Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Government welcomes the Legislative Council’s passage of the Construction Industry Security of Payment Bill today (December 18) to improve the longstanding payment problems in the construction industry and provide better protection for the stakeholders in the supply chains of the construction industry to receive their entitled payment on time, while also seeking to help reduce occurrence of wage arrears of workers. The Government also expects that the project procurement cost could be reduced over time as price premiums for risk in association with payment problems will gradually decline following improved security of payment.

     The Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (the Ordinance) will improve contractual payment terms, prohibiting the use of unfair payment terms such as “pay when paid”. It also introduces an adjudication mechanism to provide a speedy, cost-effective and binding resolution process for payment disputes in the interim.

     The Ordinance applies to main contracts for carrying construction work (with contract values not less than $5 million), and main contracts for the supply of goods (e.g. materials and plant) or services related to the construction work (with contract value not less than $0.5 million). If the main contract is covered, subcontracts along the same supply chain, regardless the amount, are also governed by the Ordinance. The Ordinance applies to both public and private projects, with a wider scope of application for the former. For instance, the Ordinance does not apply to: (1) contracts for works on existing private residential buildings (e.g. interior renovation, building maintenance, etc); and (2) contracts for relatively minor works on existing private non-residential buildings, i.e. those works not requiring approval and consent of the Building Authority under the Building Ordinance (Cap. 123) (e.g. maintenance and repair of building services installation, shop renovation, etc).

     The Ordinance will be gazetted on December 27, while the power of the Secretary for Development for registration and administration of Adjudicator Nominating Bodies (ANBs) will take effect on the gazettal date, the remaining provisions will come into operation on the expiry of eight months (i.e. August 28 of next year). Construction contracts entered into on or after that date will be governed by the Ordinance.

     Prior to the implementation of the remaining provisions of the Ordinance in August next year, the Government and the industry will undertake a series of preparatory work, including registering ANBs, training a sufficient number of adjudicators, reviewing and revising the standard contract and subcontract templates, and conducting publicity and promotion activities. The Government strives to publish relevant documents and accept ANB applications in January next year, allowing the relevant organisations to submit their applications in a timely manner to align with the implementation timeline of the Ordinance. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (December 18):
 
Question:
 
     The Government has been planning for the establishment of Community Health Centres (CHCs) in a number of districts since 2010, and the establishment of new CHCs is also covered in the First and Second Ten-year Hospital Development Plans. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows the positioning of CHCs at present; the services generally provided by various CHCs, and which of them are standing services;
 
(2) whether it knows the respective staff establishment of various CHCs at present (set out by profession);
 
(3) whether it knows the respective numbers of attendances for general outpatient services (broken down by patients with episodic diseases and patients with chronic diseases) and the numbers of attendances for health risk assessment at various CHCs in each of the past five years;
 
(4) of the districts in which the authorities are planning to set up new CHCs (set out by District Council district), and the details of the projects concerned, including the completion time;
 
(5) as there are views pointing out that CHCs and District Health Centres are both regarded as important facilities for primary healthcare services in the community, of the coordination and division of labour between the two in the provision of services; and
 
(6) given that it is proposed in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address to integrate the services of Woman Health Centres and Elderly Health Centres, which are also part of the primary healthcare services, whether the Government has considered reviewing at the same time the role and positioning of CHCs as well as the needs of the community, so as to put forward a more comprehensive planning proposal for the establishment of new CHCs in various districts?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHCC) and the Hospital Authority (HA), a consolidated reply of the Health Bureau to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan is as follows:
 
     Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for individuals and families in disease prevention and treatment, providing citizens with accessible, comprehensive, continuous, co-ordinated and family-centred care in the communities where they live and work. Hong Kong’s primary healthcare system operates on a dual-track system encompassing the public and private sectors. To shift the emphasis of the present healthcare system and mindset from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented, the Government is committed to enhancing prevention-oriented primary healthcare services in accordance with the reform initiatives set out in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint (Blueprint).
 
     Public primary healthcare services are currently provided by the HA through its General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs). The GOPCs are positioned to prioritise the care for low-income persons and the underprivileged, as well as chronic disease patients with stable conditions and episodic disease patients with relatively mild symptoms. The services provided by the GOPCs include medical consultations, general nursing services (such as drug injection and wound dressing) as well as patient education and support services.
 
     To support general out-patient services, the Government has been actively developing Community Health Centres (CHCs) in recent years, providing services in Tin Shui Wai, North Lantau, Kwun Tong and North District respectively. The CHCs are designed to tie in with the primary healthcare development strategy and service model. They strive to provide patients with integrated multidisciplinary healthcare services such that patients will be offered more comprehensive primary healthcare services, and strengthen community support for patients, especially chronic disease patients who are in stable conditions and require additional support (such as patients with multiple chronic diseases and in stable conditions), helping them stay healthy in the community and reduce their need for hospitalisation. Patient empowerment services and facilities are available at the CHCs to encourage patients to make good use of community resources and enhance their self-efficacy in disease management. The CHCs also provide a comprehensive range of diverse nursing and allied health services, such as a series of primary healthcare services enhancing the management of chronic diseases, including conducting health risk assessments and providing targeted care for chronic diseases patients with diabetes mellitus or hypertension specific care.
 
     Additionally, to further support the GOPCs and strengthen the gatekeeping role of primary healthcare in the public secondary healthcare system, the HA also provides Family Medicine Specialist Clinic (FMSC) services through its service points in hospitals and clinics. Attended by Family Medicine specialists, the FMSC service provides integrated disease management and support to patients who are in relatively complex conditions but are still suitable for treatment at primary healthcare level (such as patients who are in relatively stable conditions but still require specialist support) through a primary and secondary healthcare referral mechanism driven by an evidence-based, protocol-driven care pathway.
 
     The HA GOPCs have an annual attendance of over five million. As for the three CHCs supporting the GOPCs, (excluding the North District CHC which commenced service on December 16, 2024), the number of attendances in the past five years and, among them, the number of attendances for health risk assessments are set out at Annex. Regarding the manpower arrangement, since the CHCs adopt a multidisciplinary team approach in primary healthcare service provision, involving doctors, nurses, dietitians, dispensers, optometrists, podiatrists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, social workers, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and supporting staff, etc. The medical teams of a GOPC and its supporting CHC in the same district will support each other in terms of their services, spanning different service programmes and service locations. Manpower is flexibly deployed by the clinics according to service volume, and there is no fixed staff establishment.
 
     In planning and developing public primary healthcare services, the Government will take into account a number of factors, including the primary healthcare service delivery model, demographic changes, distribution of service targets and provision of primary healthcare services in the districts, as well as the demand for public primary healthcare services. To strengthen multidisciplinary support for underprivileged chronic disease patients, the Government will set up CHCs in Tuen Mun Area 29 West, the New Acute Hospital in the Kai Tak Development Area and Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital. The relevant works projects are underway and are expected to be completed gradually from 2025-27. The Government also plans to further develop CHCs in areas including Shek Kip Mei, Sau Mau Ping, Cheung Sha Wan, Kam Tin and Tai Po. The Government will consult the Legislative Council in due course.

     In terms of private primary healthcare services, the Government is striving to implement the initiatives of the Blueprint, with an emphasis on strengthening the concept of “Family Doctor for All”, particularly in chronic disease management, so as to, on the one hand, cultivate a long-term doctor-patient relationship between the patients and their Family Doctors, and on the other, reduce service duplication between the public and private sectors by narrowing their difference in costs through government subsidies and co-payment principles for optimisation of private healthcare resources. Apart from providing treatment to citizens based on their health conditions, Family Doctors also provide continuous support to citizens throughout different stages of their life, such as vaccination, cancer screening, chronic disease screening and management, health education and self-management of disease.
 
     To enhance the support for Family Doctors, the PHCC has set up District Health Centres and District Health Centres Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) in all 18 districts across the city with a view to enhancing district-based primary healthcare services. DHCs serve as the district healthcare resource hubs that connect public and private healthcare service providers from different sectors and disciplines in the community. DHCs currently provide citizens with primary healthcare services such as promotion of life course preventive care, health risk factors assessment, disease screening, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services, through strategic purchasing, medical-social collaboration as well as service integration. Meanwhile, the Government launched the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) in mid-November 2023 to establish the Family Doctor regime and position DHCs as a hub in fostering the expansion of healthcare networks at the community level.
 
     The Government will continue to promote the development of public and private primary healthcare on all fronts. As stated in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will enhance the role of the HA’s GOPCs as primary healthcare service providers for the underprivileged by introducing chronic disease screening services and strengthening nurse clinic services. At the same time, the Government will also expand the service cope of the CDCC Pilot Scheme to cover blood lipid tests, examine the feasibility of integrating the GOPC Public-Private Partnership Programme under the HA into the CDCC Pilot Scheme, as well as expedite the development of DHCs with a view to strengthening the support for Family Doctors and putting the concept of “Family Doctor for All” into practice. read more

     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, today (December 18) met with the Director General in Guangzhou Customs District, Mr Li Quan, in the Customs Headquarters Building to exchange views on further deepening co-operation between the two Customs administrations.
      
     Ms Ho welcomed Mr Li’s visit to Hong Kong Customs with his delegation, and chaired a meeting with the delegation. During the meeting, the two Customs administrations discussed multiple issues, including the co-operation on monitoring cross-boundary sea cargo, drug enforcement work, the prevention and control of risks and fostering co-operation on facilitating procedures of the exportation of motor vehicles between the two Customs administrations.
      
     On the same day, the delegation also visited the Customs Marine Base on Stonecutters Island to learn about the department’s marine patrol and law enforcement work.

      

     Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, in the Legislative Council today (December 18):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that a series of test events are being held in the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) to test out the facilities in the venues of KTSP and the traffic arrangements outside KTSP. The test events held at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground of KTSP in recent months have been operating smoothly, while the test events for the Main Stadium are expected to be held in January next year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows if the MTR Corporation Limited has formulated contingency plans for scenarios in respect of the Main Stadium, such as during peak hours, rainy days, and when concerts overrunning until the time close to the departure of the last MTR trains; if it knows, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) whether it will discuss with operators of public transport services such as buses, tour coaches and ferries corresponding arrangements for diverting passenger flows after the holding of large-scale events in the Main Stadium (especially during peak hours); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether it will discuss with merchants’ associations in the Kowloon City District the provision of concessions to customers or even the organisation of other large-scale activities during the holding of events in KTSP, so as to attract the spectators to stay in the district for consumption and alleviate the pressure on local traffic arising from the dispersion of crowds from events in KTSP; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Being the largest sports infrastructure project ever commissioned in Hong Kong, the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) plays a significant role in boosting sports development, injecting impetus into the recreation, entertainment and tourism industries, as well as the development of mega-event economy. To prepare for the opening of the KTSP in the first quarter of the next year, the Government established the inter-departmental Task Force on KTSP, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to oversee and co-ordinate the preparations for the completion and commissioning of the KTSP.
      
     The Government, in collaboration with the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (KTSPL), will conduct around 20 test events and stress tests, including stress tests involving up to 50 000 participants. To facilitate these tests, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) has set up a dedicated “Exercise Team”. The “Exercise Team” employs the “Red Team” concept, formulates different testing areas for the various venues and facilities of the KTSP, and reviews the co-ordination and response of relevant departments in handling emergency situations. A total of seven test events and stress tests have been completed so far. With the concerted efforts of all parties, extensive testing and assessments have been conducted on the KTSP facilities, as well as crowd management and traffic dispersal plans, with a view to drawing on the experience gained for optimising the arrangements. We will progressively expand the scope and enhance intensity of the tests to ensure thorough preparation for the opening of the KTSP.
      
     In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), and the Home Affairs Department (HAD), my consolidated reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) The KTSP is only around a 10 to 15-minute walk from Kai Tak Station and Sung Wong Toi Station of the MTR Tuen Ma Line. When mega events are held at the KTSP, the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) will communicate with the KTSPL and relevant Government departments (in particular the Transport Department (TD) and the HKPF) in advance, so as to make detailed plans and preparation, including enhancement of railway service at the relevant periods and the corresponding station passenger flow management measures, in consideration of the event nature, the number of spectators, the expected event ending time and the needs of the spectators. During the dispersal of mega events in KTSP, the MTRCL will arrange to enhance the frequency of the Tuen Ma Line, at maximum to a level similar to that of the morning peak. Among the trains of enhanced frequency, “special spare trains” may be arranged specifically for the dispersal of spectators.
 
     Moreover, on the day of mega event, the MTRCL will maintain close liaison with the inter-departmental liaison group co-ordinated by the Government to closely monitor the event progress and weather conditions, and make appropriate contingency arrangements as required. The MTRCL will also deploy additional staff to assist passengers and enhance the dissemination of passengers’ information, including real-time train frequency, special signage and public announcement. 
      
     The MTRCL has already devised different operation plans for the aforementioned arrangements, and will continue to actively take part in the test events and stress tests of the KTSP, so as to test and refine the relevant operation plans.
 
(2) The TD will communicate with public transport operators in advance regarding the time of mega events at the KTSP to facilitate the latter’s enhancement of service as necessary. The HKPF will set various scenarios in future test events and stress tests to assess the traffic and transport capacity of the nearby areas, in order to optimise and enhance the relevant arrangements.
 
     Concerning buses, other than the over 40 bus routes in the nearby areas of KTSP that connect to various districts in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories, when mega events are held, the TD will arrange for suitable special bus services having regard to the nature and scale of the event as well as the transport needs of the participants, so as to meet the additional transport needs during the events. 
      
     Regarding ferry services, currently, the berthing facilities in the vicinity of the KTSP are rather limited. The Kowloon City Ferry Pier, being relatively close to the Main Stadium, is approximately a 15 to 20-minute walk away and offers the “North Point – Kowloon City” route. If ferries are to be utilised for crowd dispersal, factors such as walking distance, road conditions en route, crowd dispersal measures, ferry service schedule and the actual passenger demand, etc. must also be taken into account. While other land transport is more efficient than ferries in dispersing large crowds, the Government is open to utilising ferries for crowd dispersal.
      
     In respect of coach arrangement, the KTSPL and event organisers will arrange coach services, including cross-boundary coaches, when necessary. The KTSPL has commenced discussion with cross-boundary coach companies, and has been co-ordinating with them to work out the special cross-boundary services arrangements. We note that some event organisers will also work with cross-boundary coach service providers to offer travel packages to cross-boundary travelers to enhance their experience.
 
(3) There are various kinds of catering facilities at the KTSP. Amongst which, there are some 30 bars and catering outlets in the Main Stadium, which could meet the catering needs thereat as compared to other facilities of similar scale in the world. The KTSP could also flexibly arrange mobile catering booths during large-scale events. The number of mobile catering booths will be flexibly increased based on actual situation.
 
     Besides, there are over 700 thousand feet of retail, catering as well as leisure and entertainment facilities in the KTSP, including a 20 thousand feet food hall and various popular outlets of international cuisines. The Dining Cove also accommodates nine diversified concept restaurants where citizens and tourists can choose to dine in the indoor or outdoor areas and enjoy the breath-taking views of the Victoria Harbour.
      
     On the other hand, the neighbouring districts of Kowloon City and To Kwa Wan, which are in close proximity of the KTSP, also provide an array of dining options. The Kowloon City District Office (KCDO) has all along been maintaining close liaison with merchants in the district through local organisations and trade associations, encouraging them to provide all kinds of offers with a view to attracting members of the public from outside the district as well as tourists to shop and tour around Kowloon City District. Recently, the KCDO invited merchants in the district to provide offers to members of the public participated in the test events and stress tests at the KTSP on a trial basis, with a total of 15 merchants joining the scheme. The KCDO is holding the “Taste, Shop and Explore Kowloon City with Pets” activity series this month with an aim to promoting special hotspots in the district. Over 120 merchants have made different types of offers. We will discuss with the merchants involved as to whether the promotional period can be extended to attract spectators of upcoming KTSP events to shop and dine in the district. read more

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (December 18) held the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong Colouring and Drawing Competitions and Cherish Water Campus Award Ceremony to commend the school-sponsoring bodies, principals, teachers and students for their enthusiastic participation in the celebration activities and efforts in promoting water conservation. Guests presenting awards at the ceremony included the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong; Principal Education Officer of the Education Bureau Miss Yvonne Lam; the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies, Professor Joseph Kwan; the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association, Ms Kathy Chung; and the Chairperson of the Subsidised Primary School Council, Dr Cheung Chok-fong.
 
     To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang’s water supply to Hong Kong next year, the WSD held a colouring competition and a drawing competition for all kindergartens and primary schools respectively from September to October this year. The competitions aimed to deepen students’ understanding of Dongjiang’s water supply and the country’s care and long-term support for Hong Kong. The events were well received by the education sector, attracting more than 18 000 entries in total. The winning entries not only exhibit students’ creativity but also demonstrate the strong blood ties between the Mainland and Hong Kong.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Wong said that due to severe droughts, stringent water rationing measures were implemented in Hong Kong in the 1960s, with only four hours of water supply for local people every four days during the most severe period. The country’s timely support to complete the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme within about one year with the mobilisation of a large amount of manpower and resources – enabling an uninterrupted Dongjiang water supply to flow into Hong Kong – helped the city become an international metropolis. Mr Wong encouraged students to learn from history and be grateful for the care rendered by the country and cherish every drop of water as it cannot be taken for granted.
 
     During the ceremony, the award-winning students shared that the creative ideas for their artworks were inspired by the connection between Guangdong and Hong Kong people by Dongjiang’s water, and acknowledged the strong blood ties between Hong Kong and the country. 
 
     The ceremony also presented various awards for Cherish Water Campus for the 2023/24 school year to commend contributions made by the teachers and students in water conservation, including gold awards for outstanding schools in the 18 districts and the Water Conservation Star Award, etc. A full list of awardees for Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong Kindergarten Parent-child Colouring Competition and Primary School Parent-child Drawing Competition, as well as the award list of Cherish Water Campus, are available on the WSD website.
 
     The WSD has been dedicated to promoting water conservation to the public, in particular the young generation, through various channels. The WSD launched the Cherish Water Campus Integrated Education Programme to primary schools in 2015. The programme was extended to all kindergartens in the 2018/19 school year. As of now, over 450 primary schools and 460 kindergartens have joined the programme. The programme provides a wide range of interactive educational resources which enable students to know more about water as a precious resource, thereby inspiring them to think about the importance of saving water and develop a sense of civic responsibility.