The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 19) organised the Training Workshop on Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Smoking Cessation Service 2024, which provides training on acupuncture to 138 frontline Chinese medicine (CM) practitioners to enhance their skills in providing CM acupuncture smoking cessation services.

     To strengthen knowledge exchange on tobacco control and share local experiences in cessation service provision with Mainland and Macao healthcare professionals, TACO extended invitations to CM practitioners from the Mainland and Macao to participate in this year's workshop. The training content spanned smoking cessation counseling, the mechanism and treatment plans of CM smoking cessation, as well as practical demonstrations of acupuncture and ear point treatment techniques, further equipping frontline CM practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills in delivering cessation treatments. Of the participants, 114 frontline CM practitioners were from the Mainland and Macao. Among them, 98 were recommended by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province and the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. 

     Research shows that acupuncture combined with ear point treatment and professional counselling can effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms and the short-term discomforts that may appear when smokers start to quit smoking, thus increasing the success rate of quitting smoking. According to the experience of DH-subvented CM acupuncture smoking cessation service operated by Pok Oi Hospital, a quit rate of over 20 per cent (i.e. the percentage of service users who self-reported to have stayed quit in the past seven days) at 52 weeks after the quit date was attained, comparable to that of the cessation services using nicotine replacement therapy.

     The DH has also introduced Chinese medicine ear point patches to help with quitting smoking, which is a new initiative under the Quit in June campaign this year. The application of cowherb seeds on the surface of the ears to stimulate ear points will lessen the discomfort related to nicotine withdrawal, especially during the early stage of quitting. People who wish to quit smoking can receive Chinese medicine ear point patches for free at more than 40 Chinese medicine clinics across the territory. They can also enrol in free Chinese medicine and acupuncture smoking cessation services anytime, or after they have tried the Chinese medicine ear point patches for two weeks. Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on quitting and the available support tools and services.

     The DH has become a regional hub for supporting training in smoking cessation treatment and services, after it was designated by the World Health Organization to establish the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in April 2012. In addition to the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific region, TACO also regularly holds smoking cessation treatment training courses to enhance the capability of local healthcare professionals in providing smoking cessation support.

     The DH will further strengthen collaboration and communication with the Mainland in tobacco control, and it is committed to providing continued support in cessation training and assistance, as well as jointly promoting the construction of a smoke-free Greater Bay Area.

  

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements tomorrow (July 20) to facilitate the drone show to be held in Tsim Sha Tsui East.
 
Crowd safety management measures
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     As a large number of people is expected and given that "A Symphony of Lights" will be performed immediately after the drone show, crowd management measures may be implemented at the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront area depending on the crowd conditions to maintain public order and safety.
 
     Members of the public are advised to exercise patience and tolerance, follow the instructions of the Police on site, and take heed of directional signs and announcement at scene.
 
Special traffic arrangements
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     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented by phases, until the crowd has dispersed and the roads are safe for re-opening:
 
A. Road closures
 
     The following roads will be closed, except for vehicles with permit:
 
Phase I (from 5.30pm onwards)
 
– Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Lok Road;
– Hung Hom Bypass between Metropolis Drive and Salisbury Road;
– Salisbury Road between Cheong Wan Road and Chatham Road South;
– Salisbury Road underpass;
– Hong Wan Path;
– Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road;
– Granville Square;
– Mody Lane; and
– Mody Square.
 
     Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended.
 
Phase II (from 6.30pm onwards)
 
– Southbound Chatham Road South between Cameron Road and Salisbury Road;
– Northbound Chatham Road South between Prat Avenue and Salisbury Road;
– Southbound Nathan Road between Kimberly Road and Granville Road;
– Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
– Carnarvon Road between Nathan Road and Humphreys Avenue;
– Southbound Kowloon Park Drive between Canton Road and Salisbury Road;
– Eastbound Salisbury Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Chatham Road South;
– Westbound Salisbury Road between Star Ferry Bus Terminus and Chatham Road South;
– Hanoi Road;
– Bristol Avenue;
– Mody Road;
– Blenheim Road;
– Minden Avenue;
– Minden Row;
– Haiphong Road;
– Lock Road;
– Hankow Road;
– Ashley Road;
– Ichang Street;
– Peking Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Nathan Road; and
– Middle Road.
 
     Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended.
 
B. Traffic diversions
 
     In connection with the road closure as mentioned above, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
 
Phase I (from 5.30pm onwards)
 
– Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be diverted via Hung Hom Bypass to Cheong Tung Road South roundabout;
– Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Hung Hom Bypass;
– Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Bypass must turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;
– Traffic along southbound Salisbury Road near Hong Chong Road will be diverted to Tsim Sha Tsui East direction;
– Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot enter Mody Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn left to eastbound Mody Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn left to eastbound Salisbury Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Mody Road must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South;
– Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South; and
– Traffic along Granville Road between Science Museum Road and Chatham Road South will be re-routed one-way eastbound.
 
Phase II (from 6.30pm onwards)
 
– Franchised buses and green minibuses travelling along southbound Chatham Road South must turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South must turn right to Cameron Road;
– Traffic along southbound Nathan Road must turn left to Kimberley Road;
– Traffic along westbound Granville Road must turn right to northbound Nathan Road;
– Traffic along southbound Canton Road cannot enter southbound Kowloon Park Drive;
– Traffic along southbound Canton Road cannot enter Haiphong Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Kowloon Park Drive; and
– Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn right to Peking Road.
 
C. Suspension of parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas
 
     All on-street parking spaces along the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui will be suspended from noon to 11pm.
 
     The non-franchised bus pick-up/drop-off points on westbound Salisbury Road opposite to Wing On Plaza will be suspended from 3.30pm, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
     The taxi stands, taxi pick-up/drop-off points and public light bus stands within the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui will be suspended during the road closure period, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
D. Suspension of landing steps
 
     Tsim Sha Tsui landing step Nos. 1, 2 and 5 will be suspended from 2pm, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
E. Suspension of car parks
 
     Vehicles parked in all car parks within the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui cannot enter or leave the carparks from 5.30pm, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
 
     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
 
     According to the event organiser, the recommended viewing locations for the drone show are the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade near the Tsim Sha Tsui East area, as well as part of the traffic lanes of eastbound Salisbury Road after the road closures. The buildings near the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Museum of Art in the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront area may block the view of the show. Members of the public are advised to plan their journey early and allow for additional traveling time to avoid delays.
 
     Members of the public are advised to use public transport to access the above areas. They should pay attention to the latest event arrangements announced by the organiser and the latest weather news released by the Hong Kong Observatory. Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.
 
     If the cancellation of the drone show is announced by the organiser, the above-mentioned crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements will not be implemented.

    

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) carried out repatriation operations from July 17 to today (July 19). A total of 61 unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants who were illegal immigrants and overstayers were repatriated to their places of origin. The persons removed comprised 34 men and 27 women. Among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and had been sentenced to imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong so as to maintain effective immigration control and safeguard the public interest. Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants. 
 
     Depending on circumstances and needs, the ImmD will remain committed to expediting the removal process and actively maintain close liaison with governments of major source countries of non-refoulement claimants, airline companies and other government departments to repatriate unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures.
 

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 19) said that one new confirmed melioidosis infection case had been recorded in the past week (July 12 to July 18).

     The case involves a 66-year-old male with underlying illnesses who lives in Sham Shui Po. He developed intermittent fever and was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre and Prince of Wales Hospital in May and June respectively. He was discharged in late June. He developed a fever again, and a cough with blood-stained sputum in early July and attended Prince of Wales Hospital on July 8 due to worsening symptoms. He was admitted on the same day. He is in stable condition. His clinical sample was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing.

     The CHP is investigating the infection source of the case. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. So far, four melioidosis infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong this year. In 2023, 17 melioidosis infection cases were recorded.

     A spokesman for the CHP reiterated that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment. Melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year. According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei of melioidosis in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or storms, and the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms. As such, the number of melioidosis cases may increase.

     The CHP reminded members of the public that melioidosis can be spread by contaminated soil and water during and after typhoons and storms. Where practicable, people should stay indoors during typhoons and storms, avoid travelling to areas with potential flooding, and do not wade in or have contact with muddy water and soil. In addition, high-risk individuals should avoid paths near stormwater drains where aerosols may be generated from contaminated water.

     Members of the public should also take the following preventive measures against infection:
 

• Avoid contact with contaminated soil;
• Wear appropriate protective clothing or footwear when participating in activities with possible contact with soil or water, e.g. using gloves and wearing boots. High-risk individuals may also consider wearing a surgical mask;
• Wash or shower after exposure to contaminated water or soil;
• Always clean any wounds as soon as possible and cover any cuts or grazes with waterproof dressings;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water after handling soil or gardening;
• Observe food hygiene and avoid drinking raw water; and
• Travellers can contract the disease through outdoor water sports. Risk of infection can be minimised by avoiding exposure to water sources (such as rivers, ponds or lakes) that might be contaminated.

     The CHP appealed to members of the public to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms, in particular people with diabetes or other immunocompromised conditions, in order to receive appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment. For more information on melioidosis, please visit the website of the CHP at www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/101110.html.

     Twenty-three landlords of subdivided units (SDUs), who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance), pleaded guilty and were fined a total of $75,900 today (July 19) at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. Since the Ordinance has come into force, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) has successfully prosecuted 333 cases involving a total of 286 SDU landlords, with fines ranging from $400 to $34,800, amounting to a total of $683,010.
 
     The offences of these landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance. One of the landlords was fined $34,800 for having committed 36 offences under (1) and (2) above, including requiring six tenants to pay waste disposal fees for a few months.

     The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted against the landlords.
 
     A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, and also reminded SDU tenants of their rights under the Ordinance. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether the landlords concerned have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD's request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance.
 
     To help curb illegal acts as soon as possible, members of the public should report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/en/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to facilitate SDU tenants' reporting to the RVD.
 
     The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. Since the first batch of regulated tenancies has already approached their second-term tenancies, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work in order to assist SDU landlords and tenants to understand the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy. In addition, the RVD has started issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the concerned landlords and tenants of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to remind them about their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance.  These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD's website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos and frequently asked questions. SDU landlords and tenants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.
 
     For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD's webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information.