Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after the Hong Kong Housing Authority's annual special open meeting today (June 10):
 
Reporter: Council member Chua Hoi-wai said in the next five years, URA (Urban Renewal Authority) will not provide any subsidised housing. Will the Government encourage the Authority to provide some subsidised housing in light of the housing shortage?
 
Secretary for Transport and Housing: Yes, you are correct that Mr Chua did mention during the meeting that there would be a supply shortage in the next few years. Indeed, we have disclosed on previous occasions that the (supply) number in the next few years will be less than those in demand. Therefore we are trying our best endeavour to gather more land to build public housing faster and in a bigger quantity. Also we are working with the NGOs to provide community housing and also transitional housing so as to ease the plight of those living in subdivided units.

Reporter: Would you encourage the Urban Renewal Authority to turn some of their flats into subsidised housing?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: As far as the Urban Renewal Authority is concerned, I think they do have their mandates and of course we can talk with them. But whether or not they would choose to do it or decide to do, it is entirely up to their corporate decision.
 
Reporter: Some groups are calling for strike on Wednesday. Are you worried that it may affect some of the transport in Hong Kong?
 
Secretary for Transport and Housing: As far as I can see, for all those Hong Kong citizens who went out to walk for reasons and belief, they have been doing it very orderly and peacefully.
 
Reporter: Are you worried that there may be a strike on Wednesday when the LegCo vets the …?
 
Secretary for Transport and Housing: That would be a kind of speculation. I won't try to dwell on that further.
  
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 10) investigating an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection (URI) at a residential care home for persons with disabilities (RCHD) in Sham Shui Po, and appealed to members of the public to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.

     The outbreak involves five male and 12 female residents aged 50 to 82, as well as two male and one female staff members. They have developed URI symptoms including runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever since May 24. Sixteen of them sought medical attention. Among them, three required hospitalisation and one was discharged following treatment. All patients are now in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of two patients tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus upon laboratory testing.

    Officers of the CHP conducted a site visit and advised the RCHD to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory tract infections. The RCHD has been placed under medical surveillance.

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:

• Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• 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.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 10) investigating a case of measles infection.

     The case involves a 13-month-old baby boy with good past health, who has developed fever, cough and running nose since June 2 and rash since June 5. He was taken to a general practitioner on June 6 and then to the Accident and Emergency Department at Tseung Kwan O Hospital on June 7 and was subsequently transferred to United Christian Hospital for admission and treatment on the same day.

     A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He is in a stable condition and has not received measles vaccination. He travelled to Jiangmen during the incubation period but had no travel history during the communicable period.

     According to the patient's family, he did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.
 
     Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patient visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.

     A spokesman for the DH said, "Those who might have had contact with the patient during the period of communicability are urged to observe if they have developed measles-related symptoms, and to seek medical treatment immediately if such symptoms appear. If they need to visit any health care facilities during the period of medical surveillance, they should also report whether they have symptoms and prior measles exposure history to the healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities concerned to prevent any potential spread."

     The spokesman explained that measles is a highly infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It can be transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons, and, less commonly, by articles soiled with nose and throat secretions. A patient can pass the disease to other persons from four days before to four days after the appearance of skin rash.

     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," the spokesman advised. 

     "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Members of the public who are planning to travel to places with high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received measles vaccination during childhood. The history of measles vaccination in Hong Kong is available in the CHP's measles thematic page. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles are urged to consult their doctor for advice on vaccination at least two weeks before departure," the spokesman said.
  
     Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
 

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of rash to prevent spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

     For more information on measles, the public may call the 24-hour health education hotline 2833 0111 or visit the CHP's measles thematic page. For outbreak news of measles outside Hong Kong or the latest travel health advice, please visit the website of DH's Travel Health Service.

     A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (June 10) reminded residents of public rental housing (PRH) estates to declare truthfully their income and assets.

     Two PRH residents living at a PRH flat at Oi Man Estate in Ho Man Tin declared on a 2018 Income and Asset Declaration Form to have no domestic property ownership in Hong Kong and that their total household net asset value did not exceed 100 times the prevailing PRH Income Limit (the asset limit for that household was $2,240,000). Subsequent investigation revealed that the two residents individually owned 50 per cent ownership of a domestic property in Hong Kong at the time and the estimated total household net asset value was about $6,750,000. Both residents were prosecuted by the HD for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance. Both defendants were convicted by the presiding magistrate in Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts this afternoon and were fined $40,000 and $30,000 respectively. Furthermore, the public rental housing unit concerned had already been recovered by the HD in January this year.

     The spokesman said that households living in PRH should complete their income and asset declaration forms accurately, which forms the foundation for the assessment of rent and their eligibility for continuing residence. Before making the declarations, households should read the content and completion guidelines of the income and asset declaration form carefully and compute their income and assets in accordance with the methods specified. Otherwise, they may be prosecuted for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months) or being prosecuted for neglecting to furnish information as specified in a declaration form, contrary to Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $25,000 fine and imprisonment for three months).

     Notwithstanding the above, the HD will take action to recover the undercharged rent incurred due to the inaccurate information. According to the revised "Well-off Tenants Policies" endorsed in December 2016, PRH households with domestic property ownership in Hong Kong or their total household net asset value exceeding 100 times the prevailing PRH Income Limit, irrespective of their levels of household income, will be required to vacate their PRH flats.

     One nomination for the Shap Pat Heung West Constituency and two nominations for the San Tin Constituency were received by the Returning Officer for the by-election of the Yuen Long District Council by the close of the nomination period today (June 10).

     Particulars of the nominees are available on the Electoral Affairs Commission website (www.eac.hk/en/distco/2019yld_candidates.htm).
 
     A full list of the validly nominated candidates will be published in the Gazette after the Returning Officer has validated and confirmed the eligibility for candidature of the nominees.

     If the number of validly nominated candidates for a constituency is more than one at the by-election, a poll will be held on July 14, 2019 (Sunday) for the by-election for that constituency.

     The Commission will hold a briefing for candidates and their agents at Yuen Long Town East Community Hall, 9 Long Yat Road, Yuen Long, New Territories, at 7pm on June 13, 2019 (Thursday).

     The Commission's Chairman, Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, will chair the briefing and introduce the guidelines on election-related activities, electoral arrangements for the by-election and the important points to note in running election campaigns. A representative from the Independent Commission Against Corruption will explain the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance. The Returning Officer and representatives from the Registration and Electoral Office, Hongkong Post and the Department of Justice will also be present.
 
     Before the briefing, the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer will determine the order of appearance of names of candidates on the ballot papers and the allocation of designated spots for the display of election advertisements by drawing of lots.