Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 9) for the debate on the Motion of Thanks (Session 5: Reinforcing Strengths, Enhancing Governance) in respect of the Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address:
 
     Mr President, the Honourable Dennis Kwok raised the nomination matter of Legislative Council (LegCo) elections. I would like to reiterate that, in accordance with the LegCo Ordinance and Electoral Affairs Commission regulations, the Returning Officer is required to decide whether a candidate of a LegCo election is validly nominated. The Government supports the Returning Officer to exercise their statutory power to discharge his/her duties under the law, so as to decide whether a nomination is valid. In accordance with the requirement under the law, the Returning Officer must endorse his/her decision on the nomination form. Copy of the nomination form is available for public inspection.
 
     Decisions made by the Returning Officer aim to ensure that the LegCo election is held in strict accordance with the Basic Law and other applicable laws in an open, fair and honest manner. There is no question of any political censorship, restriction of the freedom of speech or deprivation of the right to stand for elections as alleged by some LegCo Members. Hong Kong has a well-established judicial system. In fact, the existing electoral law has provided for the mechanism of election petitions to handle possible disputes arising from public elections.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)  read more

     To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up of the country, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to visit Shenzhen and Beijing from tomorrow (November 10) to November 12.

     The delegation comprises over 160 members from various sectors of the community who have made significant contributions to the country’s reform and opening up and to Hong Kong. The HKSAR delegation list is at Annex.

     On arrival at Shenzhen tomorrow, the delegation will visit the Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall and meet with officials of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. In the afternoon, the delegation will head for Qianhai to visit the Qianhai Exhibition Hall and the park of the Qianhai Monument. After that, they will depart for Beijing.

     On November 11, the delegation will attend a seminar in Beijing co-organised by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on the participation of Hong Kong and Macao in the reform and opening up of the country in the past 40 years, as well as visiting the Palace Museum.     

     On November 12, the delegation will be received by the state leaders. It will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon. read more

     Hong Kong Customs today (November 9) seized a batch of suspected smuggled goods including batteries, hats and playing cards from a container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound with an estimated market… read more

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 267 kilograms of Juicy Wrap containing suspected tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) with an estimated market value of about $1.5 million at a container yard in Yuen Long on November 5.  &nbs… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (November 9) 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 November 2 to 8, the CHP recorded six imported DF cases. The patients had been to Bangladesh (two epidemiologically linked cases), Indonesia (one case), Guangdong in Mainland China (two cases) and Malaysia (one case) during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday (November 8), 141 cases had been confirmed this year, of which 29 were local cases and 112 were imported cases. The imported cases were mainly from Thailand (32), Mainland China (24) and the Philippines (17). 

     DF remains endemic in some areas of Asia and beyond. The latest figures for 2018 revealed that 71 976 cases had been recorded in Thailand, 2 457 in Singapore (since December 31, 2017) and 157 in Japan. In Taiwan, 174 local cases have been recorded to date in 2018. In the Americas, the latest figures indicated that 215 585 and 58 685 cases have been filed in Brazil and Mexico respectively in 2018.

     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 light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.
   

     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days (DF) or at least 21 days (Zika Virus Infection) 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 2 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