Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (November 3):
 
Reporter: (about flu jab)
 
Secretary for Food and Health: The Department of Health has anticipated that there will be more people taking flu jabs in this flu season. Therefore, they have already purchased more than 750 000 doses of flu vaccines in anticipation of the increased number. So far, the situation of people taking flu vaccination has been so far so good. As far as the new School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme is concerned, there are already 16 000 doses of flu vaccination have been given to children involving 31 schools. As for the Government Vaccination Programme , a total of 87 000 doses of flu jabs have been given. If we compare with last year, there is an increase of over 20 percent. As regards the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, that provides subsidies for the private practitioners so people can take flu jabs at the GPs (General Practitioners), a total of 174 000 doses of vaccination have been given. Counting all these together, a total amount of 277 000 doses of flu jabs have been given, so there is an increase as compared with last year. On the one hand, we will continue to do more publicity and education. On the other hand, we believe probably public awareness has been improved in preventing seasonal flu. I think this is a good news. The Centre for Health Protection is monitoring the development of different flu viruses as well as the flu situation. Other measures include those to be implemented by the Hospital Authority. They have been preparing for the flu season and also the height of the flu season which is coming in the winter. At the Food and Health Bureau level, we have provided resources for the two universities, the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, to do more research on flu vaccination, so that we can have more local data to support the work that we are doing.
 
Reporters: Will the government buy more flu jabs?
 
Secretary for Food and Health: In fact the 750 000 doses of flu jabs have already been an increase as compared with last year. We will continue to monitor the situation. In case there is not enough, we will work to see if we can buy more.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) Sports Association held its 66th Autumn Fair at the football field adjacent to Stanley Prison today (November 3). The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at the opening ceremony.

     The theme of this year's fair was "We Promote Inclusiveness in Full Vigour". The venue, the stalls and some handicrafts made by persons in custody were themed around sports to reflect the creativity and vitality of the correctional officers and persons in custody. Elderly persons and ethnic minority members were invited to participate in the fair to promote social inclusion.

     The 66th Autumn Fair also had booths selling items made by persons in custody, including furniture, wooden decorations, stationery, rattan products, plants and handicrafts. The "Harmony Café" was set up in the Theme Corner of the fair, where milk tea and snacks made by persons in custody of Cape Collinson Correctional Institution were served to the public. The café enabled persons in custody to put into practice the knowledge and skills they gained from vocational training in food and beverages at the institution.

     Various organisations were invited to perform at the fair, including a military band performance by the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, a motorcycling performance by the Civil Aid Service, a Chinese martial arts performance, a cheerleading performance by an award-winning school cheering team and a marching band performance. The dragon and lion dance team of the CSD Sports Association and the CSD Dog Unit also performed at the fair.

     The Best Stall Competition prize was won by Lo Wu Correctional Institution. The Best Product award went to Stanley Prison for its wooden bowling storage box.

     After deducting costs, the funds raised from sales and donations through various channels at the Fair will go to voluntary agencies. The Fair also provided opportunities for persons in custody to contribute to the community.

            

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 3) that Tung Chung Swimming Pool in Islands District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 5pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (November 3):

Reporter: Singapore and Malaysia scrapped the examinations for children in the lower forms, for primary school students and, for Singapore, even for secondary schools. Do you think Hong Kong should follow suit and do you think that could be applied to Hong Kong?
 
Secretary for Education: As I said, there is only TSA (Territory-wide System Assessment) in Primary 3, which is being done on a sampling basis, and there is another TSA in Primary 6. In alternate years, there is a Pre-S1 (Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test), which is in Secondary 1. There are no other examinations organised by the Government. But we know that at schools, there are different forms of assessments. Some may take the form of tests or examinations. We have made it very clear to the schools that any form of assessment is for the purpose of helping the students to understand their strengths and weaknesses and as a result to learn, rather than to assess the students themselves. So that will be our main or basic principle. We will be continuing to discuss with schools on how to improve the assessment methods.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The experimental multimedia production "Guan Yu's Ride of 1,000 Miles" will be staged in November at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, restoring and reshaping the forgotten art of lion dance theatre in the captivating performances.
 
     Inspired by one of the adventures of "Three Kingdoms" hero Guan Yu, the production draws on classical lion dance, image theatre, modern dance, experimental music and multimedia arts to form a super-creative performance that reinvents southern lion dance, an old tradition of Hong Kong.
 
     Choreographed by Daniel Yeung, the multimedia theatre production also features Kwok's Kung Fu & Dragon Lion Dance Team, local artistic talents including SunFool Lau, GayBird, Oliver Shing and Jan Wong, and dancers including Li Tuokun, Soames Lee, Mao Wei and Tracy Wong.
 
     The creation of this experimental theatre work originated from the 2016 ArtSnap outdoor programme "The Lion Rocks!" by Daniel Yeung, Kwok's Kung Fu & Dragon Lion Dance Team and other dancers. After the show, Yeung continued the research on traditional lion dance theatre with the aim of restoring and reviving this forgotten art through cross-media collaboration.
 
     The experimental multimedia lion dance theatre: "Guan Yu's Ride of 1,000 Miles" is one of the programmes of the New Vision Arts Festival (NVAF). It will be performed at 8pm on November 9 and 10 and at 3pm on November 10 and 11 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre, with a meet-the-artist session to be held after each performance. Tickets priced at $180 and $240 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
     Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the NVAF is celebrating its ninth edition this year and is being held from October 19 to November 18. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk.