Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (Toronto ETO) hosted the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Week and the “Connect & Excel – Past, Present & Future” photo exhibition at the Sunroom and Gallery of Robson Square at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver yesterday (June 24, Vancouver time).
      
     In delivering a welcome speech at the opening ceremony, the Director of Toronto ETO, Ms Emily Mo, said the Hong Kong Week event under the theme “Connect and Excel” aims to promote Hong Kong’s strengths and potential with an emphasis on the core values and attributes of Hong Kong, Asia’s world city.
      
     Given Hong Kong’s high degree of connectivity, globally and with Mainland China and the rest of Asia, the city helps propel people and businesses to excellence in their chosen fields under a “Connect and Excel” theme. “Hong Kong’s sound fundamentals not only relate to physical connectivity but also to financial, legal, scientific research and creative links as well as people-to-people connectivity,” Ms Mo said.
      
     Ms Mo also introduced the activities in Vancouver under the inaugural “Hong Kong Week” event organised by Toronto ETO, which include dragon boat festival activities, a Hong Kong-themed drama and the photo exhibition launched yesterday. In Toronto, the events have included a business conference, an academic seminar and a concert, all held last week, as well as the photo exhibition.
      
     The photo exhibition, entitled “Connect & Excel – Past, Present & Future” and now being staged in Vancouver and Toronto, is jointly presented by Toronto ETO and the Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto. More than 80 photos are being displayed to showcase Hong Kong’s high degree of connectivity from different perspectives.
      
     Among the photos, two newly commissioned infrastructure projects, namely the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which greatly enhance the connectivity of Hong Kong within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and to other parts of Mainland China, are featured. The photo exhibition also showcases the many types of transport and world-class infrastructure in Hong Kong.
      
     Ms Mo invited guests at the opening ceremony and the Canadian public to learn more about Hong Kong’s connectivity by visiting the photo exhibition and participating in other Hong Kong Week activities.
      
     Yesterday’s opening ceremony was attended by the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver, Ms Tong Xiaoling; Member of Parliament of Canada Mrs Alice Wong; and Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Ms Teresa Wat.
      
     Before the opening ceremony came to a close, the guests were treated to a Chinese instrumental performance by ruan master Yu Zhimin, who had performed in the Hong Kong Arts Festival, together with Canadian masters of the sheng and erhu.
      
     The “Connect & Excel – Past, Present & Future” photo exhibition in Vancouver will run from yesterday till June 29 (Vancouver time) at the Sunroom and Gallery of Robson Square at the University of British Columbia.
      
     In addition, a Hong Kong-themed musical performance, “Try to Remember”, will be held at the Michael J Fox Theatre in Vancouver on June 30 (Vancouver time). This musical is an original play written by renowned Canadian Hong Kong director Peter Poon about the love stories of three couples from different generations in Hong Kong. It will present many songs that were popular in Hong Kong from the 1960s to 1980s. Through this music journey, the Canadian audience can learn and understand more about the vibrant arts and culture scene of Hong Kong in different eras.

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     Hong Kong Customs today (June 25) arrested a renovation works salesman suspected of having applied a false trade description to the renovation service supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a renovation works salesman had falsely claimed a renovation service company would provide a floor tiles installation service.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 35-year-old man.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 25) investigating an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection (URI) at a residential child care centre in Causeway Bay, as well as an influenza B outbreak at a kindergarten in Yuen Long, and reminded members of the public who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season that they can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza.

     The URI outbreak affected 11 boys and 10 girls, aged 2 months to 34 months, who have developed fever, cough and runny nose since June 16. All of them sought medical attention. Among them, six required hospitalisation and four of them were discharged following treatment. All patients have been in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of five children admitted to hospital tested positive for parainfluenza virus type 1 upon laboratory testing.
 
     The influenza B outbreak involves 12 boys and 10 girls, aged 3 to 6, who have developed fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat since June 11. Among them, 20 sought medical attention and none required hospitalisation. All are in a stable condition. The respiratory specimen of one child tested positive for influenza B upon laboratory testing.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted site visits to the two institutions and advised them to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory tract infections. The institutions have been placed under medical surveillance.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said, “To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections, it is of prime importance that students with fever, regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms, should not be allowed to attend school. They should seek medical advice and avoid school till 48 hours after the fever has subsided. Schools should also measure and record students’ body temperature properly.”

     Schools are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks, which should be reported to the CHP for prompt follow-up.

     “The latest surveillance data showed that the local seasonal influenza activity in the past few weeks was higher than that in early May. Members of the public aged 6 months or above (except those with known contraindications) who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza,” the spokesman added.

     Besides receiving seasonal influenza vaccination, the public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
• Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     Members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, should wear a face mask and consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection. read more

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, this afternoon (June 25) visited Sai Kung District, where he called at an elderly centre, visited a renovation project for a community facility and met with members of the Sai Kung Di… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session after attending the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Development today (June 25):
 
Reporter: Secretary, you said more time is needed. Why do you guys need more time? And, are you concerned that this might affect the land and flats supply? Talking about Lantau Tomorrow Vision, do you still wish the LegCo to pass the Lantau Tomorrow Vision before the summer break?
 
Secretary for Development: For the Land Sharing Pilot Scheme, we are looking at many details. With development’s reasons, more time may be needed. So our original schedule of looking at a submission to the Chief Executive in June or July, it might have to be adjusted. We are still looking at the details. So give us a bit more time. We will make an announcement when we are ready. On the study relating to the reclamation of Kau Yi Chau, at the moment it is at the end of the queue in front of the Finance Committee. This is something natural, because there are some 20 projects ahead of this item (including those) that have been discussed by the Public Works Subcommittee. We understand that it may mean that the Legislative Council (LegCo) would not be able to finish the scrutiny for this item before summer. If this is the case, we will accept it. If there is a chance to discuss it before summer, we are also happy to see it.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more