Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, met with the media on the discharge plan of the Fukushima nuclear power station of Japan at the Central Government Offices this afternoon (August 22). Following is the transcript of remarks by Mr Tse:
 
Reporter: Mr Tse, how long will the ban last? And under what condition will the Government remove the ban? And what will the Government do to help the affected restaurants?

Secretary for Environment and Ecology: In order to help the restaurants, I think the best thing to do is to assure the people of Hong Kong that all food allowed to be imported to Hong Kong is safe. That’s why we have a plan to prohibit the food from the Japanese prefectures which we believe have some risks. And we will also check all the food imported from Japan to ensure that their radioactive level meets all the standards. Therefore, I believe that with all those measures in place, we can assure the people of Hong Kong that all food sold in the Hong Kong market is safe, including those allowed from Japan. I think that is the best way to maintain the business of Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong.
 
     As to the question about how long the prohibition will last, it actually depends on the data and information we can collect, as well as those provided by the Japanese Government after the discharge. It includes, of course, the radioactive levels and also the monitoring of the management system of the Japanese Government on how to ensure the system will operate smoothly and effectively. I think that is the most important point. At this point of time, we do not have a timetable of how long the prohibition will last.
 
Reporter: How will the Government help the Japanese restaurants in the city, which are currently struggling along with the whole catering industry in recovery if the seafood ban hurts the businesses? You have mentioned last month that the authority has no special subsidy for them at this stage. And what measures will the Government take in reviewing the whole disposal situation? And in what circumstances will the authority reconsider importing seafood from Japan? Thank you.
 
Secretary for Environment and Ecology: Regarding the restaurants and the food import business of Hong Kong, we have been communicating with them for several months already, to keep them informed of the development so that they can get prepared for, say for example, the different sources of their food supply. And as I have mentioned, the best way to help the restaurants is to ensure all the food sold in Hong Kong is safe, so that people in Hong Kong will have confidence in sponsoring those restaurants in Hong Kong. That is the way we are doing. And of course, we will keep communicating with the restaurant trade to see whether we can help them in other ways, enhance our communication, etc. I believe the best way is to ensure food safety and also to retain the confidence of people in Hong Kong in Japanese food. I think that is the best way to help the trade.
 
Reporter: What measures will the Government take to monitor the wastewater disposal situation?
 
Secretary for Environment and Ecology: The Japanese Government is doing that, I believe. That is why we have asked them for more information on how they are going to monitor it. In Hong Kong, we will monitor the radioactive level in our own waters, as well as the local fishery products, to assure all the people in Hong Kong that the Hong Kong waters as well as our fishery products remain safe. We will do that daily and we will also publish information daily to let everybody know.
 
Reporter: The Japanese Consulate has expressed some unhappiness regarding the import restrictions back in July. So now the ban is going to come into place, how will Hong Kong navigate the bilateral situation?

Secretary for Environment and Ecology: As I have said, we remain our objection to the discharge plan. That’s why I am here. And also I will trigger our measures planned to protect the food safety of Hong Kong, as well as the Hong Kong people’s health. As for the future, we will continue to communicate and liaise with the Japanese Government to monitor the discharge plan and its effectiveness, etc. We will also review the adequacy of our food control plan from time to time.
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 22) investigating an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) at a residential care home for persons with disabilities (RCHD) in Kwai Chung, and appeals to members of the public and staff of institutions to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.

     The outbreak involves 11 male and five female residents aged 19 to 86, as well as five staff members. They developed symptoms since August 14, and 21 of them sought medical attention. One of them required hospitalisation and tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus upon laboratory testing. All of them are in stable condition.

     The CHP has provided preventive advice against URTI to the RCHD, such as advising the centre to arrange cleaning and disinfection, to open windows where appropriate for better ventilation and to separate affected residents from other residents, etc. The residential care home for persons with disabilities has been placed under medical surveillance.

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:
 

• Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• For high-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one’s eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the nose and mouth with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     â€‹Members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, should consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection. read more

     The Civil Service College (CSC) of the Civil Service Bureau, in collaboration with the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, launched an in-depth programme on “one country, two systems” and the contemporary China and organised a lecture on the topic of “The Chinese Constitutional System: the Country’s Authority Structure”. The lecture was delivered by the Director of the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, Professor Chen Duanhong, at the CSC today (August 22).
 
     In addressing the lecture, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China has established the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the national system. The Constitution has effectively safeguarded national unity, ethnic solidarity and social stability, and promoted socio-economic development and modernisation. In order to be familiar with the country, the civil service must have a correct understanding of the Constitution and the national system it set out. They must also accurately comprehend and safeguard the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region established under the Constitution and the Basic Law. Senior civil servants should seize the opportunity to learn the Constitution of the country, so as to fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the principle of “one country, two systems”.
 
     Around 70 civil servants at the rank of Directorate Pay Scale Point 1 and 2 attended the in-depth programme. In addition, about 100 politically appointed officials and other directorate officers enrolled and sat in the programme via video conferencing.
 
     The programme was organised to further strengthen training for senior officials and directorate civil servants. It consists of 12 monthly lectures in two parts: “one country, two systems” and the contemporary China. It covers a wide range of topics, such as the Communist Party of China and the contemporary China, socialism with Chinese characteristics, the theory and practice of “one country, two systems”, as well as developments in contemporary Chinese society, economy, national defence, technology, and more. Distinguished scholars from the Mainland will deliver the programme and engage in in-depth discussions with participants.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 22) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza.

     The case involves a 16-year-old boy with good past health. He has presented with fever, headache, sore throat and shortness of breath since August 18. He visited a family doctor and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Yan Chai Hospital on August 21, and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for management on the same day. His respiratory specimen was positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was severe pneumonia with septic shock. He is in serious condition and is currently admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit.

     Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had not received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for this season and had no travel history during the incubation period. One of his home contacts presented with sore throat and runny nose. The CHP’s investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, “Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public are advised to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP’s website.”

     A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses and note the following:
 

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• For high-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one’s eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     â€‹
     â€‹The public may visit the CHP’s influenza page and weekly COVID-19 & Flu Express for more information. read more

     The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) received a 34-year-old male suspect from the Mainland authorities at the Shenzhen Bay Port today (August 22). The man was in suspected connection with a “conspiracy to commit arsonâ€� case in Wan Chai on Se… read more