The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a male ward of a psychiatric intensive care unit, the spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital made the following update today (July 26):
 
     Two more patients (aged 39 and 61) and a staff member in the ward presented with symptoms of fever. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and the test results were positive for Influenza A. The patients concerned are in stable condition. One of the patients has been discharged while another patient is being treated in isolation. The staff member is currently on leave.
 
     Admissions and visits to the ward concerned have been suspended. Infection control measures have already been enhanced according to established guidelines. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the conditions of the patients in the ward concerned.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published today (July 26) the Complaints Watch Issue No. 22, which highlights the latest banking complaint trends, emerging topical issues, and areas that Authorized Institutions (AIs) and members of the public may be alert to. It aims at promoting proper standards of conduct and prudent business practices among AIs as well as fostering financial consumer education.
      
     This issue of Complaints Watch contains two feature articles "Premium financing for purchase of insurance plans" and "Safeguards regarding the use of instant messaging". In addition, some tips are shared with banks' complaint handling officers on "Do's and Don'ts". The HKMA has also issued posts on social media platforms today to share tips on using banking services.
      
     The Complaints Watch is available on the HKMA website.

     The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (July 26) officiated at the 2023 youthfest@HK (festival) Kick-off Ceremony to unveil a series of exciting and diversified youth activities.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan remarked that since the current-term Government took office, it has attached great importance to youth development, and released the first edition of the Youth Development Blueprint (Blueprint) last year. One of the key projects of the Blueprint is the festival. Bringing together the strength of the Government and different sectors of the community, the festival engages young people to enhance their knowledge, realise their potential, share experience and enrich their lives through various activities.  
 
     The theme of the festival is "Positive Thinking", and the slogan is "Ignite Youth Power". Mr Chan said that young people are the future, hope and pillars of Hong Kong, and they are also the engine that drives the long-term development of society and the economy. Cultivating positive thinking from an early age is very important for their growth and success. While ups and downs are inevitable in the long road of life, it is important to face them positively and optimistically. Only by strengthening their confidence to face difficulties can young people ride the wind and waves and set sail.
 
     Mr Chan added that under the tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, the festival is organising more than 100 all-encompassing activities to promote positive thinking among young people on all fronts. He encouraged young people to participate in the various festival activities and appealed to all sectors of the community to support and take part in the festival.
 
     Partner events organised by community groups and organisations in support of the festival will be included in the official event calendar upon approval of their applications, which will be uploaded to the dedicated webpage for wider publicity. Special appreciation goes to to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for its generous donation in sponsoring a number of events under the festival.
 
     Also officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony were the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Wallace Lau; the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung; the Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival, Youth Development Commission, Mr Andy Kwok; and Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Lester Huang. Representatives from various participating organisations also attended the event.
 
     For the latest updates of the events under the festival programme, please visit the thematic webpage, www.youthfest.hk.

    

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Southern District Health Centre (DHC) today (July 26). He stated that the Government is committed to driving district-based primary healthcare development. Serving as the medical and healthcare resource hubs in the districts, DHCs connect and co-ordinate different medical professionals as well as public and private primary healthcare services at the community level to meet the needs of local residents. The DHCs will also play an important part in liaison and co-ordination upon the introduction of the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Scheme) by the Government in the fourth quarter of this year.
 
     Professor Lo said, "In the Primary Healthcare Blueprint released last December, we set out a series of development directions and strategies to strengthen the primary healthcare system. Hence, the DHCs' role in co-ordinating primary healthcare services and managing cases in the community-based primary healthcare system is all the more indispensable.
 
     "Among all, the DHCs will devote their resources in facilitating the CDCC Scheme. They will make arrangements for eligible members to undergo health risk factor assessments so as to identify diabetes mellitus and hypertension patients who have not yet developed any symptoms. The DHCs will also actively assist in the matching of these members with family doctors of their own choice, thereby enabling the members to manage their health in private primary healthcare institutions at an affordable price with government subsidies. Throughout the process, the DHCs will also continue to provide personalised health information and advice to their members, while leveraging the service networks in the districts to connect the members to healthcare services that suit their needs and offer cross-professional follow-up. All these will enable the members to manage and prevent chronic diseases, thus safeguarding their health."
 
     The DHCs or DHC Expresses were established across the city, providing comprehensive, sustainable and people-centred multidisciplinary primary healthcare services in the community. The DHCs are actively promoting the concept of "Family Doctor for All" to foster long-term doctor-patient relationships and help citizens draw up personalised health plans. In addition, the DHCs will continue to reinforce medical-social collaboration, including deepening co-operation with District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) and non-governmental organisations, with a view to reaching out to citizens from all walks of life to a greater extent and providing them with more targeted healthcare services and support.
 
     The Southern DHC, operated by the Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association, has commenced services in phases since late October last year. Its core centre is located at Vertical Sq in Wong Chuk Hang with four satellite centres set up or to be opened in the district. The two satellite centres at Aberdeen Main Road and Stanley Main Street are already in operation while the remaining ones to be set up at Chi Fu Fa Yuen and Lei Tung Commercial Centre will commence service this coming August. The core centre features a smart rehabilitation area and a smart sports area, which utilise innovative technology to provide members with effective chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services. The multidisciplinary team of the Southern DHC comprises nurses, allied health professionals, a pharmacist, social workers and supporting staff to offer various government-subsidised primary healthcare services to citizens. The DHC also engages healthcare practitioners in the district or nearby areas to construct a cross-professional network, while working with other community partners who provide social welfare and healthcare services in the district so as to supervise service referral for the citizens in need.
 
     The core centre of the Southern DHC opens from 11am to 9pm on Mondays and Fridays, from 10am to 8pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and closes on Sundays and public holidays. As for the satellite centres, the opening hours are from 10am to 8pm from Mondays to Saturdays. The satellite centres also close on Sundays and public holidays. Members of the public are welcome to register as members of the DHC to enjoy the services. They may also call the centre's hotline at 3575 7000 to enquire about relevant information, or visit the webpage www.dhc.gov.hk for more details on the DHCs and DHC Expresses.
 
     Also attending the opening ceremony today were Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau; the Chairman of the Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association, Mr Chow Kei-chung; the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Southern DHC, Mr Charles Wong; and Co-convenor of the Care Teams in the Southern District Mr Chu Lap-wai.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (July 26) announced that an auction of personalised vehicle registration marks (PVRMs) will be held on August 13 (Sunday) at Meeting Room N201, L2, New Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 240 approved PVRMs will be put up for public auction. A list of the marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.

     The reserve price of each of these marks is $5,000. Applicants who have paid a deposit of $5,000 should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price). Otherwise, the PVRM concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following points:

(1) Bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after successful bidding:

(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser (if the purchaser and the successful bidder are different persons);
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation (if the purchaser is a body corporate); and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed. Successful bidders may also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS), but are reminded to note the maximum transfer amount in the same day of the payment card. Payment by post-dated cheque, cash, credit card or other methods will not be accepted.

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the Memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A PVRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) The display of a PVRM on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations.

(5) Any change to the arrangement of letters, numerals and blank spaces of a PVRM, i.e. single and two rows as auctioned, will not be allowed.

(6) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the PVRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the PVRM within 12 months, allocation of the PVRM will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     "Upon completion of the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM, the purchaser will be issued a receipt and a Certificate of Allocation of Personalised Registration Mark. The Certificate of Allocation will serve to prove the holdership of the PVRM. Potential buyers of vehicles bearing a PVRM should check the Certificate of Allocation with the sellers and pay attention to the details therein. For transfer of vehicle ownership, this certificate together with other required documents should be sent to the TD for processing," the spokesman added.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of PVRMs, which is available at the department's licensing offices or can be downloaded from its website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_auction/index.html.