Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 23) that a park, which is located east of Fan Kam Road (i.e. part of the Old Course of the Fanling Golf Course), will open for public use from 3pm on September 1. … read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) made the following reply today (August 23) regarding a Legionella infection case:
 
     A 27-year-old female patient who stays in a haematology ward of PYNEH was confirmed to have Legionnaires’ Disease. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) visited the ward and collected water samples today. The source of infection is still under investigation. The patient is currently receiving treatment at PYNEH and is in stable condition.

     The hospital has already implemented a series of precautionary and enhanced infection control measures, including:
 
1.    Suspending use of related basin faucets and shower heads;
2.    Installing bacterial filters for related water faucets and arranging to disinfect related water supply system if needed; and
3.    Providing boiled or bottled water to patients in the wards concerned for drinking and mouth rinsing.

     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office according to established guidelines. The hospital will co-operate with the CHP to investigate the source of infection. read more

     The Lands Department announced today (August 23) that one tender received for the sale of a residential site in Tsuen Wan Town Lot No. 430 at Yau Kom Tau, Tsuen Wan, New Territories (the Site), had been rejected as the tendered premium did not meet the Government’s reserve price for the Site. The tenderer was Well Luck Limited (parent company: Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited).

     Sites in the Government’s Land Sale Programme are disposed of in the open market under the established mechanism. The Government will not sell a site if no bid reaches the reserve price as assessed by the Government’s professional valuers. This is in the interest of protecting public revenue. The reserve price is set on the day of tender closure so that the latest market conditions are taken into account.

     The Government will not speculate on the considerations behind the bids placed by tenderers. Bids are influenced by a myriad of factors, such as how individual tenderers assess the market conditions and the attractiveness of the site, as well as their corporate positions and development strategies.

     “The Government will continue to enrich the housing ladder with a view to meeting the needs of different types of homebuyers. Currently, the Government is taking forward four Starter Homes (SH) projects. Despite the cancellation of this tender, the Government considers the Site suitable for developing an SH project. The Housing Bureau will invite the Hong Kong Housing Society to take up the project and develop SH units on the Site,” said the spokesman for the Housing Bureau.

     The Site has an area of about 48 673 square metres and is designated for private residential purposes. Its minimum and maximum gross floor area are 82 620 sq m and 97 200 sq m respectively, excluding the gross floor area of a 50-place day activity centre cum 50-place hostel for severely mentally handicapped persons, to be constructed by the purchaser under the Conditions of Sale. Not less than 1 940 residential units shall be erected within the Site for the implementation of the SH project and all the residential units shall be SH units. The tender closed on August 18. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 23) investigating a case of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH).

     The female patient, aged 27 with underlying illnesses, was admitted to PYNEH on August 7. She presented with fever and cough on August 18. Her clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and she is currently in stable condition.

     Her sputum specimen tested positive for Legionella species upon laboratory testing. Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period.

     “Epidemiological investigations with PYNEH are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any. Relevant water samples and environmental swabs were collected from potential sources for laboratory testing,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Tracing of contacts including staff and in-patients in the relevant ward is ongoing and those identified will be put under medical surveillance. The CHP has provided health advice against LD to staff and in-patients, including those with weakened immunity who should use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing. Urgent disinfection would be arranged to the water supply system of the subject ward. An investigation is ongoing.

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus which support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Immunocompromised persons should:
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers’ instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily. 

     The public should observe the health advice below:
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors’ professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes: 

1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     â€‹â€‹The public may visit the CHP’s LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP’s risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD. read more

     Hongkong Post announced today (August 23) that, as advised by the postal administration of Canada, due to wildfires, mail delivery services to the province of British Columbia, Nunavut and Northwest Territories in Canada are subject… read more