The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, visited North District this afternoon (June 1) to keep abreast of its law and order situation and the livelihood of local people. He also visited a counselling centre for psychotropic substance abusers in the district.
      
     Accompanied by the District Officer (North), Mr Chong Wing-wun, Mr Lee first met with members of the North District Council to exchange views on law and order matters and other issues relating to people's livelihood in the district.
      
     Afterwards, Mr Lee visited the Cheer Lutheran Centre, whose main service is to provide counselling for psychotropic substance abusers and youths at risk, helping them quit drugs and develop healthy lifestyles.
 
     Mr Lee was briefed on the "We Cycle II" bicycle guided tour and volunteer training scheme under which rehabilitees are recruited and trained to be guides of bicycle tours to places of interest in North District and to provide voluntary services in the community. Mr Lee said he was pleased to see that the scheme helps rehabilitees to re-establish self-confidence, strengthen their resolve in staying away from drugs, and promote community acceptance of drug treatment and rehabilitation services. He encouraged participants of the scheme to maintain a positive life attitude and continue to serve the community.

      

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

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees will hold 20 open meetings during the week from June 4 to 9 in the LegCo Complex.  Details of the meetings are available in the meeting schedule attached.
 
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change.  Please refer to the "LegCo Calendar" on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe open meetings of LegCo and its Committees.  Interested individuals and groups are advised to make advance booking of seats by calling the LegCo Secretariat at 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also listen to or watch all open meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 1) investigating a case of invasive meningococcal infection, a communicable disease transmitted by direct contact with droplets from carriers or infected persons.

     The case involves a 65-year-old woman, with underlying illness, who has presented with fever since May 25. She sought treatment from the Accident and Emergency Department of North Lantau Hospital on May 30 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for management on the same day. She is now in stable condition.

     Her blood sample tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing. Her clinical diagnosis was meningococcaemia.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had visited the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic with her husband during the incubation period. Her husband has remained asymptomatic. The CHP's investigation is continuing.

     "Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, from infected persons. The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, and is commonly three or four days," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The clinical picture may vary. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis).

     Meningococcaemia is characterised by sudden onset of fever, intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache and stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or a rash. It can cause brain damage or even death. The brain damage may lead to intellectual impairment, mental retardation, hearing loss and electrolyte imbalance. Invasive meningococcal infections can be complicated by arthritis, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the posterior chamber of the eye or chest infection.

     Meningococcal infection is a serious illness. Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics.

     To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures:
 

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharge in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately;
• Avoid crowded places;
• Avoid close contact with patients who have fever or severe headache;
• Travellers to high-risk areas may consult doctors for meningococcal vaccination; and
• Travellers returning from high-risk areas should seek medical advice if they become ill and should discuss their recent travel history with their doctor.

    
     The public may visit the CHP's website for more information on meningococcal infection.

     A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (June 1).
 
     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department today at Silver Mine Bay Beach, Lantau Island.
 
     The red tide still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Takayama tuberculata, which is not commonly found in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic."
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare and Chairperson of the Community Care Fund Task Force under the Commission on Poverty, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on the Modular Social Housing Scheme – Nam Cheong Street after chairing a meeting of the Task Force this afternoon (June 1):

Reporter: The cost of this modular housing is relatively high, so how is the Government going to ensure that it is going to accommodate people in need? And as the suggested funding is now passed, does the Government have any other plans to do so that less people would be waiting for public housing?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Let me answer your questions. I can't answer really directly, very specifically, but somehow this modular housing is something – although it is not really new in Hong Kong, for the government bureaux and departments, it is the first time participating in these processes. So, we really need to set up a pilot programme to try out all those things, including the rules and procedures, the guidelines and things like that for this kind of modular housing to be acceptable and secure housing for people in Hong Kong.

     This pilot programme will help the Government to consider whether this kind of modular housing can be built more or in a much larger scale in the future if needed. We are optimistic and therefore we, from the Community Care Fund's point of view, support this pilot programme. Hopefully that would provide information for the future consideration for the Government.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)