The Department of Health (DH) today (August 14) announced that 12 Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) will provide the annual health assessment services to Primary One to Six and Secondary One to Six students starting November 1 this year. 

     The DH's Student Health Service (SHS) provides centre-based services to both primary and secondary school students with the aim of identifying students with health problems at an early stage for timely advice and intervention. Primary and secondary school students may enrol in the annual health assessments on a voluntary basis during every school year. Enrolled students attend the SHSCs for a range of health assessment activities to meet their needs at various stages of development.

     While some student annual health assessment services were earlier suspended due to the COVID-19 epidemic, 12 SHSCs will resume the annual health assessment services for all grades of primary and secondary students during the school year 2023/24.  Parents will be notified of the arrangements of the health assessment. The 12 SHSCs are Chai Wan SHSC, Kowloon Bay SHSC, West Kowloon Government Offices (WKGO) SHSC, Lam Tin SHSC, Sha Tin SHSC, Shek Wu Hui SHSC, South Kwai Chung SHSC, Tai Po SHSC, Tsz Wan Shan Wu York Yu SHSC, Tuen Mun SHSC, Western SHSC and Yuen Long SHSC.

     Meanwhile, to allow for manpower deployment and clinic improvement works, services of Kowloon City Lions Clubs SHSC will be suspended from November 1 until further notice, during which students originally attending that SHSC will be arranged to receive services at WKGO SHSC. The DH will notify affected schools and parents about the details.

     For latest information on the SHS, please visit www.studenthealth.gov.hk/eindex.html. For enquiries, please contact the centres concerned during service hours:
     â€‹Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm (except public holidays). Details of the centres are available at www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/centre/centre.html.

     The Development Bureau today (August 14) announced the reappointment/appointment of 12 persons as Chairman/directors of the Board of the Urban Renewal Fund (URF Board). The URF is an independent company limited by guarantee incorporated to manage the Urban Renewal Trust Fund.

     In accordance with the Articles of Association of the URF, the Secretary for Development has nominated Professor Steven Ngai Sek-yum for reappointment as Chairman of the URF Board for one year till August 14, 2024. At the same time, the Secretary for Development nominated Ms Fanny Ang Bing-hun, Ms Mary Grace Chiu Hang-mei, Mr Sunny Ho Lap-kee, Ms Janice Lai Wai-man, Mr Dominic Lam Kwong-ki, Mr David Lui Yin-tat and Mr Timothy Ma Kam-wah for reappointment as directors of the URF Board; and nominated Ms Kitty Chau Shuk-king, Mr Steven Pun Chi-ho, Ms Renee So Yi-ha and Mr Wong Wai-kit for appointment as directors of the URF Board. The term is three years from August 15, 2023. The above nominees have all been appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association of the URF. 

     "Over the past six years under the leadership of Professor Steven Ngai, the URF has not only been commissioning social service teams to provide support to the owners and tenants affected by the redevelopment projects of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), but also implementing the Urban Renewal Heritage Preservation and District Revitalisation Funding Scheme to improve residents' living quality and foster their sense of belonging to community. Due to personnel change of the Secretariat of the URF in early 2024, I am grateful that Professor Ngai, who has already led the URF Board for six years, has agreed to continue to take up the Chairmanship of the Board till August 2024 to lead the new term of the Board to continue to make the best use of the Trust Fund in furthering its objectives," the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said.

     Ms Linn also thanked the six outgoing directors who have served on the URF Board for six years, namely Professor Ching May-bo, Professor Rebecca Chiu Lai-har, Mr Ivan Fu Chin-shing, Mr Dennis Ho Chiu-ping, Mr Yeung Ming-tai and Mr Ricky Yu Wai-yip, for their contributions to the work of the URF.

     The membership of the URF Board with effect from August 15, 2023, is as follows:

Chairman
————-
Professor Steven Ngai Sek-yum

Directors
————-
Ms Fanny Ang Bing-hun
Ms Kitty Chau Shuk-king
Ms Mary Grace Chiu Hang-mei
Mr Sunny Ho Lap-kee 
Ms Janice Lai Wai-man
Mr Dominic Lam Kwong-ki
Mr David Lui Yin-tat
Mr Timothy Ma Kam-wah
Mr Steven Pun Chi-ho
Ms Renee So Yi-ha
Mr Wai Chi-sing
Mr Wong Wai-kit

Secretary
————-
Mr Joseph Wong Kam-man

     The URF, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on August 15, 2011, was set up pursuant to section 6(2)(s) of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance to act as the trustee and settlor of the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund, with funding support from the URA, provides an independent funding source to support the operation of the social service teams that render assistance to the affected owners and tenants of the urban redevelopment projects implemented by the URA. The Trust Fund also supports planning and related studies by the District Urban Renewal Forum as well as initiatives related to heritage preservation and district revitalisation proposed by non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in the overall context of urban renewal. Pursuant to the Articles of Association of the URF, the directors of the URF Board shall be nominated by the Secretary for Development and appointed by the URF. The establishment of the Trust Fund was one of the major initiatives under the Urban Renewal Strategy promulgated by the Government in February 2011.

     The Labour Department (LD) organises courses and public health talks on prevention of heat stroke and occupational health regularly to raise employers' and employees' awareness of occupational health.
      
     Details of six courses and health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work in September are as follows:
 
(1)
Dates and Time: September 7 and 19 (Half-day (am));
September 4, 12 and 25 (Half-day (pm))
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the LD, 13/F, KOLOUR·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories
Enrolment method: Download the application form (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/form.htm)
Enquiry hotline: 2940 7057
 
(2)
Date and Time: September 11 (3.30pm to 5pm)
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Enrolment method: Online registration of public talks on occupational health (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
      
     In addition, the LD will hold the following occupational health public talks in September:
 
(1)
Topic: Prevention of Upper Limb Disorders
Content: The talk will introduce the causes and preventive measures of upper limb disorders to enhance employees' awareness of the issues with demonstrations and practice of workplace exercises.
Date and Time: September 6 (3.30pm to 4.45pm)
Venue: Health Education Room, Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the LD, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
 
(2)
Topic: Chemical and Occupational Health
Content: The talk will elaborate on how chemicals enter the human body and their impact on health, as well as the prevention of chemical hazards.
Date and Time: September 19 (6.30pm to 7.45pm)
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
 
(3)
Topic: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for Confined Space Workers
Content: To enhance workers' OSH awareness of working in confined spaces, the talk will explain the related hazards as well as their preventive measures.
Date and Time: September 25 (3.30pm to 5pm)
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
 
     All courses and public talks will be given by the LD's occupational hygienist, occupational safety officer or occupational health nurse in Cantonese. Admission is free.
      
     The LD also provides a free-of-charge outreach health education service. For details, please visit the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content7.htm) or call 2852 4062.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 14) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Pui O Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Department of Health today (August 14) said that due to flooding at the Chai Wan Families Clinic at 1/F, Main Block, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, the service of the clinic will be suspended today for urgent repair works. Those who have made appointments will be informed of the appropriate arrangement.