Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Department of Health (DH) is today (May 30) investigating T8 (Int’l) Group Limited (TGL) at Comweb Plaza, Cheung Sha Wan, for suspected illegal sale of an unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm) named Wellmune Cordyceps Sinensis.

     Acting upon intelligence, the DH seized the above unregistered pCm from the market and conducted a field investigation at TGL. According to the content of the product label, the product claimed that it can strengthen the body, moisten the lung, move qi and activate blood, and more.

     “Safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pCms are not proven. Our investigation is ongoing. So far, no related adverse reports have been received,” a spokesman for the DH said.

     The DH endorsed TGL to voluntarily recall the above unregistered pCm from the market and set up a hotline (2488 2489) for related enquiries. The DH will closely monitor the recall.

     According to section 119 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549), no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. Upon completion of the investigation, the DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice on prosecution matters.

     Members of the public who have purchased the above unregistered pCm should stop taking it immediately. Those who have consumed it and are feeling unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals. People who have the product can submit it to the DH’s Chinese Medicine Division on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal.

     “The public should not buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pCms should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the product label in the format of ‘HKC-XXXXX’ or ‘HKP-XXXXX’. The list of registered pCms is published on the website of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (www.cmchk.org.hk/pcm/eng/#main_listpcm.htm) for public reference,” the spokesman added.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (Ma… read more

     One more nomination for the Shap Pat Heung West Constituency was received by the Returning Officer for the by-election of the Yuen Long District Council today (May 30). No nomination was received today for the San Tin Cons… read more

     The Security Bureau today (May 30) held an inter-departmental table-top exercise in the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre at the Central Government Offices. The exercise simulated a super typhoon scenario to test the preparedness, response and recovery capabilities as well as the decision-making process and interoperability of relevant government bureaux and departments.
      
     The exercise aimed to try out new initiatives and arrangements following a review concluded by the Government earlier on the handling of super typhoons. These included the activation of the new Steering Committee to be chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, and new work arrangements after a Typhoon Signal Number 8 is cancelled in exceptional cases. A variety of spin-off scenarios were also added to test the co-ordination, contingency measures and capabilities of participating bureaux and departments.
      
     A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, “The exercise concluded successfully, with officers from more than 30 bureaux, departments and other external parties involved in the handling of natural disasters taking part. The Government will assess the outcome of the exercise with a view to enhancing relevant bureaux and departments’ general awareness and co-ordination in various aspects of contingency handling.”

  

     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending the World No Tobacco Day award presentation ceremony today (May 30):

Reporter: Professor Chan, are you worried that lawmakers are dragging their feet in scrutinising the cigarette bill because they are dealing with the extradition law?

Secretary for Food and Health: The Bills Committee (Bills Committee on Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019)’s work on e-cigarettes is ongoing. We notice that it is a bit sluggish in the progress. We hope that the work of the Bills Committee will continue so that the bill can be scrutinised as soon as possible in the Legislative Council.

Reporter: (About the Government’s work in the next five to 10 years on smoking.)

Secretary for Food and Health: In terms of tobacco control, first of all, throughout the past 30 years, the Government has been working very hard on tobacco control through a multi-pronged approach – legislation, taxation, public education as well as provision of smoking cessation services. The World No Tobacco Day award given to the Department of Health today recognises the hard work of the department and the Government in tobacco control work in the past 30 years.

     We are facing a lot of challenges such as a number of smoking alternative products coming out on the market specially targeting our young people. This would not only harm the health of our young people and our citizens in Hong Kong but it would also bring up the smoking prevalence in Hong Kong. In the ’80s, the smoking prevalence in Hong Kong was about 23 per cent. Through the past 30 years of hard work, it has gone down to 10 per cent. We are aiming at getting it down to a single digit as soon as possible. In terms of our action plan of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), we have set the target of our smoking prevalence to 7.8 per cent by 2025.

     In the coming years, we will be adopting a multi-pronged approach. We will also work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand the world trend. In fact, during the latest WHO World Health Assembly, I met with Dr Douglas Bettcher, who is in charge of the NCD strategy in the WHO. Not only we exchanged views on the work on tobacco control, he also recognised the work of tobacco control in Hong Kong and would like us to share our work experience with other countries and places that have a higher smoking prevalence.

     There are a few directions in the coming years. First of all, we are now currently scrutinising the legislation on the banning of e-cigarettes. We need to work on the alternative smoking products that have an opportunity to raise our smoking prevalence. Secondly, we also want to protect the general public who are not smokers in terms of prevention of second-hand smoke. So we would expand the no-smoking areas at bus stops. We are working towards that. We have already done the work on public transport interchanges. There are many bus stops in Hong Kong and therefore we need to continue to work on those (bus stops) as well. The third area is about our young people. On one hand, we have to prevent young people from taking up conventional smoking products as well as new smoking products. On the other hand, we have to strengthen the work, not only on education to younger generation but also help them to quit smoking.

     Finally, I think strengthening the smoking cessation services is also another area that we should put more resources in. It is important if we want to lower down our smoking prevalence. There are two directions: one is to prevent people from taking up smoking, and the second is to help people quit smoking. Smoking cessation is another area we need to put more emphasis and resources not only for people quitting conventional cigarettes but also new or alternative smoking products. Together with our partners, academia, non-governmental organisations and also our allies in education, the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health as well as all the supporters in Hong Kong and our general public, we will push ahead with our smoking cessation services and tobacco control.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more