The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said today (January 7) that the Government will take multi-pronged measures to increase the uptake and pace of COVID-19 vaccination, which includes increasing the number of vaccination booths at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (HCVSs), to cater for the public's demand for vaccination. Specific measures include:

* The number of Mobile Vaccination Stations has increased to two starting from today. Members of the public can make use of the Mobile Vaccination Stations to receive their first, second or third dose of a vaccine. 

* The Government has been increasing the number of vaccination booths or manpower at CVCs and HCVSs to fully utilise the vaccination capacity of the venues.

* Starting from 9am tomorrow (January 8), the booking period for vaccination in the booking system of the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) will be extended by one week. In other words, the public can make reservations to get vaccinated for the coming four weeks. 

* Two more CVCs, located at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre and Kowloon Bay Sports Centre, will come into service starting from January 21 to provide the BioNTech vaccination service. Reservations can be made starting from 9am on January 18.

     Mr Nip appealed to persons who are yet to receive vaccination to get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection under the threat posed by mutant strains with high transmissibility. Eligible persons should receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to enhance protection and build a protective barrier in the community. Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 infection. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection.

     Members of the public can receive COVID-19 vaccination through the following channels:

* Starting from January 21, the number of CVCs will be increased from 10 to 12. Among them, 11 CVCs will operate daily from 8am to 8pm. The HKU CVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong operates from 10am to 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and is closed on Wednesdays. All CVCs close between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on working days for cleaning.

CVCs providing the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine
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Java Road Sports Centre in North Point
Kwun Chung Sports Centre in Jordan
Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre in Sha Tin

CVCs providing the Fosun/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine
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Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre (starting from January 21)
Kowloon Bay Sports Centre (starting from January 21)
Sai Wan Ho Sports Centre 
Hiu Kwong Street Sports Centre in Kwun Tong
Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre
Yuen Long Sports Centre
HKU CVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in Wong Chuk Hang
CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin
Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre in Kwai Chung

     All eligible persons can collect same-day tickets and get vaccinated at the CVCs (except those located at private hospitals) without prior booking.
     
* Thirteen HCVSs are located in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Yan Chai Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, Pok Oi Hospital, North District Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Ruttonjee Hospital, providing the BioNTech vaccination service. Prior booking is not required. For details, please visit:
www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/HA_HCVS_Location_ENG.pdf.

* For the designated clinics under the Hospital Authority providing the Sinovac vaccination service by appointment, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_HAGOPC_Venues.pdf.

* Three Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) under the Department of Health, namely Lam Tin EHC, Sai Ying Pun EHC and Tseung Kwan O EHC, provide walk-in vaccination with the Sinovac vaccine for all persons aged 65 or above. No prior booking is required. For details, please visit: www.elderly.gov.hk/eindex.html.

* Over 1 000 doctors or clinics provide the Sinovac vaccination service. For details, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/VSS.

* The private healthcare institutions enrolled in the BioNTech Vaccination Pilot Scheme provide the BioNTech vaccination service to the public at 26 venues. Members of the public can contact these institutions and clinics directly for a vaccination appointment, and booking through the designated website of the Vaccination Programme is not required. For enquiry hotlines and vaccination venues, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/PrivatePilotScheme_BNT_en.pdf.
 
* The service schedule of the two Mobile Vaccination Stations has been uploaded to the website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/List_Mobile_Vaccination_Station_ENG.pdf) and will be updated from time to time.

     The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines. Before making an appointment, members of the public should take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccination (including seasonal influenza vaccination).

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 7) investigating a case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, and hence reminded the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene against intestinal infections.

     The case involves a 28-year-old woman with underlying illness, who presented with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea on December 3, 2021. The patient visited the Tuen Mun Yan Oi General Out-patient Clinic on December 17 and was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital for medical treatment on December 25. She was discharged on December 27 and is in stable condition.

     Her stool specimen grew STEC upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries of the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. Investigations are ongoing.

     "Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains, however, such as STEC, can produce powerful toxins and cause severe food-borne disease. The most recognised serogroup of STEC is E. coli O157:H7," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

     Preventive measures for STEC infection are similar to those recommended for other food-borne diseases. The public are advised to observe good personal and food hygiene:

• Adopt the Five Keys to Food Safety in handling food, i.e. Choose (choose safe raw materials), Clean (keep hands and utensils clean), Separate (separate raw and cooked food), Cook (cook thoroughly) and Safe Temperature (keep food at a safe temperature) to prevent food-borne diseases;
• Wash hands properly with liquid soap and water before handling food, after handling raw meat or poultry and before eating, and after going to the toilet or changing diapers;
• Cook food and boil water thoroughly before consumption. When cooking or reheating, the core temperature of the food should reach at least 75 degrees Celsius;
• Avoid consumption of unpasteurised milk or undercooked food; and
• Consult your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of STEC infection, particularly bloody diarrhoea.

     â€‹The public may visit the CHP's STEC page for more information.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs today (January 7) provided an update on its investigation into the incident earlier in which a fitness chain had suddenly announced the closure of its four fitness centres.

     As of 8am today, Customs had received a total of 57 complaints regarding the fitness chain, involving 48 complainants and fitness contracts amounting to about $1.2 million. Customs has contacted all complainants to obtain the details of each complaint and to commence investigation.

     Initial investigation revealed that the four fitness centres involved were operated by two directors. Customs officers today interviewed the two directors in order to pursue an investigation into the incident. Also, the officers strongly reminded them that traders are obligated to properly handle the prepayment services purchased by their customers under any circumstances, for instance to provide a refund arrangement.

     Customs will closely monitor the development of the incident and will continue to maintain close contact with the Consumer Council.

     Investigation by Customs is still in progress. Customs officers will probe into whether the trader involved has committed the offence of wrongly accepting payment under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). Should there be any violation of the TDO, Customs will take immediate enforcement action.

     Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence if at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Consumers are also reminded to procure services at reputable shops and think prudently before making decisions for consumption with prepayment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Bank of East Asia, Limited relating to a fraudulent mobile application, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or e-mails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the app concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by WeLab Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent mobile application, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or e-mails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the app concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.