Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Chief Executive-elect, Mr John Lee, has continued to meet and exchange views with Legislative Council (LegCo) Members today (May 20) in two sessions, the first session with legislators from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, and the second with those from the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions and the Third Side, as well as some others.

     Mr Lee listened to their views on the new-term Government on a wide range of issues, including fighting the epidemic, resumption of normal travel, economic development, employment, assistance to the unemployed, land and housing as well as youth development.

     Thanking them for the views expressed, Mr Lee also introduced the proposed reorganisation of the government structure during both meetings. He stressed that the reorganisation of bureaux allows individual bureaux to handle issues of public concern in a more focused and detailed manner and generates a synergy effect. The creation of three deputy secretaries of departments also helps to strengthen governance and co-ordination capabilities, facilitate cross-bureau and cross-department co-ordination, and enhance governance efficiency.

     Mr Lee said that representatives of the Office of the Chief Executive-elect would continue to attend LegCo’s relevant committee meetings to address legislators’ questions and comments. He appealed to all LegCo Members to support the reorganisation proposal and expressed the hope that the relevant legislative and funding procedures could be completed by mid-June, so that the new government structure could take effect on July 1.

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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The Hospital Authority today (May 20) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members ide… read more

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 20) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus for April was 2.2 per cent and remained at Level 1 at its lowest, indicating that mosquito infestation in the areas surveyed was not extensive.

     Among the 64 survey areas, no area recorded a gravidtrap index exceeding the alert level of 20 per cent. Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in April was 1.1, which represented that an average of 1.1 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not high in the areas surveyed.

     Since March this year, the FEHD has classified the density index for Aedes albopictus into three levels to make it easier for members of the public to grasp the number of adult Aedes albopictus collected in gravidtraps of survey areas. The lowest level is Level 1 (with an index of 1 to 1.5), indicating that the number of Aedes albopictus is not abundant in the locations with positive gravidtraps. Level 2 (with an index of 1.6 to 2.4) indicates that the number of Aedes albopictus is slightly abundant in the locations with positive gravidtraps. The highest level is Level 3 (with an index of 2.5 or above), indicating that the number of Aedes albopictus is abundant in the locations with positive gravidtraps. Specific mosquito prevention and control measures will be initiated in the locations concerned accordingly. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department’s website at www.fehd.gov.hk.

     The department reminded members of the public to carry out effective preventive and control measures against mosquitoes early because mosquitoes breed quickly in the hot and rainy summer weather.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Effective mosquito control requires the sustained effort of all parties concerned. The FEHD and relevant government departments will continue to intensify their mosquito prevention and control work covering areas under their purview and strengthen publicity and education. The FEHD is conducting a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The second phase of the territory-wide campaign, lasting nine weeks, has been launched on April 18 and will run until June 17. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD will target areas that have drawn particular concern to remove accumulated water and to carry out mosquito prevention and control work. After the second phase of the campaign, the FEHD will conduct territory-wide thematic mosquito prevention and control special operations, such as strengthening mosquito control measures at individual construction sites. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have already launched the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations since March 10 to focus on eliminating potential breeding places of mosquitoes. The FEHD has called on property management bodies to arrange necessary repairs to their premises so that the chance of mosquito larvae hatching is reduced, and has conducted intense adult control by regular fogging operations.”

     The FEHD appeals to members of the public to work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing the water in vases and scrubbing the inner surfaces, removing the water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

     Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF) as well as Zika virus infection. DF is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia. The dengue activity in neighbouring areas has remained high. read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 20) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).     

     Twenty-seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Big Wave Bay Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Pui O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	South Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach*	St Stephen’s Beach
Discovery Bay	Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Tong Fuk Beach
Kadoorie Beach	Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach*	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach	Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Golden Beach*	Ting Kau Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Casam Beach*	Lido Beach*

     Compared with the grading released last week, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Butterfly Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach, Shek O Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Hoi Mei Wan Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.  
 
     “The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” an EPD spokesman said.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 15 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from May 5.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, May 20, 2022 is 99.1 (down 1.1 against yesterday’s index). read more