The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Wong Ka-hing, this morning (November 5) visited Maryknoll Fathers' School (Primary Section) in Sham Shui Po to observe the outreach vaccination arrangements under the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme.
 
     Professor Chan said, "The winter influenza peak usually occurs during January to March or April every year in Hong Kong. Besides high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and immunocompromised patients, healthy people may also contract influenza and develop complications. Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is one of the safe and effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications.
 
     "To increase the SIV uptake rate among primary school children, the DH introduced the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme this year to reach out to 184 primary schools and provide SIV to their students through a Government Outreach Team or a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Team. As of November 1, 2018, over 16 000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered via the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme in 31 schools.
 
     Under the pilot scheme, the DH arranged for a PPP Team to provide outreach vaccination today at the primary school that Professor Chan visited. Some 480 pupils consented to receive SIV at the school, representing around 70 per cent of the total number of pupils.
 
     She learnt that the DH's procurement and delivery of vaccines for the PPP teams have been smooth under the pilot scheme. The DH also arranges to collect unused vaccines and clinical waste, as well as provides administrative support. A total of 36 doctors were recruited to participate in the PPP. An injection fee of $70 per dose is provided to the PPP doctors.
 
     Professor Chan added, "The DH also encourages primary schools, kindergartens and child care centres (KGs/CCCs) not participating in the pilot programme to arrange outreach vaccination for their students through the Enhanced Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) Outreach Vaccination. As of end-October, 2018, a total of 69 primary schools and 73 KGs/CCCs notified the DH that they would arrange outreach vaccination via the Enhanced VSS programme. In addition, eligible persons can also receive subsidised or free SIV vaccination via the VSS and the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) respectively."
 
     As of November 1, 2018, around 25 000 doses had been administered via the Enhanced VSS Outreach Vaccination. Meanwhile, over 87 000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered via the GVP and over 174 000 doses via the VSS (including the Enhanced VSS Outreach Vaccination), representing increases of 21 per cent and 54 per cent respectively from the same period in the 2017/18 season.

          

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (November 5).

     The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the third quarter of 2018, provisionally estimated at $29.9 billion, increased by 5.6% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants increased by 4.2% to $9.6 billion. 

     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts increased by 2.7% in the third quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier. 

     Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the third quarter of 2018 with the third quarter of 2017, total receipts of Chinese restaurants increased by 4.8% in value and 2.2% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 6.1% in value and 3.5% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 4.9% in value and 0.9% in volume. Total receipts of bars increased by 10.1% in value and 9.8% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts increased by 9.8% in value and 6.1% in volume.
         
​     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts increased by 0.7% in value and 0.2% in volume in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the preceding quarter.

     Comparing the first three quarters of 2018 with the same period in 2017, total restaurant receipts increased by 7.4% in value and 4.4% in volume. 

     To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled. 

     Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector increased by 4.8%, 7.2% and 4.8% respectively in July, August and September 2018, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier. 

     After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that total restaurant receipts increased by 2.0%, 4.2% and 1.8% in volume respectively in July, August and September 2018, compared with the corresponding months a year earlier. 

Further information

     Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the second quarter of 2018 as well as the provisional figures for the third quarter of 2018. 

     Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the second quarter of 2018 and the provisional indices for the third quarter of 2018. 

     Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series. 

     The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the third quarter of 2018 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/bbs.jsp) and relevant publications of the department from December 20, 2018. 

     The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes. 

     More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp320.jsp?productCode=B1080002). 

     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7401; email: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).

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

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (November 7) at 11am, and Thursday (November 8) and Friday (November 9) at 9am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will speak on "Motion of Thanks", to be moved by Ms Starry Lee, which states: "That this Council thanks the Chief Executive for her address."

     Mr Wu Chi-wai, Ms Claudia Mo, Dr Fernando Cheung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Mr Andrew Wan, Mr Kenneth Leung and Mr Gary Fan will move separate amendments to Ms Starry Lee's motion.

     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, all of which require written 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 Secretary for Home Affairs (SHA), Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (November 5) presented commendation certificates and award pins to 180 persons in recognition of their dedicated services and outstanding contribution to the promotion of community building and social integration, community service, caring for the underprivileged, youth development and building management at the SHA's Commendation Scheme presentation ceremony.
      
     Mr Lau also commended 24 construction companies and term contractors under the District Minor Works Programme for assuming corporate social responsibility by mobilising large machinery and skilled workers to voluntarily assist in clearing fallen trees and refuse after the passage of typhoon Mangkhut, so as to help to restore the community to normal operation as soon as possible.
      
     Addressing the award presentation ceremony, Mr Lau thanked and complimented the awardees for their selfless contribution towards society, and particularly praised those who voluntarily helped with clean-up efforts after the passage of typhoon Mangkhut.
       
     "The awardees took the initiative to clear the refuse and fallen trees in their neighbourhood, organised people to clear the refuse on beaches, shorelines, country parks and remote islands, and helped needy elderly to clean up their homes damaged by the typhoon. Their selfless devotion is admirable," he said.
           
     Mr Lau said the awardees have set an example for the community, adding that he believes the commendation scheme will inspire more people to take action to care for society and build a better home for everyone.
           
     The SHA's Commendation Scheme, introduced in 2002, aims to recognise individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to community building, community service and the development of sport, culture and art.
  

  

     Mobile Libraries 4 and 11 will suspend services during designated periods in November for routine maintenance, a Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman announced today (November 5).

     Mobile Library 11 will suspend services from November 12 to 17. The affected service points are Cheung Ching Estate and Easeful Court in Tsing Yi, Lai Yiu Estate in Kwai Chung, Kwong Yuen Estate in Sha Tin, Wan Tau Tong Estate and Tai Yuen Estate in Tai Po and Tin Wah Estate in Tin Shui Wai. For enquiries about Mobile Library 11 services, please call 2479 1055.
 
     Mobile Library 4 will suspend services from November 21 to 27. The affected service points are Yat Tung Estate in Tung Chung, Discovery Bay, Pui O, Shui Hau and Tong Fuk. For enquiries about Mobile Library 4 services, please call 2984 9417.
 
     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.