To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) and provide the public with an opportunity to better understand the work and personnel training of the FSD, the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy in Tseung Kwan O will hold an open day on August 5 (Sunday).

     The Open Day will include a fire appliances parade and various firefighting and rescue demonstrations. Participants can visit the simulated Pak Shing Kok railway station and the Fire and Ambulance Services Education Centre cum Museum will also be open to the public. In addition, there will be displays of training facilities, FSD equipment and special vehicles, an exhibition on fire safety education, game booths and an interactive recruitment experience area as well as a Fire Services working dogs demonstration and more.

     The Academy will be open to the public from 9am to 4pm. An admission ticket is required for entrance.
 
     A total of 6 100 admission tickets will be distributed free to members of the public from 10am on July 7 (Saturday) on a first-come, first-served basis. Each person can obtain a maximum of two tickets at the following locations:

(1) Sheung Wan Fire Station (address: 2 Western Fire Services Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)
(2) Wong Tai Sin Fire Station (address: 28 Fung Tak Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon)
(3) Sha Tin Fire Station (address: 26-28 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin, New Territories)
(4) Fire and Ambulance Services Academy (address: 11 Pak Shing Kok Road, Tseung Kwan O)

     The ticket distribution arrangement will be postponed to July 14 (Sunday) if Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or the Black Rainstorm Signal is issued three hours before the starting time of ticket distribution.

     Visitors are advised to use public transport as no parking spaces will be provided at the Academy. The open day will be postponed to August 12 (Sunday) if Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or the Black Rainstorm Signal is issued three hours before the event. For details of the open day, please call 2411 8820.

     Following is a question by the Dr Hon Pierre Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 4):
 
Question:
 
     Some members of the public have relayed to me that recently, quite a number of people from the Mainland who have resided in Hong Kong for less than seven years (new arrivals) receive various types of long-term medical treatments such as dialysis treatment at public hospitals, thus further straining public healthcare resources. In order to make more accurate projections on the resources needed for meeting the medical services demand of new arrivals in future, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of new arrivals coming to Hong Kong in each of the past five years and their percentage in the population of Hong Kong;
 
(2) whether it knows the number of new arrivals receiving long-term medical treatments at public hospitals in each of the past five years and the amount of public money involved;
 
(3) whether it knows (i) the respective numbers of new and old cases of patients receiving dialysis treatment at public hospitals, (ii) the unit cost of dialysis treatment, and (iii) the median and the 90th percentile of waiting time for new cases, in each of the past five years;
 
(4) whether it knows the number of new arrivals receiving dialysis treatment at public hospitals in each of the past five years; among them, the number of those who were recipients of comprehensive social security assistance payments, and the number of those who had resided in Hong Kong for less than one year (with a tabulated breakdown by hospital cluster);
 
(5) whether it knows the number of people, who had received kidney transplants outside Hong Kong, being prescribed anti-rejection drugs at public hospitals or clinics in each of the past five years and the unit cost per consultation, with a breakdown by the countries/places where the kidney transplant surgeries were performed, and the number of new arrivals among them; and
 
(6) whether it knows (i) the strength, (ii) the number of new recruits, (iii) the number of departures, and (iv) the wastage rate, of full-time urologists and nephrologists at various public hospitals in each of the past five years, with a tabular breakdown by rank?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     My reply to the various parts of the question raised by Dr Hon Pierre Chan is as follows:
 
(1) According to the results of the 2016 Population By-census, among the Hong Kong Resident Population, there were 165 956 persons from the mainland of China having resided in Hong Kong for less than seven years, accounting for 2.4 per cent of the whole population (excluding foreign domestic helpers).
 
     "Persons from the mainland of China having resided in Hong Kong for less than seven years" refer to persons who reported in the 2016 Population By-census that they:
 
(i) were born in the mainland of China;
(ii) were of Chinese nationality with place of domicile in Hong Kong; and
(iii) had stayed in Hong Kong for less than seven years.
 
     The Census and Statistics Department does not have the relevant statistics for 2013 to 2015 and 2017.
 
(2) The Hospital Authority (HA) does not keep statistics on the number of new arrivals receiving long-term medical treatments in public hospitals and the amount of public money involved.
 
(3) The respective numbers of new and old cases of patients receiving renal replacement therapy (including peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis) in HA hospitals in the past five years are tabulated below:

     Renal replacement therapy is life-sustaining treatment. The renal team provides timely and appropriate treatment for patients according to their clinical needs and conditions. Therefore, the HA does not keep statistics on the waiting time for patients to receive dialysis treatment.
 
     The HA does not have statistical breakdown of the unit cost of dialysis treatment.
 
(4) According to information of the Social Welfare Department, to be eligible for assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme, an applicant must have held the Hong Kong resident status for not less than one year. The HA does not keep statistical data on the number of new arrivals and CSSA recipients receiving dialysis treatment in public hospitals.
 
(5) Patients who have undergone kidney transplant, regardless of whether the transplant was conducted in Hong Kong, need to receive follow-up treatment such as taking anti-rejection drugs on a continuous basis. The HA provides the necessary follow-up services and continuum of care for these patients.
 
     The table below sets out the number of patients who had kidney transplant in countries/places outside Hong Kong and received follow-up care in public hospitals in each of the past five years:

     The HA does not have statistical breakdown of the unit cost per consultation for patients who had kidney transplant in countries/places outside Hong Kong and received follow-up care in public hospitals, and the number of new arrivals among these patients.
 
(6) Urologists and nephrologists work in surgery and medicine specialties respectively, providing various surgery or medicine services for patients. The HA does not keep statistics on the strength, number of new recruits, attrition number and attrition rate of urologists and nephrologists.
 
     Tables 1 to 4 at annex provide statistics on the strength, intake number, attrition number and attrition rate of all ranks of full-time doctors in the medicine and surgery specialties by clusters in HA from 2013-14 to 2017-18.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 is 102.1 (down 0.7 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
 
     The Communications Authority (CA) today (July 4) announced its decisions to relax the regulation of indirect advertising in television programme services and to lift the prohibition on the broadcast of advertisements for undertaker and associated services. 
 
Indirect advertising
————————
 
     Taking effect from July 27, 2018, indirect advertising will be permitted in TV programmes except for news programmes, current affairs programmes, children's programmes, educational programmes, religious services and other devotional programmes.  
 
     The decision came after the CA's review of the relevant provisions in the Codes of Practice (Codes) governing indirect advertising, having taken into account the views collected through consultation with the industry and the public, including a territory-wide opinion survey, focus group discussions and a one-month public consultation exercise. The CA also considered the approach adopted in major overseas jurisdictions. 
      
     The spokesman for the CA said, "The relaxation facilitates broadcasting licensees to diversify their sources of advertising, striking a balance between providing a more conducive business environment to licensees in light of the keen competition in the broadcasting industry and protection of the interests of viewers." 
      
     The spokesman added, "A preliminary review of the substantiated cases of complaints on indirect advertising over the past eight years indicate that around two-thirds of such cases would likely be considered as compliant with the new regulatory regime." 
      
     The regulations governing indirect advertising will be relaxed in the following two key respects:
 
(1) Product placement
 
     Product placement refers to the inclusion of products/services within a programme in return for payment or other valuable consideration being received by a licensee. The CA decided that product placement will be allowed so long as the exposure or use of products/services within a programme is presented in a natural and unobtrusive manner having regard to the programme context and genre, and that there is no direct encouragement of purchase or use of the products/services. 
      
     Product placement will continue to be allowed in current affairs programmes, subject to the existing condition that licensees should exercise care in the choice of sponsors to safeguard the credibility and integrity of such programmes. 
      
     To protect the interests of viewers, licensees will be required to clearly inform viewers of the inclusion of product placement before a programme starts. 
 
(2) Unpaid commercial references
 
     Unpaid commercial references refer to indirect advertising where no payment or valuable consideration is received by a licensee. The CA decided to lift the current prohibition on undue prominence regarding unpaid commercial references within a programme. 
      
     Unpaid indirect advertising in acquired programmes and in direct re-transmission channels will be exempted from compliance with the rules governing product placement. To protect the interests of viewers, licensees will be required to inform viewers of the inclusion of indirect advertising in acquired programmes and in direct re-transmission channels.
  
Advertisements for undertakers and associated services
————————
 
     In addition, the CA also decided to lift the current prohibition on inclusion of advertisements for undertakers or others associated with death or burial in a licensed television programme service and sound broadcasting service.
      
     The revised Codes will be published in the Gazette on July 6, 2018, and will take effect on July 27, 2018, to allow time for licensees to make necessary arrangements for the requirement to notify viewers about the inclusion of indirect advertising in programmes.
      
     To enhance understanding of the new regulatory regime, a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_498/TV_FAQ_EN.pdf) and the summary of public views received during the public consultation have been uploaded to the CA's website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/455/20180704Summary_IndAd_EN.pdf and www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/456/20180704Summary_Undertaker_EN.pdf) for reference of the licensees and the public.  
      
     Details of the CA's decisions above are in the Appendix (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_713/appx_20180704_en.pdf).

     Following is a question by the Hon Yiu Si-wing and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, in the Legislative Council today (July 4):

Question:

     Given that the Victoria Harbour is an important leisure and tourist resource which is unique and beautiful, the Government has been actively promoting harbourfront enhancement in recent years, including the construction of uninterrupted world-class promenades to enable members of the public and tourists to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the two sides of the harbour at a close distance. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective details of the harbourfront enhancement projects that have been completed, are under construction and are under planning at present;

(2) whether it has formulated short, medium and long term work objectives and timetables for linking up various harbourfront enhancement projects; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it will add leisure and consumption facilities to various harbourfront enhancement projects having regard to the latter's environmental characters, and develop promenades with characteristics under a public-private partnership approach; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Victoria Harbour is a very valuable natural asset for all the people of Hong Kong. As the Chief Executive has pointed out in her Policy Address of October 2017, we encourage the community to make better use of the harbourfront so that it will become more vibrant and more quality public space will be available for public enjoyment. In this connection, the Government will continue to work closely with the Harbourfront Commission (HC) to further improve the continuity of the waterfront promenade for public enjoyment, and enhance the harbourfront accessibility so as to link up our people with the harbour.  

     My reply to Hon Yiu Si-wing's question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Of the 73-kilometre (km) long waterfront areas on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, three km are natural coastline and about 32 km are land already developed with public facilities, private residential premises and commercial blocks etc.. Of the remaining 38 km, 19.6 km have been opened for public enjoyment, including a number of waterfront promenades that are popular among locals and tourists, such as the promenade at the new Central harbourfront, the open space and pet garden constructed along both sides of Tamar Park, Quarry Bay Promenade, phases 1 and 2 of Kwun Tong Promenade, the promenade connecting Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui, and Hoi Fai Road Promenade at Tai Kok Tsui.

     To further strengthen harbourfront enhancement efforts, the Harbour Unit under the Development Bureau (DEVB) was reorganised into the multi-disciplinary Harbour Office (HO) on July 1. With the gradual completion of the planning for the harbourfront areas on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, the HO will focus its efforts on implementation of various harbourfront enhancement initiatives, and on setting the priorities of specific initiatives according to the finalised harbourfront planning and new proposals put forward by the HC.

     In short to medium term, our work on harbourfront enhancement will focus on three areas. First, under the steer of the HC, the HO will use the dedicated funding of $500 million to take forward harbourfront enhancement initiatives. These initiatives include implementing four works projects, namely an advance promenade from Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, an open space at Eastern Street North in Sai Ying Pun, an urban park in front of Hung Hom Ferry Pier, and enhancement of the Tsuen Wan waterfront, as well as studying the policy and design matters related to harbourfront development. Apart from projects under the aforesaid dedicated $500 million funding, the HO will also continue to take forward other projects, including the Boardwalk initiative on Island East, as well as two harbourfront projects in Kennedy Town and Wan Chai Ferry Pier respectively.

     Secondly, the Home Affairs Bureau is actively pursuing the Five-Year Plan for Sports and Recreation Facilities. Nine of the projects under the Plan are situated in the Kowloon harbourfront areas in Kwun Tong, Kai Tak, To Kwa Wan, Hung Hom, Tai Kok Tsui and Kwai Tsing. Feasibility studies to enhance the facilities at Tsuen Wan and Aldrich Bay promenades will also be conducted. The aforesaid projects are listed in the table at Annex.

     Thirdly, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority is actively developing the harbourfront facilities inside the West Kowloon Cultural District. The temporary Nursery Park and the first phase of the Art Park (including the adjoining promenade) have been opened for public enjoyment since July 2015 and early 2018 respectively, while the remaining part of the Art Park and the promenade in front of the M+ Museum will be completed and opened for use in phases starting from later this year.

     Upon completion of the aforesaid works projects, there will be an addition of almost 50 hectares (ha) of open space at the harbourfront. The length of promenades on both sides of the Victoria Harbour will be further increased by approximately five km.

     In the long run, the Government will strive to take forward the planning for three harbourfront areas, i.e. the Kai Tak Development Area, the Wan Chai North to North Point harbourfront and the new Central harbourfront, thereby further developing promenades on both sides of the Victoria Harbour.

     In this regard, almost one-third of the Kai Tak Development Area, i.e. around 100 ha, is zoned open space, including a continuous waterfront promenade of generally 20 to 35 metres wide. A number of major open space projects in the Development Area have also been included in the aforementioned Five-Year Plan for Sports and Recreation Facilities. These projects will be completed gradually in future.

     As for Wan Chai north to North Point harbourfront, the Planning Department (PlanD) had conducted two stages of public engagement exercise for the Urban Design Study for the Wan Chai North and North Point Harbourfront Areas. The DEVB and the PlanD are now refining the harbourfront development proposals based on the comments received, including studying how to better develop and manage the harbourfront sites by capitalising on the strength of the business sector and the community. Before implementing the long term proposals, in order to allow the public to timely enjoy the harbourfront areas, we are developing two advance promenades, one connecting the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and the other near the new Wan Chai Pier, providing additional open space which is close to one km in length and two ha in size.

     As regards the new Central harbourfront, we are also gradually taking forward the long-term development of the key sites according to the recommendations of the Urban Design Study for the New Central Harbourfront.

     As some of the harbourfront sites in the aforementioned three areas are being used or may be used in future for supporting infrastructure projects such as the Shatin to Central Link, the Central Kowloon Route and the North Hong Kong Island Line under planning, we will take into account the progress of the various projects, and implement the initiatives according to the long-term planning in a timely manner.

(3) We agree that having only the Government to develop public open spaces may not be able to address the diverse needs of the public in enjoying the harbourfront, especially when the Government has to follow the established system in their design, building and management. We should provide more opportunities for parties outside the Government, no matter they are business entities or non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and regardless of whether they are profit-making or not, to be directly involved in the development and management of and to bring vibrancy and diversity to the harbourfront areas. We are also prepared to explore a district-based approach in harbourfront enhancement, so as to integrate local characteristics into the design and day-to-day management of the harbourfront. There is no lack of examples in this regard. For instance, since 2014, we have let out the Central Harbourfront Event Space, which occupies an area of 3.6 ha, to a private operator for hosting activities of different nature, including international tourism events, international art fairs, the Hong Kong E-Prix, concerts and long distance runs etc.. More than five million participants have been attracted to these activities. As for the privately-operated Hong Kong Observation Wheel nearby, after its reopening in last December and with a substantial reduction in fares, about one million patrons have been recorded within a half-year period.

     Besides, we will make use of a harbourfront site in Kennedy Town to respond to the diverse needs of the community, including turning an area of about 5 900 square metres into a promenade and public open space, and letting out an adjacent area of about 2 000 square metres to an NGO or a social enterprise by way of short term tenancy for operating a community garden. The HO is vetting the proposals submitted, with a view to handing over the site to the operator in October this year.

     As regards the proposed urban park in front of Hung Hom Ferry Pier, which is one of the initiatives under the aforementioned $500 million dedicated funding, we are planning to invite external organisations to submit expressions of interest later this year on the specific facilities, types of activity, conceptual design and operation model. Depending on market response, we will consider the feasibility of inviting external organisations to participate in the development of the urban park.

     In the long run, we hope that the valuable experience gained in the aforesaid cases will help us test and explore the implementation details of different development and management models, and provide further guidance for other harbourfront enhancement initiatives, thereby facilitating the development of a harbourfront which can better meet the diverse needs of tourists and the public.