The Government announced today (May 23) that it has concluded discussions with the Government of Namibia to accept vaccination records issued by Namibia as recognised vaccination records for persons arriving at Hong Kong who have stayed in overseas places. The relevant arrangements will take effect at 0.00am on May 25 (Wednesday).

     From 0.00am on May 25, persons who hold a vaccination record issued by Namibia's relevant authorities in the prescribed format can board a flight for Hong Kong from overseas places. The vaccines administered for the relevant travellers have to be vaccines listed on the Government's List of COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Specified Purposes.

     The Government has implemented stringent inbound prevention and control measures for persons arriving at Hong Kong from overseas places. Persons who have stayed in any overseas place can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they are fully vaccinated and hold recognised vaccination records. Recognised vaccination records include (a) vaccination records issued by Hong Kong, (b) vaccination records or certifications issued by Mainland or Macao authorities or an institution recognised by Mainland or Macao authorities, (c) vaccination records or certifications issued by an authority or recognised institution of a country where its national regulatory authority is designated by the World Health Organization as a stringent regulatory authority, (d) vaccination records or certifications issued by a relevant authority or recognised institution of a country with which Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement with its government, or (e) vaccination records issued by an organisation with which Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement.

     The list of places or organisations that are accepted for issuing recognised vaccination records is set out in the Annex, and will be uploaded to the Government's COVID-19 thematic website.

     The Government will continue to discuss with other places on the arrangements for the recognition of vaccination records, and will update the list as recognition arrangements are agreed with these places.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 23) urged the public not to consume several kinds of imported peanut butter, as the products might have been contaminated with Salmonella, a pathogen. The trade should stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.

     Details of the products are as follows:

Product name: Creamy Peanut Butter
Brand: Jif
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 454 grams per jar
Use-by dates: November 12, 2023; January 7, 2024; January 8, 2024; and February 11, 2024

Product name: Crunchy Peanut Butter 
Brand: Jif
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 454 grams per jar
Use-by dates: November 16, 2023; January 16, 2024; and February 7, 2024

Product name: Creamy Peanut Butter Portion Control Cup
Brand: Jif
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 21 grams per cup
Use-by dates: October 13, 2022; November 5, 2022; and November 21, 2022

     "The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted notices issued by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (US) and the Canadian authorities respectively that certain Jif peanut butter products are under recall because they might have been contaminated by Salmonella. The affected products are produced in a facility in Lexington, Kentucky, US, with lot codes from 1274425 to 2140425 (alongside the use by date) and all end with 425," a spokesman for the CFS said.

     Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately followed up with major local importers and retailers, and received a notification from importer Rainbow Asset Limited that the abovementioned products have been imported to Hong Kong. The importer concerned has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected products and initiated a voluntary recall. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2898 3252 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the concerned products. 

     "Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and persons with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death," the spokesman said.

     The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected products if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.

     Information on the affected products can be found at the CFS's Food Incident Post webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/rc/subject/fi_list.html). The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) today (May 23) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members identified as close contacts and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases:

     The following are the statistics of clusters of nosocomial infection cases in public hospitals:
 

     North Lantau Hospital (NLTH) announced today that a female patient tested positive for COVID-19. She belonged to a cluster of nosocomial infections with a confirmed male patient reported earlier.

     A recovered COVID-19 male patient was transferred from Princess Margaret Hospital to NLTH for rehabilitation on May 18. In response to the change in the patient's clinical condition, NLTH arranged a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test for the patient concerned on May 19 and the result was positive. Two other male patients staying in the same cubicle were subsequently identified as close contacts, of which one male patient tested positive for COVID-19 on May 20. He attended the same rehabilitation session with the above-mentioned female patient prior to the confirmation of his infection. Another female patient, who stayed in the same cubicle with the above-mentioned female patient, was identified as a close contact and was arranged for quarantine.

     All patients concerned are being treated in isolation at the HA Infectious Disease Centre and NLTH Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, and are in stable condition. Admission and visiting arrangements for the ward concerned have been suspended. A thorough cleaning and disinfection were arranged. As a precautionary measure, the hospital has arranged testing for the patients and staff members concerned. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the health condition of patients and staff members, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     There have been no patients who tested positive via admission screening or by testing in public hospitals with patients or staff members identified as close contacts reported in public hospitals today.

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

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (May 25) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on addressing squarely the problem of child abuse in Hong Kong and protecting children's rights. The motion, moved by Mr Michael Tien, is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Luk Chung-hung, Mr Lam San-keung, Dr Stephen Wong, Mr Stanley Li, Dr Hoey Simon Lee and Ms Maggie Chan will move separate amendments to Mr Michael Tien's motion.

     Mr Lam Chun-sing will move a motion on promoting the development of vocational education and nurturing talents to establish multiple pathways. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Dennis Leung, Mr Yim Kong, Mr Sunny Tan, Dr Dennis Lam, Ms Lam So-wai, Dr Stephen Wong, Mr Rock Chen, Mr Benson Luk, Dr Johnny Ng, Dr Chow Man-kong and Mr Chan Kin-por will move separate amendments to Mr Lam Chun-sing's motion.

     Meanwhile, Mr Steven Ho and Mr Tommy Cheung will move two separate proposed resolutions under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislations. The proposed resolutions are set out in Appendices 3 and 4 respectively.

     On Government Bills, the Residential Care Homes Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022 and the Occupational Safety and Occupational Health Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bills will be adjourned.

     On Government motion, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare will move a proposed resolution under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance to seek the Council to resolve that the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 5) Notice 2022, made by the Chief Executive in Council on April 26, 2022 be approved.

     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the Webcast system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     â€‹As at 0.00am today (May 23), a total of 514 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 45 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 91 patients are in isolation wards, 18 patients are in second-tier isolation wards and 40 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, of which 18 in total are new patients. The rest of the confirmed patients are hospitalised or readmitted due to other medical reasons. Those patients have recovered and are non-infectious, and therefore do not need to be treated in isolation facilities. Among the hospitalised patients, 10 of them are in critical condition and seven are in serious condition, of which three critical patients are receiving intensive care. There were 43 patients who have recovered, including 27 patients who have been discharged. In addition, no confirmed patient passed away in public hospitals yesterday.

     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 49 851 patients who have recovered so far, including 49 545 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 62 231 patients who have recovered, including 61 925 patients who have been discharged.

     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.