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Author Archives: hksar gov

Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service to hold hearings to receive oral evidence from invited parties

The following is issued on behalf of the Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service:
 
     The Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service will hold hearings to receive oral evidence from the invited parties as follows:
 

Date/Time Venue Invited Parties
September 12 (Wednesday)
(10am to 5.30pm, with a break between 1pm and 2.30pm)
(continued from August 11)		 Auditorium of the Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar
 		 Representatives of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited and Long Win Bus Company Limited
 
September 15
(Saturday)
(10am to 4.30pm, with a break between 1pm and 2.30pm)		  
Auditorium of the Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar
 		  
Professor John Stanley, an expert appointed by the Committee
 
     The Committee’s rules of procedure for the receipt of oral evidence and notice to the public attending the hearings to receive oral evidence are available on the Committee’s website (www.irc-bus.gov.hk/eng/press.html).
 
     Having received and considered written submissions from various interested parties, and in order to obtain further information, the Committee is in the process of inviting specific interested parties to give oral evidence to the Committee through nominated representatives. Twelve hearings have been held so far to receive oral evidence from:
 
(A) Representatives of:
  • the Transport and Housing Bureau;
  • the Transport Department;
  • Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited and Long Win Bus Company Limited
  • the New World First Bus Services Limited and Citybus Limited;
  • the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited;
  • Tai Po, Shatin and Sham Shui Po District Councils;
  • ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Openmatics s.r.o.;
  • the Community for Road Safety;
  • the Motor Transport Workers General Union, including its sub-unions of Citybus Branch, KMB Branch, Long Win Bus Branch, New Lantao Bus Branch and New World Bus Branch;
  • The Federation of Bus Industry Trade Unions, including its members of KMB Staff Union, New World First Bus Company Staff Union and Citybus Limited Employees Union;
  • the KMB Employees Union;
  • the Staff Rights Association of KMB;
  • the Monthly-Rated Drivers Union; and
  • the Part-time Drivers Union
 
(B) Former employees of the KMB:
  • Mr Alok Jain; and
  • Mr Raymond Cheng
     
(C) Employees of the KMB:
  • Ms Debby Wong; and
  • Mr Kelvin Yeung
 
     A transcript of that evidence (and a translation in Chinese) is available on the Committee’s website (www.irc-bus.gov.hk/eng/transcripts.html).
 
     The Committee wishes to invite family members of the victims and passengers on board the bus involved in the fatal incident on Tai Po Road, and other recent serious incidents involving franchised bus services, to attend the hearings, and invites them to contact the Secretariat in advance of the hearings if they wish to attend. Except for seats reserved for such persons as well as the media and specifically identified interested parties, all available seats in the hearing venues will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. A registration counter will open at 9.30am on September 12 and 15.
 
     Enquiries regarding the hearings may be directed to the Secretariat of the Committee at 2867 5324. read more

East Asia

DH closely monitors a MERS case in Korea

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 9) closely monitoring an imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Korea, and 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, the case involves a 61-year-old male patient, who travelled to Kuwait for business between August 16 and September 6. The patient was hospitalised with fever, diarrhoea and respiratory symptoms shortly after returning to Korea and is currently receiving treatment in isolation.
 
     According to the WHO, this is the first MERS case detected in Korea since the end of the outbreak in 2015.

     “We will maintain close communication with the WHO and the health authority of Korea,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP’s surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Suspected cases identified will be sent to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS Coronavirus.
 
     “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.

     The Hajj pilgrimage ended in late August. If pilgrims feel unwell during the two weeks after returning to Hong Kong, they should wear a surgical mask and seek medical attention immediately and inform a doctor of their recent travel history, including transit.

     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. read more

East Asia