The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 17) that a sample of rice with BBQ pork and duck was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the… read more
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, visited Islands District today (May 17) to learn more about the current situation and future development plans of Lantau. He also met with members of the Islands District Council (IDC) and exchanged views with them on various issues.
Mr Yau first met with the IDC members to listen to their views on matters relating to tourism, broadband services, transport and local economic development. He took the opportunity to brief them on relevant government policies, including a scheme to encourage telecommunications companies to extend fibre-based networks to remote villages by providing financial initiatives in the form of subsidies, with the Government taking the lead.
He then made a site visit to Pak Mong Pier at Tung Chung to observe the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and the site of Tung Chung East reclamation. The Government promulgated the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint in 2017 under the overarching principle of “Development in the North, Conservation for the South” to balance the needs for development and conservation in Lantau. Mr Yau was briefed by representatives of the Planning Department and the Civil Engineering and Development Department on the housing and economic development plans along the northern shore of Lantau, including the Tung Chung New Town Extension, the ongoing study of the topside development on the HKBCF Island and the proposed Sunny Bay reclamation.
Strategically located at the landing point of the HZMB and adjacent to the Hong Kong International Airport, the HKBCF Island will serve as a strategic gateway of Hong Kong connecting to the Greater Pearl River Delta and the rest of the world for the long-term development needs of Hong Kong. Mr Yau said the commissioning of the HZMB will enhance exchange and co-operation between Hong Kong and cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, thereby promoting the development of multi-destination itineraries and strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a regional tourism hub.
The Tung Chung New Town Extension offers extra retail and hotel facilities and there are plans to provide a marina and associated facilities. Mr Yau said this can help promote the economic and tourism development of Lantau.
Noting that the reclamation project at Sunny Bay has been positioned as the “Northeast Lantau Tourism Gateway” and that Sunny Bay could be developed into a converging point for leisure, sports, recreation, entertainment and tourism activities, Mr Yau said the proposal could achieve synergy with the further development of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and other major developments in north Lantau.
Mr Yau then visited Pui O Beach to gain a better understanding of major conservation proposals in south Lantau. The Government is carrying out the “Ecological Study for Pui O, Shui Hau, Tai O and Neighbouring Areas” and the “Study on Traffic, Transport and Capacity to Receive Visitors for Lantau” to look into the feasibility of various proposals such as conservation measures for Pui O, Shui Hau and Tai O and the expansion of the cycle track and mountain bike trail network in Lantau. Mr Yau said he believed that the relevant work could develop the tourism potential of Lantau while taking into account Lantau’s natural environment and other factors such as its transport infrastructures.
The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (May 17) visited Sai Kung District to learn more about the learning outcomes of non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students and to meet with local District Council members. &nbs… read more
The Department of Health (DH) today (May 17) presented commendations to over 360 community members and 100 participating organisations at the “I’m So Smart” Community Health Promotion Programme Recognition Ceremony for their active participation in promoting an alcohol-free healthy diet emphasising the harmful effects of alcohol, and echoing World Health Day 2017’s theme on depression to urge the community to pay attention to mental health.
Addressing the recognition ceremony, the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH, Dr Wong Ka-hing, said that, like many countries and regions, Hong Kong faces an increasing threat from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Lack of physical activity, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, alcohol drinking and smoking are key behavioural risk factors responsible for NCDs. In 2018/19, the Programme will continue to promote an active lifestyle with regular physical activity and less sedentary behaviour as well as a healthy diet with adequate intake of fruit and vegetables and which at the same time is free from alcohol.
​ According to the findings of the DH’s Population Health Survey (PHS) 2014/15, among people aged 15 or above the average duration of sedentary behaviour on a typical day was about seven hours, and nearly 20 per cent of respondents even indicated that they spend 10 hours or more sitting or reclining in a day. Ongoing evidence suggests that regardless of physical activity level, prolonged sitting or too long total sitting time may also increase the risks of various NCDs such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
​ Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake is also a key risk factor for many NCDs. The World Health Organization recommends consumption of at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. However the PHS found that among people aged 15 or above, less than 6 per cent of respondents said that they consume five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day. While alcohol use is an important causal factor of more than 200 diseases (including liver diseases, cancer and stroke) and injury conditions, the survey observed that over three-fifths of them have an alcohol drinking habit.
​ Dr Wong said, “To address the threats of NCDs, earlier this month the Government launched ‘Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong’ (SAP), with a focus on four NCDs (namely cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases) and four shared behavioural risk factors. These four shared behavioural risk factors, namely unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol, have significant impact on population health and they are potentially preventable or modifiable.
​ “The SAP sets out nine targets to be achieved by 2025 and put forward a systematic portfolio of initiatives to prevent and control NCDs. While the Government will continue to take a leading role in bringing the agenda forward, successful prevention and control of NCDs relies on collaboration and participation of every sector and all members of the community. We shall continue to work in close partnership with our partners to build a health-enhancing conducive environment and promote the health of all Hong Kong people. Together, we can make ourselves healthier and Hong Kong a healthier city.”
The “I’m So Smart” Community Health Promotion Programme was launched in 2012 and aims at enhancing community collaboration to promote healthy lifestyles with healthy eating and regular physical activity. Over 100 organisations participated in the Programme last year, including the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA), Estate Management Advisory Committees of public housing estates under the HKHA, Healthy Cities Projects and over 60 non-governmental organisations. The participating organisations held related activities with a total attendance of more than 74 000 last year.
Other officiating guests at today’s ceremony included the Head of the Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch of the DH’s CHP, Dr Regina Ching; the Senior Housing Manager of the Housing Department, Mrs Law Ko Siu-chu; the Vice-President of the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China, Mr Kong Fung; the Training and Development Officer of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association, Ms Sharon Chan; and the Chairman of the Division of Clinical Psychology, the Hong Kong Psychological Society, Dr Rachel Poon.
An unlicensed collector again illegally collected waste vehicle batteries, which are classified as chemical waste. He was fined $20,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (May 17) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. This collector was convicted last November for illegal collection of waste vehicle batteries last May and fined $8,000.
During an enforcement operation in October last year, staff of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) intercepted a light goods vehicle at Shun Ning Road in Cheung Sha Wan and found some 20 waste vehicle batteries on the vehicle. After investigation, the EPD prosecuted the collector under the WDO and the Regulation.
An EPD spokesman said, “The defendant collected waste lead-acid batteries (WLABs) which were classified as chemical waste, from nearby vehicle maintenance workshops and violated the WDO.” The spokesman reminded those who provide vehicle battery replacement or vehicle repair services that they should hire a licensed chemical waste collector to properly collect and handle WLABs and waste lubricating oil, etc, which are classified as chemical waste.
The EPD spokesman said that WLABs contain sulphuric acid and lead metal, while waste lubricating oil contains mineral oil, which are classified as chemical waste. Improper handling or disposal will pollute the environment and pose risk to public health. Vehicle maintenance workshop operators should follow the statutory requirement to properly label and store their chemical waste and hire a licensed collector for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for disposal. Under the WDO, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
Members of the public may visit the EPD’s website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html. read more