The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (April 3) at 11.30am (or immediately after the meeting for the Chief Executive's Question Time to be held at 11am) in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on not forgetting the June 4 incident.

     The motion, moved by Mr Wu Chi-wai, states: "That this Council urges that: the June 4 incident be not forgotten and the 1989 pro-democracy movement be vindicated."

     Members will also debate on a motion on requesting the Government to overcome the "three big mountains" in people's livelihood. The motion, moved by Ms Alice Mak, states: "That improving people's livelihood is a key policy theme of the current-term Government; in recent years, the local community has been plagued by 'three big mountains' in people's livelihood (i.e. Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Link REIT), the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), and the offsetting mechanism for the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF)), which have added burden on people's livelihood; as Link REIT is not subject to the Government's restraint and monopolises shopping arcades and markets in communities, shop and stall rents have risen substantially, and this has directly pushed up the prices of livelihood-related commodities; in the case of MTRCL, the lack of competition in railway operation and its ineffective management and works supervision have led to a decline in its service quality, and it has still increased its fares year after year under the Fare Adjustment Mechanism despite successive incidents; and the MPF offsetting mechanism has eroded employees' rights and interests over the years, significantly undermining MPF's function of providing retirement protection; in this connection, this Council requests the Government to expeditiously formulate measures to overcome the 'three big mountains' in people's livelihood, so as to bring benefits to the livelihood of people from various strata, reduce their discontent, and in turn achieve social harmony."
     
     Mr Kwok Wai-keung, Mr Ho Kai-ming, Mr Luk Chung-hung, Mr Leung Yiu-chung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Dr Fernando Cheung, Mr Chu Hoi-dick and Mr Au Nok-hin will move separate amendments to Ms Mak's motion.
    
     On Government Bills, the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
    
     On Government Motions, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare will move three proposed resolutions under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance and the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance respectively, to amend the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance and the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance as set out in Appendix 1, Appendix 2 and Appendix 3.
    
     On Member's Bills, the Second Reading debate on Professional Accountants (Amendment) Bill 2018 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
    
     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
    
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
    
     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 1) investigating an influenza A outbreak at a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in Wong Tai Sin District, and again reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.

     The outbreak involves 13 boys and eight girls aged 2 to 6 who have developed fever, cough and runny nose since February 20. Twenty of them sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. All patients are in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of two students tested positive for influenza A upon laboratory testing.

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

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections, it is of prime importance that students with fever, regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms, should not be allowed to attend school. They should seek medical advice and avoid school till 48 hours after the fever has subsided. Schools should also measure and record students' body temperature properly."

     Schools are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks, which should be reported to the CHP for prompt follow-up.

     "The latest surveillance data showed that the local influenza activity has further decreased to a level approaching the baseline. We urge the community to continue heightening its vigilance against seasonal influenza. As young children are particularly affected in this influenza season, we appeal to parents who have not yet arranged vaccination for their children in this season to do so as soon as possible to strengthen their personal protection," the spokesman said.

     Apart from children, people aged 50 to 64 years, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses who have not yet received influenza vaccination this season are also urged to get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination. Medical advice should be sought promptly if influenza-like symptoms develop so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as early as possible to prevent potential complications. Parents and carers are reminded to render assistance in prevention, care and control for vulnerable people.

     Besides receiving seasonal influenza vaccination as early as possible for personal protection, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses. For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 1) closely monitoring 19 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from February 1 to 28. The CHP again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit.
 
     According to the WHO, among the 17 male patients and two female patients, aged 24 to 94, 13 had underlying illnesses, nine had exposure to camels and consumed camel milk, two had contact with previously confirmed patients, and three had passed away.

     "We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "As countries in the Middle East, particularly the KSA, continue to report MERS cases from time to time, travellers should refrain from going to farms, barns or markets with camels and avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry. Most of the cases reported in the Middle East had history of exposure to camels, consumption of camel milk or contact with other MERS patients," the spokesman said.
 
     "Scientific evidence showed that camels are reservoirs for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camels infected with MERS-CoV may not show any signs of infection. Infected animals may shed MERS-CoV through nasal and eye discharge, faeces, and potentially in their milk and urine. The virus may also be found in the raw organs and meat of infected animals. Therefore, the best protection is to practise good hygiene and avoid direct contact with all of these," the spokesman added
 
     From time to time, suspected MERS cases reported to the CHP for investigation involved patients with history of contact with camels in the Middle East. The CHP strongly advises travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS page of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the WHO's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.

     The latest test results of the opening-up investigation in the second stage of the holistic assessment strategy for the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project (as at April 1) are now available at the Highways Department's website for the SCL project (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/railway_projects/scl/index.html) for reference by the public.

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (April 1) that the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department (GDPSD) will introduce new management measures on the quota system of Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars, including relaxation of application criteria and strengthening quota management, starting from April 15 (Monday). Applications accepted or approved before the implementation of the new measures will be processed based on the original terms.
 
     To foster the economic and social development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, after deliberations by the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments, the scope of eligibility for Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars will be further expanded by relaxing application criteria. The measures relating to Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars include:
 

1. Relaxing the investment and tax requirements in Guangdong Province: The investment threshold will be waived and the taxation threshold in mountainous and non-mountainous areas will be aligned. Enterprises with a tax amount of at least RMB150,000 in Guangdong Province in the past year will be eligible to apply for one quota place;
2. Relaxing the donation requirements in Guangdong Province: Individuals whose charitable contributions amount to an accumulative sum of RMB3 million and social organisations with charitable contributions amounting to an accumulative sum of RMB10 million will be eligible to apply for one quota place; and 
3. Expanding the scope of eligibility to cover talents: Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering who are currently working in Hong Kong, current vice-chancellors of the universities in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong, Taiwanese or foreign holders of A Superior Talent Cards will be eligible to apply for one quota place.

 
     In addition, the GDPSD will introduce measures in strengthening quota management with a view to combating speculation and illegal use of quota places. The relevant measures include:
 

1. Imposing a quota validity period: A one-year validity period will be set for quota places under the investment category and the validity period for quota places under the categories of talents and qualified office holders will be set at five years. Applicants may apply for renewal upon expiry, given that they meet the application criteria;
2. Imposing restrictions on change of vehicles and drivers: For the quota under the investment category, holders are prohibited from changing vehicles within three years and changing drivers within one year, unless under special circumstances;
3. Revoking quota places: If holders or users under the quota are found to use their cross-boundary private cars for illegal immigration, illegal car hiring or smuggling activities, or to be involved in transfer, sale or hire of quota places, or to obtain quota places by deception or bribery, the quota place concerned will be revoked.

 
     For details of the new measures, please visit the GDPSD's website at gdga.gd.gov.cn/jgj/index.html.