As the Police Headquarters was surrounded by protestors with roads obstructed in the vicinity, a total of 46 calls of 999 hotline in Wan Chai Division could not be immediately handled as at 7pm today (June 21). Extra resources were deployed and Police service of Wan Chai Division was delayed as a result. Police hereby appeal to all to leave the scene as soon as possible so that the normal operation of 999 service can be resumed.

     As the Police Headquarters was surrounded by protestors with roads obstructed in the vicinity, a total of 46 calls of 999 hotline in Wan Chai Division could not be immediately handled as at 7pm today (June 21). Extra resources were deployed and Police service of Wan Chai Division was delayed as a result. Police hereby appeal to all to leave the scene as soon as possible so that the normal operation of 999 service can be resumed.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The public paediatic service in Hong Kong reached a milestone today (June 21) as the Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) celebrated its official opening.
 
     The hospital's opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan. Other guests attending the ceremony included the Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Professor John Leong and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin; the HKCH Hospital Governing Committee Chairman, Mr John Lee; the Dean of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Gabriel Leung; the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Dennis Lo; Kowloon Central Cluster Chief Executive, Dr Albert Lo, and the HKCH Hospital Chief Executive, Dr Lee Tsz-leung.
 
     In his welcoming remarks, Professor Leong thanked the Government for its support and leadership. He said, "With the full funding support from the Government we were able to build a hospital with an excellent environment, ample space and advanced equipment, which allows us to develop clinical services, research, teaching and training that are comparable to the standard of our international counterparts."
 
     Professor Leong added that the HKCH has adopted children-centred and family-friendly designs and initiatives to create a home-like environment to relieve the stress and anxiety of child patients and their families, while also supporting their care, leisure, social and learning needs.
 
     "The establishment of the HKCH has also provided an opportunity for the HA to re-organise its paediatric services. The HKCH serves as the tertiary referral centre for complex, serious and uncommon paediatric cases requiring multidisciplinary management, providing diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services for patients with relevant clinical needs, from birth to 18 years of age over the territory, while the paediatric departments in the other 13 public hospitals continue to provide secondary, acute, emergency and community paediatric care. This new arrangement is expected to bring about a co-ordinated and coherent public paediatric service network and enhance the overall service quality," he said.
 
     THe HKCH Hospital Governing Committee Chairman, Mr John Lee, also expressed gratitude to the different sectors which have contributed to the hospital's smooth service commissioning. He said, "We are fully aware of the concerns and expectations the public have of the HKCH. This will constantly motivate us to keep improving to achieve excellence."
 
     The operation of the HKCH has commenced in phases since December 2018. Services currently available include oncology and haematology, nephrology, metabolic medicine, intensive care, paediatric surgery, pathology, anaesthesia, radiology, pharmacy and allied health services. Other clinical services will commence gradually.

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 21) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and strongly urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From June 14 to 20, the CHP recorded seven imported DF cases. The patients had been to Cambodia (one case), India (one case), Maldives (one case), Nepal (one case), the Philippines (one case) and Thailand (two cases, including one case epidemiologically linked to a case recorded last week) during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday (June 20), 65 cases had been recorded this year, all of which were imported. The cases were mainly imported from Thailand (14), Indonesia (11) and Malaysia (11). 

     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. According to the World Health Organization, some Asian countries are experiencing unusually high numbers of DF cases for this time of year. The number of cases in several countries including Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam was about two to three times the number for the same period in 2018.
 
     According to the announcement of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province on June 13, the epidemic season of DF started early this year in Guangdong. As of June 12, 240 cases have been recorded in Guangdong this year, which was significantly higher than that in the same period last year (44 cases). In Taiwan, 196 cases (including 22 local cases) have been recorded in 2019 (as of June 20).
 
     Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas this year is uploaded to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf). 
          
     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control at all times:
 

• 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 loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or exposed parts of the body when doing outdoor activities.

    
     Members of the public must adopt personal protective measures against mosquitoes to prevent mosquito-borne diseases such as DF when visiting affected countries/areas. To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF and Zika virus infection should apply insect repellent for 14 days or at least 21 days respectively upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor. 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 may refer to the CHP's tips for using insect repellents for details.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued guidance today (June 21) regarding the currency conversion arrangement under the Northbound trading of Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect (Stock Connect).
 
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Norman Chan, said, "with the support of the People's Bank of China, investors under the Northbound trading of Stock Connect may, for the first time, obtain Renminbi (RMB) and conduct the related foreign exchange hedging based on the onshore exchange rate through the relevant Hong Kong banks.  As major international financial market indices continue to include A-shares or increase weights assigned to them, the enhanced currency conversion arrangement will offer more diversified choices to investors, and increase the convenience and attractiveness of Stock Connect, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong's role as the intermediary for capital flowing into and out of the Mainland."
 
     Currently, investors investing in the Mainland stock markets through the Northbound trading of Stock Connect have to settle their transactions in offshore RMB. The enhanced arrangement aims to provide investors an additional choice to obtain RMB and conduct the related foreign exchange hedging based on the onshore exchange rate for their underlying Northbound Stock Connect transactions.  Investors may access the service from designated Hong Kong banks through relevant securities companies and brokers.  The said banks may square the relevant positions in the onshore foreign exchange market.