Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, and the delegation of the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services today (August 31) continued their visit to Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

     Mr Sun visited an elderly apartment in Guangzhou this morning to learn about how the medical-and-elderly care integrated approach facilitates ageing in place and in the community. The delegations then departed for Foshan and toured a retirement community, including its residential care services and facilities, and took a closer look at its links with the neighbouring hospital to support elderly people’s health needs.

     Mr Sun said that, to assist with Hong Kong elderly persons’ retirement on the Mainland and provide more choices of subsidised residential care service, the Social Welfare Department relaxed the eligibility criteria of operators under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong from late July so that private operators with satisfactory track records of providing subsidised residential care services for the elderly in Hong Kong can also take part. The target beneficiary was also expanded from elderly persons awaiting subsidised care and attention places to those awaiting subsidised nursing home places. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government hopes that the relaxed Scheme can attract more Hong Kong operators with rich experience and of high quality to provide more residential care services in the nine Mainland cities in the GBA with a view to fostering experience sharing and professional exchanges, thereby promoting the sustainable development of elderly services in the two places.

     With Super Typhoon Saola approaching Hong Kong, to gear up preparedness and response, Mr Sun cancelled the scheduled visit to Zhaoqing and advanced his return to Hong Kong this afternoon with his delegation.

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     â€‹Hong Kong Customs on August 24 detected a large-scale seaborne cocaine trafficking case, and seized about 302 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $230 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. A man suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.

     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day selected a seaborne container, declared as carrying 1 800 carton boxes of frozen chicken feet and arriving in Hong Kong from Brazil, for inspection. Upon examination, a total of about 302kg of suspected cocaine was found inside 63 carton boxes of frozen chicken feet. The batch of dangerous drugs was packed in plastic bags which were mix-loaded with the frozen chicken feet.

     Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on August 29 arrested a 35-year-old man-in-charge of the consignee company.

     A holding charge with one count of attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug will be laid against the arrested man and he will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (September 1).

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items in and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

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     A red tide has been sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (August 31).
      
     Staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted a red tide at Shek O Beach, Hong Kong Island, on August 28. The red tide has dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.
      
     A spokesman for the working group said, “The red tide was formed by Levanderina fissa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic.”
      
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan, Po Toi and Tung Lung Chau 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 to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public. read more

Attention TV and radio duty announcers:        Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:      As the Hong Kong Obser… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 31) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From August 25 to yesterday (August 30), the CHP recorded five imported DF cases. The patients had been to Bangladesh, India (two cases), Indonesia and Thailand respectively during the incubation periods.

     As of yesterday, 35 imported cases of DF had been recorded in 2023. In 2022, 26 imported cases of DF were recorded.

     The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some places in Asia (such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand) compared to the same period last year, and the trend is rising. Members of the public, while travelling abroad, should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

     “Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     â€‹The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. read more