Author Archives: hksar gov

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 toda… read more

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (July 30) will be cancelled.      If the thunderstorm warning is can… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The delegation of the Legislative Council Panel on Health Services conducted a duty visit to the Big Data Centre of National Health Commission for Human Tissue, Organ Transplant and Medicine (Big Data Centre for Organ Transplant) in Guangzhou today (July 29) to learn about the operation of organ donation, allocation, transplant and relevant system and mechanism in the Mainland. The delegation returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

     Accompanied by the Centre’s Director, Professor Wang Haibo, the delegation first visited the China Organ Donation and Transplant Development Museum, which showcases the development history of organ transplantation worldwide and in the Mainland from the 1960s. The Big Data Centre for Organ Transplant, where the Museum is located, is responsible for the operation and data analysis of various national medical data systems, including the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS). The COTRS is highly recognised by the World Health Organization and The Transplantation Society. Since 2013, the National Health Commission has required that all cadaveric organ donated by Chinese citizens in the Mainland must be matched through the COTRS. Allocation of donated organs outside the system is strictly prohibited.

     The delegation also visited the COTRS Coordination Centre and learnt that the Centre’s 24-hour operation keep abreast of clinical data of organ donors and recipients nation-wide, as well as match and allocate organs according to the patients’ medical urgency calculated by an advanced real time mathematical model without human intervention to ensure fairness and impartiality.

     The delegation then received a briefing from representatives of the Big Data Centre for Organ Transplant on the development of human organ donation and transplantation in the Mainland and exchanged views on establishing a standing co-operation mechanism for sharing organs for transplant of Hong Kong and the Mainland.

     Members who participated in the duty visit were the Chairman of the Panel, Mr Tommy Cheung, and Panel members Mr Shiu Ka-fai, Dr David Lam, Dr Dennis Lam, Ms Chan Hoi-yan and Professor Chan Wing-kwong; as well as non-Panel members Mr Dennis Leung and Professor William Wong. In addition, at the invitation of the Panel, the Government and the Hospital Authority also sent representatives to participate in the visit.

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     â€‹The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) expressed its concern today (July 29) about a wild pig attacking members of the public near Fo Tan MTR Station yesterday (July 28), which resulted in the inj… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (July 29) that it is investigating three confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) cases, and urged the public to heighten vigilance and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. Meanwhile, high-risk target groups are strongly advised to receive Mpox vaccination.

     The first case involves a 25-year-old male patient with good past health. He had developed sore throat, oral ulcer and a rash since July 24. He visited Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday (July 28). An initial investigation revealed that he had visited Shenzhen during the incubation period. According to the patient, he only had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period.
 
     The second case involves another 25-year-old male patient with good past health. He had developed lymphadenopathy, localised skin ulcer and fever since July 23. He visited a private doctor on July 27, and was referred to Prince of Wales Hospital. An initial investigation revealed that he had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period.
 
     The third case involves a 41-year-old male patient with underlying illness. He had developed malaise, dizziness and headache since July 23 and a rash since July 24. He visited a private doctor yesterday (July 28), and was referred to Ruttonjee Hospital. An initial investigation revealed that he had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period.
 
     The CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed that their samples tested positive for the virus today. They are still hospitalised and are all in stable condition. The CHP has yet identified epidemiological linkages between these three cases. No epidemiological linkages between these three cases and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found so far either. The CHP’s epidemiological investigations of the cases are ongoing, including contact tracing and an infection source investigation. The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization and the relevant authority of the Mainland.
 
     The CHP had earlier set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373). The hotline operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5pm, which enables those who suspect or are concerned they have had high-risk contact with confirmed patients, in particular men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice. Meanwhile, the CHP reminds the public, especially those subject to high risks of exposure, to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience relevant symptoms, including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches.

     The CHP reminds members of the public that Mpox is not transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols in general, and transmission would not occur through social contact. Proper personal and hand hygiene can help prevent getting infected via contact.

     The Government has activated the Alert level of the preparedness and response plan for the disease in September last year and will continue to assess the risk in view of the latest scientific evidence and situation, and implement corresponding control measures.

     The Mpox vaccination programme for high-risk groups commenced on October 5 last year. Under the programme, the following high-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination on a voluntary basis:
 

1. Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
2. Healthcare workers responsible for caring of patients with confirmed Mpox;
3. Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
4. Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrence in animals in Hong Kong.

     High-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination at the designated Mpox vaccination centre (situated at 2/F, CHP building, 147C Argyle Street, Mong Kok) by appointment through email (mpv_booking@dh.gov.hk) or telephone booking line (2547 1900) during office hours. They can also receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at all of the DH’s Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS). Further information of the clinics including their locations is available at www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcf.html and www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcm.html.

     Meanwhile, the DH’s Integrated Treatment Centre in Kowloon Bay, and the Hospital Authority’s Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will continue to provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

     â€‹For more details, please visit the CHP’s page on Mpox. read more