The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 5) closely monitoring eight additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Oman from February 12 to 18. 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 four male patients and four female patients, aged 30 to 77, five had underlying illnesses, one had exposure to camels, seven had contact with previously confirmed patients, two were health care workers, and two had passed away.

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

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise 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 Coronavirus," the spokesman said.

     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.

      Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a radio programme today (March 5):

Reporter: Could you explain why you have decided to resign from the Kwai Tsing Safe Community and Healthy City Association?

Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, I think there are some concerns about me, being the honorary patron of the Kwai Tsing Safe Community and Healthy City Association which has won the tender as we announced yesterday. I was not involved in any of the tendering process. The tendering process of the Government is actually open and fair. It involved our colleagues from the Food and Health Bureau as well as the Central Tender Board which is outside the Food and Health Bureau. I was not involved in the entire process and I did not know who had actually put in a tender. I understand that there is a total of seven tenders that had been put in. Based on those concerns, I felt that it is probably appropriate for me to resign from the honorary patronage position to alleviate those concerns. Also, being the honorary patron of the organisation and also other organisations, I am not involved in their operation or even meetings.

Reporter: I am sure you hold similar position in other organisations. What are you going to do about those posts?

Secretary for Food and Health: I will review the list of the organisations that I am involved in as a patron, an honorary patron or an adviser, and then I will make a decision on whether I should resign from those positions in those organisations because there will be more of these district health centre networks coming up in the rest of 17 districts in Hong Kong.

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

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (March 6). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp outside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Vehicles from eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

1. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.
     
     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic on southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces
     
     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.

     Over one million members of the public had registered with the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS) by today (March 5) as the system marks its third anniversary this month.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "Currently, over 1 700 healthcare providers (HCPs) from the public and private sectors, including the Hospital Authority (HA), the Department of Health, all 12 private hospitals in the territory as well as various types of clinics, elderly homes and welfare organisations have joined the eHRSS. Over 47 000 user accounts have been created for the healthcare professionals working in these HCPs to access the eHRSS to facilitate their provision of healthcare services to patients.

     "In addition to community support, the participation of the healthcare sector is also important for the continuous development of the eHRSS. Drawing on the successful experience of the HA in developing its Clinical Management System (CMS), the Government has engaged the HA as the technical agency to help develop the electronic health record sharing platform core infrastructure, as well as applications such as the CMS Adaptation Modules and the CMS On-ramp," he said.

     Launched in March 2016, the territory-wide eHRSS is a secure information sharing platform which allows registered HCPs in the public and private sectors, with patients' consent, to view and upload their electronic health records (eHRs) for healthcare purposes.

     Stage Two Development of the eHRSS is now underway. Major work areas include expansion of the sharable scope to cover Chinese medicine information and radiological images; development of a "Patient Portal" as Hong Kong's public health portal to assist the public in the management of their own health; and continuous enhancement of the system's security and privacy protection. It is expected that the above tasks will be completed in phases by end-2022.

     The eHRSS has been established with the aim of improving continuity of patient care, promoting public-private collaboration and enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. The eHRSS helps keep lifelong eHRs for participants, provides timely and accurate information for healthcare services, and minimises duplicated tests and treatment.

     Members of the public and HCPs are welcome to join the eHRSS to enjoy the benefits of eHR sharing. Please visit the dedicated website (www.ehealth.gov.hk) to register and obtain more information about the eHRSS.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by United Overseas Bank Ltd. on fraudulent websites, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the websites concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the websites should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.