The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 15) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in June was 14 per cent, at Level 2, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the areas surveyed was fairly extensive. Relevant government departments have stepped up mosquito prevention and control actions. 

     In June, among the 64 survey areas, the area gravidtrap index in eight areas exceeded the alert level of 20 per cent. The gravidtraps were mostly located in the vicinity of private residential areas, public housing estates, schools, recreational and sports facilities and public places. The FEHD has collaborated with relevant government departments by taking immediate action to strengthen mosquito prevention and control work in the area concerned. 

     Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in June was 1.4, which represented that an average of 1.4 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas. 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 website at www.fehd.gov.hk.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "There is a significant relationship between local mosquito infestation and seasonal changes. The gravidtrap indices in various survey areas would be relatively higher during hot and rainy spring and summer months (i.e. from May to September) as mosquitoes breed quickly. Members of the public are reminded to continue the routine mosquito prevention and control work, especially the repair and maintenance of structures. Cracks and dents which may accumulate water and become potential breeding grounds should be filled and levelled to reduce the chance of mosquito breeding.

     "The Government is concerned about mosquito infestation. The increase in the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus for June might be related to the continuously hot and rainy days in the month. In response to the two epidemiologically linked local cases of dengue fever (DF) recorded earlier at Tin Shui (1) Estate in Tin Shui Wai, the interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee convened a special meeting on July 5 to review the latest situation of mosquito infestation and the anti-mosquito work taken by departments, as well as discussing the implementation of further measures to prevent the spread of local DF cases. The FEHD has continued to intensify the mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD has also provided departments with professional advice and technical support to assist them in formulating and implementing effective anti-mosquito measures swiftly. At the same time, the FEHD has strengthened publicity and education. The FEHD will continue to monitor the mosquito infestation in all districts, and will conduct prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work," the spokesman continued.

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Miss Vivian Lau; and the Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene), Mr Arsene Yiu, visited Tin Shui Estate in Tin Shui Wai and its vicinity on July 4 to inspect the targeted mosquito control work carried out by the FEHD and relevant departments for prevention of DF. In response to the two local cases mentioned above, the FEHD and relevant departments have immediately conducted surveys of mosquito infestation and have carried out additional targeted mosquito prevention and control work in areas within a 250-metre radius of the residences of the patients and places the patients had visited during the incubation and infectious period, as well as stepping up inspections and taking enforcement actions where necessary to stop the further spread of DF.

     The FEHD will conduct a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The second phase of the territory-wide campaign was conducted from April 15 to June 16. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD targeted areas that had drawn particular concern, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, to remove accumulated water and carry out mosquito prevention and control work. After the second phase of the campaign, the FEHD has conducted territory-wide thematic special operations on mosquito prevention and control, such as strengthening mosquito control at individual construction sites, for three weeks starting from June 24. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have carried out the second phase of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations since May 2 to focus on eliminating potential mosquito breeding places, and called on property management officers to arrange necessary repairs to their premises to minimise mosquito breeding places. Furthermore, intense adult mosquito control has been conducted by means of regular ultra-low volume fogging operations after the onset of the rainy season.

     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 water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing 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.

     â€‹Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit DF. DF is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia. Based on the latest surveillance data from the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, there has been an increase in DF cases in some places in Asia thus far, compared with the corresponding period of last year. The Americas (including Brazil, Argentina and Peru) have recorded over 10 million cases, which is a record number, since the beginning of 2024. The dengue activity in neighbouring areas is high and Hong Kong has recorded 33 imported DF cases and three local DF cases so far this year. Members of the public should carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures proactively. 

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, attended the Unveiling Ceremony of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Medical Practice Centre and Kick-off Ceremony of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Medical Experience Camp 2024 of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) in Shenzhen today (July 15). He encouraged young people who are aspiring to work in the healthcare sector to learn about the significance of safeguarding health and respecting life through the experience camp to get better prepared to serve society and patients in the future.

     The experience camp will be held between July and August for three sessions. To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country this year, the HKU-SZH has selected 75 outstanding secondary school students aged above 16 from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas to participate in the five-day experience camp so they may gain hospital experience on the work of different healthcare specialties. In addition, in a move to enhance the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Medical Practice Centre for the promotion of deep integration of the humanistic philosophy of medical education; enable exchanges and co-operation among young talent from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; and cultivate young medical talent with international vision and basic professional skills, the HKU-SZH has successfully applied for and been designated as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Medical Practice Centre by the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality.

     Professor Lo encouraged the students and said, "The experience camp is a precious opportunity for students to closely observe the work of healthcare professionals. I believe that upon completion of the five-day experience camp, you will have a thorough understanding of the nobility in safeguarding health and respecting life. I hope that you will keep this aspiration of becoming healthcare professionals in mind, and put the best interest of patients as your foremost belief in the future. It is also my wish that you will all prepare yourselves with all your strength and subsequently join the healthcare field to serve patients and make contributions to the construction of 'Healthy Hong Kong', 'Healthy Bay Area' and 'Healthy China'."

     During his stay in Shenzhen, Professor Lo also met with representatives of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality and the HKU-SZH to discuss cross-boundary medical issues of mutual concern, including the specialist training between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the hospital accreditation programme, and a direct cross-boundary ambulance service.

     Professor Lo emphasised, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is actively promoting medical exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong at various levels and exploring ways to improve the connectivity of cross-boundary medical services. Among them, a good example to showcase the co-operation between the two places is the establishment of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Medical Specialist Training Centre at the HKU-SZH through the collaboration of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM), the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, the Shenzhen Medical Doctor Association and the HKU-SZH in 2019. Through the utilisation of the HKAM specialty training model and experience with the actual situation on the Mainland taken into account during integration, the Centre has established a standardised specialty training system aligned with international standards and recognised by the Mainland. This serves as a pioneer demonstration in fostering the cultivation of healthcare talent in Shenzhen, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the country.

     "I hope that the two places will further deepen exchanges, and contribute to the nation's and the GBA's healthcare development under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits as well as on the premise of benefiting the healthcare development of both the Mainland and Hong Kong."

            

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 15) that Jockey Club Yan Oi Tong Swimming Pool in Tuen Mun District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 7pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     The Government launched "E-commerce Easy" under the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) today (July 15), with a view to assisting enterprises to develop the Mainland market through electronic commerce (e-commerce) business.
 
     Speaking at the launching ceremony of "E-commerce Easy", the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said that amid the rapid growth of global e-commerce business, in particular the flourishing Mainland e-commerce market, the Government launched "E-commerce Easy", under which enterprises can flexibly make use of a maximum funding of $1 million to implement e-commerce projects, to further assist them in exploring the enormous potential of the Mainland domestic sales market. He encouraged the trade to make good use of the measure to proactively seize the opportunities in the Mainland e-commerce market to expand their business coverage.
 
     Mr Yau added that the Government will organise the Hong Kong Shopping Festivals on Mainland e-commerce platforms in August through the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to help small and medium enterprises promote Hong Kong brands, with a view to enhancing awareness of Hong Kong products and brands in the Mainland and tapping the Mainland domestic market.
 
     The cumulative funding ceiling of "E-commerce Easy" is $1 million. Unlike general applications of the BUD Fund, items under "E-commerce Easy" projects are not subject to individual funding caps, so that more targeted support can be provided to enterprises. Enterprises can make use of the funding for the establishment of online stores and placement of advertisements on third-party online sales platforms, development or enhancement of mobile applications and incorporation of online payment options on their websites.
 
     Funding under "E-commerce Easy" will be provided to enterprises on a matching basis. Enterprises can opt for an initial payment of up to 75 per cent of the approved government funding. All projects must be completed within 24 months.
 
     Apart from "E-commerce Easy", enterprises may continue to apply for funding through the general application track or "Easy BUD" of the BUD Fund, in order to assist their business development in the Mainland and other markets with which Hong Kong has signed free trade agreements and/or investment promotion and protection agreements. The cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise under the BUD Fund will remain at $7 million.
 
     The BUD Fund was established in 2012 and its current geographical coverage has been expanded to 39 economies. Over $5.1 billion has been approved under the BUD Fund, with more than 5 600 beneficiary enterprises.
 
     Details of BUD Fund – "E-commerce Easy" are available at www.bud.hkpc.org/en. For enquiries, please contact the BUD Fund Secretariat (Tel: 2788 6088).

  

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on July 12 to noon today (July 15), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 351 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category, in the past three days (including last Saturday and Sunday). No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
 
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 152 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 67 852 samples of food imported from Japan (including 43 653 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 16 194 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.