The following is issued on behalf of the Community Care Fund Secretariat:
 
     The Community Care Fund (CCF) will hold three public consultation sessions on March 23 (Saturday), March 29 (Friday) and April 6 (Saturday) respectively to gauge public views on the formulation of assistance programmes. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

     Those who would like to attend the consultation sessions may call the CCF Secretariat at 2835 2279 during office hours (from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays) or complete the online registration form at the CCF's website (www.communitycarefund.hk/en/form.asp) for seat reservation. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     Details of the three public consultation sessions are as follows:
 
Date: March 23 (Saturday)
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Venue: Aldrich Bay Community Hall,
           G/F, Oi Po House, Oi Tung Estate,
           Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong
           (MTR Sai Wan Ho Station, Exit A)
 
Date: March 29 (Friday)
Time: 7pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Hall, 1/F, Tai Po Community Centre,
           2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po,
           New Territories
           (MTR Tai Po Market Station, Exit A2)
  
Date: April 6 (Saturday)
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Venue: Hall, G/F, Tin Yiu Community Centre,
           Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai,
           New Territories
           (MTR Tin Shui Wai Station, Exit C)

     Regarding the service of the MTR Tsuen Wan Line affected by the collision incident of MTR trains in the early hours today (March 18), the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) has been closely monitoring the traffic situation and also co-ordinating the public transport operators (including franchised buses, tram and Star Ferry) to enhance their services.  Meanwhile, the franchised buses operators have already enhanced the service of 11 cross-harbour routes to meet passenger demand.
 
     As the Tsuen Wan Line service will still be affected today, the TD has requested the public transport operators to enhance their services during the evening peak hours.  The franchised bus operators plan to deploy about 80 additional buses to strengthen the cross-harbour services, and the Star Ferry will also enhance ferry services according to passenger demand.
 
     The TD will continue to closely monitor the public transport services and traffic situation.  It is anticipated that there will be more passengers using the Tsuen Wan Line cross-harbour section during the evening peak hours and the waiting time will be longer. Passengers are advised to allow more time for travelling.
 
     Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic situation via the TD's mobile application "HKeMobility" and the media.

The following is issued on behalf of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong:

     The Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong announced today (March 18) the results of the Pharmacist Registration Examinations held in December 2018.

     There were 70, 97 and 80 candidates sitting for examinations respectively in pharmacy legislation in Hong Kong, pharmacy practice and pharmacology with corresponding passing rates of 44 per cent, 14 per cent and 29 per cent.

     Apart from meeting other requirements prescribed by the Board, any pharmacy graduate outside Hong Kong intending to be registered as a pharmacist in Hong Kong is required to pass the above three subjects.

     The Board conducts its Registration Examinations twice a year, normally in June and December.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     The Government has great concern on the collision of two MTR trains in the early hours today (March 18) during the testing of new signalling system on the Tsuen Wan Line. The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, has already requested the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to conduct thorough investigation into the cause of incident. Mr Chan has also relayed to the Chairman of MTRCL Board, Professor Frederick Ma, the request to call an urgent Board meeting.

     As MTR service would be affected today, the Transport Department is closely monitoring the traffic condition, and has already requested and coordinated other public transport operators to enhance service.