Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Home Affairs Department will open 18 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 26) for people in need of the service.
 
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
 
     For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
 
     The 18 night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate
Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 20 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service:

     The Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service today (July 26) submitted its report on the Grade Structure Review (GSR) for the Veterinary Laboratory Technician (VLT) and Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) grades to the Chief Executive.

     At the invitation of the Secretary for the Civil Service, the Standing Commission carried out a GSR for the VLT grade in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the MLT grade in the Department of Health (DH). The report sets out the Standing Commission’s findings and recommendations.

     “We conducted the GSR through a combination of fact-finding exercise and engagement of the stakeholders. We invited and examined written submissions from the two departmental managements, staff bodies and the staff concerned and conducted an in-depth analysis of the change in scope and complexity of duties of the two grades over time and their respective manpower situations. We also visited the laboratory facilities of the two departments and met the departmental managements, the staff associations and staff concerned,” the Chairman of the Standing Commission, Dr Pang Yiu-kai, said.

     Having examined the manpower statistics of the two grades, the Standing Commission is of the view that the VLT grade has been facing persistent and serious recruitment and retention difficulties, while the MLT grade, which has identical entry requirements as the VLT grade, has been experiencing slight turnover problems. The GSR has focused on adjusting the entry requirements, qualification grouping, pay scales and structures of the two grades to help resolve these problems.

     “We recommend re-classifying the two grades from Qualification Group 3 Group II: Diploma Grades to Qualification Group 3 Group I: Higher Diploma or Associate Degree Grades and raising the entry requirement from Diploma level to Higher Diploma level to reflect the minimum level of qualification required for competent performance of the jobs, as well as to bring the qualification grouping of the two grades in line with that of the other Supplementary Medical Professions grades,” Dr Pang said.

     The Standing Commission also recommends merging the two ranks of VLT II and VLT I to form a new entry rank of Associate Veterinary Technologist and merging the two ranks of MLT II and MLT I to form a new entry rank of Associate Medical Technologist.

     “The pay scales of the entry ranks of the two grades after the proposed mergers will be improved from Master Pay Scale (MPS) Points 8-21 to MPS Points 14-24. This should help enhance the attractiveness of the two grades to potential candidates and alleviate recruitment difficulties. It should also help boost the morale of existing staff and help retain them,” Dr Pang said.
 
     The Standing Commission recommends raising the maximum pay of the Veterinary Technologist rank of the VLT grade and the Medical Technologist rank of the MLT grade by one pay point. The adjustment is to recognise the increase in responsibility and the higher level of expertise required of these ranks.

     Having regard to the functional need of the VLT grade, the Standing Commission further recommends the creation of a new promotion rank of Senior Veterinary Technologist, which will also improve the career path and hence the attractiveness of the grade. The rank of Senior Medical Technologist already exists for the MLT grade.

     “We trust that our recommendations, if accepted and implemented, will help improve the manpower situation of the two grades. This should in turn enhance the delivery of services to the public,” Dr Pang supplemented.

     “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the departmental managements of the AFCD and the DH, the staff associations and staff members concerned for their support during the review,” Dr Pang said.

     Standing Commission Report No. 61 can be viewed on the website of the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service at www.jsscs.gov.hk/reports/en/61/61.pdf.

     The Standing Commission advises the Chief Executive on the structure, salaries and conditions of service of the non-directorate civilian grades in the civil service. The Standing Commission is chaired by Dr Pang Yiu-kai. Its members are Mrs Edith Chan Ngan Man-ling, Mr Chan Tze-ching, Ms Christina Maisenne Lee, Mr Lee Luen-fai, Mr Lee Ming-kwai, Ms Angela Lee Wai-yin, Ms Elaine Lo Yuen-man, Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah, Mr Joseph Luc Ngai and Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen. read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 26) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).   

     Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and six as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:
 

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	St Stephen’s Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Discovery Bay	Tong Fuk Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	Trio Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Anglers’ Beach	Lido Beach
Butterfly Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Pui O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Shek O Beach
Golden Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Kadoorie Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	South Bay Beach

Grade 3 beaches are:
 

Approach Beach	Casam Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Ting Kau Beach

* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

     Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay and Upper Cheung Sha Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Lido Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Kwun Yam Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

     “The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” an EPD spokesman said.

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 26) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF) and chikungunya fever (CF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.
 
A. Dengue fever
 
     From July 19 to 25, the CHP confirmed 11 imported DF cases. The patients had been to Cambodia (five cases, including two epidemiologically linked cases), Indonesia (three cases), Thailand (two cases) and Nepal (one case) during the incubation period.
 
     As of yesterday (July 25), 95 cases had been recorded this year, as compared with 51 cases recorded in the same period last year. All the cases recorded in 2019 were imported, mainly from Malaysia (17), Thailand (17) and Indonesia (16).
     
     The CHP has been closely monitoring the latest DF situation in neighbouring and overseas areas. DF is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas this year has been uploaded to the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).
 
     According to the ovitrap data from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus rose from 11 per cent in May to 16 per cent in June, indicating that mosquito infestation was slightly more extensive in the areas surveyed. Members of the public, especially residents in areas with extensive mosquito infestation, should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.
 
     ​”Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
B. Chikungunya fever
 
​     From July 19 to 25, the CHP confirmed one CF case. The patient had been to Thailand during the incubation period. As of yesterday (July 25), five confirmed CF cases had been recorded this year, all of which were imported cases from Thailand.
 
     CF is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the chikungunya virus. It is clinically characterised by fever frequently accompanied by joint pain. Other common signs and symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and a rash. Joint pain is often very debilitating, but usually lasts for a few days or may be prolonged for weeks. Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months, or even years.
 
     Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. Although the vector Aedes aegypti is not found in Hong Kong, another vector, Aedes albopictus, is widely distributed locally. These mosquitoes can be found biting throughout daylight hours, though there may be peaks of activity in the early morning and late afternoon.
 
     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.
•   
  * For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.
   

     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the CF page of the CHP, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.  read more

Attention Radio/ TV Announcers: Please broadcast the following announcement as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:      The Environmental Protection Department announced today (July 26) that the Island West T… read more