British enterprises are encouraged to leverage on Hong Kong's unique advantages to tap into the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) development, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said at a roundtable discussion at the Asia House in London, the United Kingdom (UK) today (May 21, London time). 

     Mr Yau said Hong Kong practises free market economy and provides a level-playing field for all business players, irrespective of their origins. UK businesses which set foot in Hong Kong are open to a wealth of advantages and opportunities, ranging from the liberalisation and facilitation measures provided under the free trade agreements forged between Hong Kong and its trading partners, to the enormous business opportunities along the Belt and Road and in the Greater Bay Area.

     On Belt and Road Initiative, he highlighted three main areas that Hong Kong could contribute, namely financing, professional services and strong position in trade and logistics. 

     The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area promulgated this February sets out the pathway for Hong Kong to further develop and manifest its status as the international financial, transportation, and trade centres as well as an international aviation hub, he said. 

     At a breakfast meeting with members of the All Party Parliamentary China Group of the UK Parliament this morning, Mr Yau updated the parliament members on efforts of this term Government in forging free trade agreements (FTAs) with like-minded economies and the benefits FTAs could bring to overseas enterprises establishing an offshoot in Hong Kong. 

     He also said that Hong Kong has been blessed with a number of mainland policies and arrangements that are unique to Hong Kong, like the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, citing that a British telecom company was granted domestic telecom licences in China through the arrangement early this year.

     Before concluding his visit to London, Mr Yau paid a courtesy call on the Acting Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Ms Chen Wen. He took the opportunity to brief her on Hong Kong's latest developments and thank the embassy for fully supporting and providing assistance to the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the UK.

     Mr Yau will depart for France this afternoon to attend the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Trade Organization Informal Ministerial Gathering to be held in Paris from May 22 to 23 (Paris time).

      

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (May 21) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to their notice to the Drainage Services Department by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline on 2300 1110.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Kwai Chung Hospital made the following announcement today (May 21):

     Three patients (aged 55 to 62) in a female psychiatric ward have presented with respiratory symptoms since May 10. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and the test results of three patients were positive to Human Metapneumovirus. One of the patients is being treated under isolation and another two patients had been transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital. Three patients are in stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

     The Department of Health (DH) is today (May 21) investigating a licensed wholesaler of proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm), CR Care Company Limited, at Wo Shui Street, Fo Tan, for suspected illegal possession of an unregistered pCm called Colla Corii Asini Black Sesame Essence.
 
     Acting upon intelligence, the DH conducted a field investigation and seized the above unregistered pCm from the warehouse of CR Care. According to the content of the package insert, the product claimed that it can tonify blood, stop bleeding and improve immunity.
 
     "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 CR Care to voluntarily recall the above unregistered pCm from the market and set up a hotline (2839 1100) 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 and will also refer the case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK) to consider taking possible disciplinary action.
 
     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 CMCHK (www.cmchk.org.hk/pcm/eng/#main_listpcm.htm) for public reference," the spokesman added.