday, May 1 | | Labor Day |
Monday, May 25 | | Memorial Day |
Thursday, May 28 | | Tuen Ng Festival |
SUBSCRIBING/UNSUBSCRIBING
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter, please do so by going to our web page at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_subscribe_newsletter.html.
New subscribers will be sent the last few messages we have sent out in a digest form to help them catch up. Back issues are on the web at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_newsletter.html.
This newsletter is published by the American Citizens Services Unit, U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau. Tel: 2841-2211, 2841-2323, 2841-2225; fax: 2845-4845; e-mail: acshk@state.gov; website: http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov. All services are by online appointment only.
Last modified: May 11, 2009
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