Regarding the incident relating to the construction quality of the Hung Hom Station platform of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL), the Director of Highways on May 31 required the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to submit an incident report.  The Highways Department (HyD) received the report from the MTRCL around 5pm today (June 15).

     In paragraphs 8 to 9 of section 3 of the report, it stated that the statements given by one of the sub-contractors of Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited ("Leighton") contradicted assurances given to the MTRCL by Leighton. Leighton has strenuously denied such allegations. The MTRCL did not express any opinion on this matter. According to the information provided by the MTRCL separately to the HyD on this matter today (paragraph 9 of Section 3 of the report), the HyD considers that the matter may involve criminal elements and has therefore referred the matter to the Police for follow-up action. In order not to hinder the Police's investigation, the HyD will not comment on this matter at this stage.

     As for the other content and technical information in the report, the HyD will thoroughly examine it and request the MTRCL to make clarification or provide supplementary information if necessary.

     Meanwhile, the HyD has reminded the MTRCL that being the project manager of the SCL project, the MTRCL has to strictly comply with the responsibility under the Entrustment Agreement, including verification of   the facts of all related issues, to ensure the quality of works of the SCL.

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened at a machinery repairing workshop in Pat Heung, Yuen Long this afternoon (June 15), in which a male worker was crushed to death by a mini loader under repair. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker in the accident and expresses its deepest sympathy to the victim's family.

     The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued a suspension notice to the proprietor of the workshop to suspend the repair and use of the involved mini loader. The proprietor concerned cannot resume the repair or use of the mini loader until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

     The spokesman added, "We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

     The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

     Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Quality Building Award 2018 Presentation Ceremony today (June 15):

Sr Stephen Lai (Chairman of the Organisng Committee of the Quality Building Award 2018), distinguished guests, government colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening!  It is my honour to join you all tonight to witness the crowning achievement of the winners of the Quality Building Award 2018.  Before the announcement of this year’s result, let me extend my warmest congratulations to the 22 shortlisted finalists that each has exhibited every element required to meet the Award' highest building standards.  Please join me to greet them with a round of applause!
      
     I can fully appreciate that only with impressive design, meticulous construction technique, rigorous project management and robust teamwork can we turn a bare site into a signature building.  Despite the constraints and challenges, the shortlisted project teams have not only overcome them but have gone far beyond that.  That explains why the Quality Building Award was founded in 2001 when nine professional institutions decided to launch a biennial Award to promote the collective commitment of the building industry to achieve the highest standards of teamwork, professionalism and competitiveness. 
 
     This year is the ninth edition of the Award ceremony.  The theme of the 2018 Award is "Driven by Profession • United for Success" which echoes well with the governance philosophy of the current-term Government.  We are committed to working with the community to reinforce Hong Kong's strength and propel the economy forward.  To this end, we have adopted a new style of governance including adding the new roles of the Government as a "facilitator" and "promoter" in addition to the traditional functions of "regulator" and "service provider".  Also, we are striving to attract talents and professionals to join various statutory and advisory bodies and welcome young elites to recommend themselves to participate in relevant advisory bodies.  We are committed to making this government more open, accessible, responsive and innovative.
      
     Quality buildings are essential ingredients for a growing and dynamic metropolis like Hong Kong.  The annual overall construction expenditure in Hong Kong in the coming five years will reach $250 – $305 billion, reflecting continuous strong demand for construction services. However, we are facing a number of challenges that might undermine our capability to cater for such demand, notably shortage of labour and an aging workforce.
      
     According to the latest manpower forecast released by the Construction Industry Council in January 2018, the industry will face a shortfall of 5 000 to 10 000 skilled workers in labour-intensive trades. Moreover, the average age of our construction workforce is 46, with about 40 per cent of the skilled workers already aged 55 or above. The overall labour force in Hong Kong will start to dwindle after 2022, making it even more difficult to recruit construction workers.
      
     Innovative technology has been transforming the building sector worldwide. Hong Kong should keep up with this global trend to sustain our competitiveness and address the manpower pressure on the sector.  In fact, automating and mechanising repetitive construction processes can enhance productivity and safety.  Besides, the use of advanced technologies would also uplift the professional image of the construction practitioners and help attract new blood.
      
     In her inaugural Policy Address, the Chief Executive has highlighted key measures to help the building sector improve productivity, built quality, environmental performance and site safety.  For major government capital works projects scheduled to start this year, we have mandated the adoption of Building Information Modelling, or BIM, which allows visualisation of designs to enhance planning and co-ordination in the construction process, contributing to significant reduction in material wastage as well as pre-empting safety pitfalls and unworkable designs. To encourage building designers to make use of BIM when preparing building plan submissions, the Buildings Department has already issued a practice note for the industry while actively considering the possible next step to admit BIM e-submission in the future.
      
     We are also working closely with the building industry to enhance the innovation capability of existing practitioners and prospective building professionals for the continuous improvement of the sector.  The Construction Industry Council has established the Construction Innovation and Technology Application Centre leading the industry to embrace innovation through collecting, exhibiting and experiencing the latest construction technologies, as well as to support their application by small and medium enterprises. The Council will also formulate BIM technical standards, help equip the industry and encourage the use of such technology in private work projects.
      
     Off-site prefabrication for on-site assembly such as Modular Integration Construction, or MiC in short, can reduce manpower and time requirements and minimise the environmental nuisance arising from construction.  MiC has been widely used in countries like the UK, Australia and Singapore.  To take the lead, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is piloting the use of MiC in the development of Innocell located at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park as well as a student hostel at the University of Hong Kong. To facilitate wider use of MiC for private building developments in Hong Kong, the Buildings Department has set up a pre-acceptance mechanism for granting in-principle acceptance to MiC systems or components, and issued a practice note to facilitate submission preparation.
      
     To boost the technological capacities of enterprises and practitioners in the building industry, this year's Budget proposed to establish a $1 billion Construction Innovation and Technology Fund to provide financial support for the industry to acquire both software and hardware and to nurture the expertise required for using local and overseas innovative construction technologies such as BIM, steel reinforcing bar products produced in local prefabrication yards and MiC when carrying out development projects.  The Fund will also support students and practitioners of the building industry to receive training on innovative technologies such as courses offered by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, the Technical University of Munich and Tsinghua University.
      
     While we celebrate distinguished buildings tonight, we must not lose sight of the quality of our existing building stock.  There are over 5 000 private buildings aged 50 or above.  Many of them lack proper management given the absence of owners' committee or property management agency.  These buildings, if left unattended, will pose serious threat to the safety of our citizens.
      
     To encourage proper and timely maintenance and repairs to enhance building safety, extend the useful life of buildings, slow down urban decay and improve the living conditions of the community, we will soon launch a $3-billion "Operation Building Bright 2.0" to provide financial and technical assistance to owners or occupiers of buildings aged more than 50 years.  In addition, a $2-billion Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme will also be introduced to subsidise owners of old composite buildings to undertake fire safety enhancement measures. A Do-it-yourself (DIY) tool-kit offering practical guidance to owners in undertaking building repair and maintenance works will be provided to participating buildings.  The Urban Renewal Authority will also deploy designated staff to follow up on tendering matters and closely liaise with the owners' corporations to help owners to take forward the repair works.
      
     Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong is renowned for its beautiful skyscraper landscape created by the joint effort and admirable craftsmanship of our building sector over the years.  The Quality Building Award further raises the benchmark and widens the quality spectrum for excellent construction projects in Hong Kong and beyond.  The 22 finalists presented to us this evening demonstrate the highest quality building standards, combining innovation, sustainability and dedication to team work.  I am particularly delighted to learn that many of these outstanding projects are public projects developed by government departments. They are indeed shining examples of this year's theme:  "Driven by Profession • United for Success"!  
      
     On this happy note, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to this year's award winners whom we will meet soon.  No less important, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to the jury panel and the organising committee for their hard work over the past months.  I also wish every one of you an enjoyable evening.  Thank you.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (HKETO Berlin) held a seminar in Poland's capital Warsaw on June 14 (Warssaw Time) to introduce new business opportunities in Hong Kong and beyond for Polish companies. The seminar was organised with the support of Invest Hong Kong, which is a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government department tasked with facilitating inward investment, as well as the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.
 
     The event identified Hong Kong as a platform for Polish businesses to expand to the Chinese market and elsewhere in Asia. Participants of the seminar came from Polish government agencies as well as from Polish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups from different sectors such as financial technologies (Fintech) and other aspects of innovation and technology.
 
     Polish businesses in Hong Kong benefit from Hong Kong's traditional strengths including the low and simple tax system, the rule of law, and the strategic location in the heart of Asia. New prospects will arise from the enhanced connectivity of the city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, fostering economic integration in the region. In its role as a facilitator, Hong Kong serves as the bridge linking goods and services of Polish companies with the markets in the East.
 
     The Head of the Investment Promotion Unit of HKETO Berlin, Dr Chung Wing-hin, presented the latest initiatives of the HKSAR Government to attract innovative businesses and institutions to Hong Kong. "Hong Kong, with its sound legal framework and international connectivity, is an excellent place to perform research and development activities. Now, with the latest support from the HKSAR Government, it has become even more attractive for foreign companies to set up a subsidiary in Hong Kong,” Dr Chung said.
 
     He also elaborated on the favourable environment offered by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, two key economic drivers connecting SMEs and start-ups to strategic partners and investors in Hong Kong, fostering collaboration with local and international business partners to create new projects, and accelerating digital adoption.  
 
     Other speakers at the seminar included Business Consultant and former Board Member of the Warsaw Stock Exchange Ms Lidia Adamska; the President of the Management Board of Polish Fintech company Vivus Finance, Mr Loukas Notopoulos; and Board Member of Polish export company Vici Group Mr Marek Rataszewski.  
 
About HKETO Berlin
 
     HKETO Berlin is the official HKSAR Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Poland as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 15) 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 21-year-old man, with no underlying chronic illness, who has presented with fever and headache since June 12. He sought medical attention from the Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital on June 13 and was admitted for treatment on the same day. He is now in stable condition.

     His blood sample tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing. His clinical diagnosis was meningococcaemia.
 
     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had visited Shenzhen and Macao with three friends during the incubation period. One of his travel collaterals developed headache since June 10. His other travel collaterals and home contacts have 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.