Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 10) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From May 3 to 9, the CHP confirmed three imported DF cases. The patients had been to Thailand (one case), Sri Lanka (one case) and Vietnam (one case) during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday (May 9), 45 cases had been confirmed this year, all of which were imported. The cases were mainly imported from Indonesia (nine), Malaysia (nine) and Thailand (eight). 

     DF remains endemic in some areas of Asia and beyond. The latest figures for 2019 reveal that 19 503 cases had been recorded in Thailand, 67 106 in the Philippines (which was 1.9 times the number of cases reported in the same period in 2018), 43 065 in Malaysia (which was 2.2 times the number of cases reported in the same period in 2018), 3 121 in Singapore (since December 30, 2018), 57 880 in Vietnam (which was 3.3 times the number of cases reported in the same period in 2018) and 96 in Japan. In the Americas, the latest figures indicate that 12 900 cases were filed in Mexico in 2019.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• 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.

    
     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 two 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. read more

     The talk on the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China, which was adopted at the 2nd Session of the 13th National People’s Congress on March 15, 2019, and will be implemented in the Mainland on January 1, 2020, was held today (May 10) for government officials of Hong Kong and stakeholders to understand more about this Law. The talk was jointly held by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL) at Justice Place.

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, first gave welcoming remarks at the talk. The Assistant Minister of Commerce, Mr Li Chenggang, then gave a presentation on the rationales for enacting the Foreign Investment Law, its key features, how to fully implement the Foreign Investment Law and how to create a better business environment for investment from Hong Kong. During the question-and-answer session of the talk, the Chairman of the AAIL, Mr Anthony Neoh, SC, had exchanges with Mr Li on issues on the Foreign Investment Law that are of interest to the participants. The talk successfully enhanced the participants’ understanding of the Foreign Investment Law.

     The Foreign Investment Law aims to promote foreign investment, protect the legitimate interests of foreign investment and standardise the management of foreign investment. The Hong Kong community generally welcomes the Foreign Investment Law.

     Over 140 people, including senior government officials, representatives from local and foreign chambers of commerce, business leaders, professionals and arbitration institutions attended the talk.

     One of the key policy initiatives of the DoJ is to enhance Hong Kong’s status as the regional legal services and dispute resolution centre. The DoJ is committed to assisting Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services professionals to seek new opportunities in the Mainland, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, and to strengthen co-operation and mutual benefits under the advantage of “one country, two systems”.

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 10) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).
   
     Sixteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are: 
   

Deep Water Bay Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Discovery Bay	Shek O Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	South Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	St Stephen’s Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Trio Beach
Pui O Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Anglers’ Beach	Golden Beach
Approach Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Kiu Tsui Beach
Butterfly Beach	Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Casam Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:
 

Castle Peak Beach

Hoi Mei Wan Beach

 
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Chung Hom Kok Beach and Kiu Tsui Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Castle Peak Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.  
      
     “The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” an EPD spokesman said.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (May 10) that the Monetary Authority has granted Stored Value Facility (SVF) licences to the following… read more

     In response to the Labour Day holidays, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department (HAD) stepped up enforcement actions against unlicensed guesthouses from late April to early May by conducting day and night surprise inspections and decoy operations at tourist accommodation hotspots. The HAD also launched large-scale inter-departmental joint operations during the holidays to combat unlicensed guesthouses and ensure the safety of lodgers as well as the general public.
      
     A spokesman for the HAD today (May 10) said, “The OLA inspected a total of 246 premises in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories in the operations. Prosecution will be instituted by the OLA immediately if there is sufficient evidence that the premises concerned are involved in the operation of unlicensed guesthouses. OLA officers also visited a number of private residential estates and buildings, and posted advisory notices in the common areas of the buildings to alert visitors that there were no licensed guesthouses in those buildings. OLA officers also distributed leaflets to appeal to residents to provide information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA.”
      
     Having regard to unlicensed guesthouses soliciting lodgers via online platforms, the OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection by forming a dedicated team to browse web pages, mobile applications, social media, discussion fora, blogs, etc, to track down suspected unlicensed guesthouse activities. The OLA’s law enforcement officers will initiate follow-up investigation when information on unlicensed guesthouses is found.
      
     The spokesman stressed, “Operating an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and it can lead to imprisonment as well as a criminal record. Upon conviction, an offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000, two years’ imprisonment and a fine of $20,000 for each day during which the offence continues. In 2018, the OLA conducted over 15 250 inspections and instigated 159 prosecutions, among which 140 were convicted so far, including 37 cases solicited via online platforms.”
      
     Apart from conducting special operations during festive seasons, the OLA continues to combat unlicensed guesthouses held out via online platforms through public education, such as broadcasting Announcements in the Public Interest on TV and radio. Starting from the end of March this year, the OLA also conducted publicity through major Internet search engines on the Mainland and overseas to facilitate tourists’ access to the information provided by the OLA in the course of planning their trips, so that they can make use of the search functions on OLA’s website to distinguish whether the guesthouse reserved is licensed or not.
      
     Tourists and members of the public should report any suspected unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805), or through the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses”.

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