Author Archives: hksar gov

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (December 31) that the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (HKBMB), located at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, will commence service on January 6, 2025. In the initial phase of service commencement, the HKBMB will recruit donors and accept breast milk donation, while the second phase of services is expected to begin in March of the same year, providing breast milk to premature or critically-ill newborns. This marks a milestone in neonatal medical services, providing a healthy start for the most vulnerable lives.

     Director of the HKBMB, Dr Rosanna Wong, stated, “Breast milk is the best food for babies, providing nourishment and multiple health benefits. However, some mothers of extremely premature or critically-ill newborns are unable to breastfeed for various reasons. We appeal to eligible mothers who are currently breastfeeding to generously donate their breast milk to support these needy newborns, allowing them to receive adequate comprehensive nutrition and establish a protective barrier for their health.”

     Dr Wong added that, for preterm and sick babies, breast milk can offer protection from infections, feeding intolerance and life-threatening complications such as necrotising enterocolitis, and foster better long-term growth and development.

     Donors have to be currently lactating, and their babies have to be under one year old. Mothers interested in becoming donors can register through the following methods:
 

1. Submit a form on the HKBMB official website (https://www31.ha.org.hk/hkch/SupportUs/HKBMB/HowToBecome);
2. Reach the HKBMB at 3513 6688; or
3. Contact the lactation clinic at HA hospitals (for those who have delivered in the respective hospitals)

     Upon receiving donor registration, staff from the HKBMB or lactation clinics will invite potential donors for face-to-face interview, completion of assessment questionnaire, and blood tests. Eligible donors will sign a consent form for breast milk donation, after which healthcare personnel will provide details regarding the donation process and appropriate support. The HKBMB will arrange qualified courier to collect breast milk from the donors’ homes and deliver it to the HKBMB for further processing, adhering to strict standards. Donors can complete the entire donation process in the comfort of their own home, making it simple and convenient.

     To ensure safety and quality, breast milk collected will undergo a robust processing system of pasteurisation, microbiological testing and nutritional analysis, all under precise temperature control. Then it will be supplied to nine public hospitals with neonatal intensive care units for prescribing to premature and critically-ill newborns. The HKBMB hopes to collect 1000 litres of breast milk annually, benefiting 450 to 600 premature and critically-ill newborns.

     For more information on donating breast milk, please visit the HKBMB website (www.ha.org.hk/hkch/hkbmb) or refer to the pamphlet (see Annex). Pamphlets are also available at the Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics departments in public hospitals, as well as Maternal and Child Health Centres under the Department of Health. read more

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (December 31) the launch of the Anti-rodent Charter (the Charter) for residential buildings and related commercial units to promote residents’ awareness of environmental hygiene and encourage them to cultivate good habits with a view to working together for the target of a rodent-free environment. The department invites property management companies, owners’ corporations, residents’ organisations of private residential premises, the Hong Kong Housing Society, transitional housing, subsidised sales flats and Tenants Purchase Scheme estates to sign the Charter.
      
     Premises participating in the Charter will undertake to assign anti-rodent liaison ambassadors to co-ordinate anti-rodent efforts. These ambassadors will carry out regular inspections, arrange necessary repairs and maintenance of facilities, and ensure proper cleaning and refuse removal at the housing estates or buildings. Besides implementing anti-rodent measures, participants have to supervise the quality and performance of the hired anti-rodent service contractors and maintain relevant records of anti-rodent work. They are also responsible for conveying anti-rodent messages to residents through promotion and education, encouraging residents to cultivate good habits in personal hygiene and maintain a clean environment.
      
     Participants will receive free anti-rodent technical support from the FEHD, including invitations to attend pest control seminars organised by the FEHD. Additionally, the FEHD will present Charter certificates and stickers to participants and publish a list of participating organisations and premises on a dedicated webpage in recognition of their efforts.
      
     The spokesman highlighted that the department is considering extending the Charter to other sectors in due course, based on the experience of the first phase of the Anti-rodent Charter, with a view to collaborating on the creation of a more livable environment.

     Details of the Charter have been uploaded to the FEHD’s Anti-rodent Charter Website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/anti_rodent_charter.html).
      
     The spokesman emphasised that effective rodent prevention and control hinges on the co-operation of government departments, relevant sectors, stakeholders, as well as members of the public to bolster anti-rodent efforts in their respective areas. Members of the public should maintain good environmental hygiene and eliminate the three fundamental survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourage and passages, i.e. the elimination of the food sources and hiding places of rodents as well as blockage of their dispersal routes. read more

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     The fire danger situation today (December 31) is red and fire risk is extreme. The countryside is extremely vulnerable to fire. If you are planning to spend the day in the countryside, please take pre-cooked food for a picnic and take all measures to prevent hill fires. The penalty for lighting fires illegally in the countryside is $25,000 and a year’s imprisonment.
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     Concerning the incident regarding the suspected short-term non-compliance of the total organic carbon (TOC) from certain T·PARK’s flue stacks during the period from last October to this July, as compared with the emission standards set out in the contract, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 30) announced the investigation findings.

     The investigation revealed that, at the same time when the monitoring data of TOC collected from the operating flue stack exceeded the emission limits set out in the contract, TOC was also detected from the air inside the other non-operating flue stacks in the facility. Since the monitoring of organic carbon requires utilization of air from the surrounding environment in order to assist combustion, scientifically the monitoring data need to be corrected according to the organic carbon concentration in the ambient air before they can be compared with the standards. With the above correction, it is confirmed that the actual data of TOC from the operation of T·PARK had not exceeded the emission limit under the contract.

     TOC generally refers to the total amount of carbon in all organic compounds. Vegetation, vehicles, paints, cooking and industrial activities, etc are common sources of TOC in the ambient air. TOC is not a parameter under the statutory Air Quality Objectives, in order to ensuring proper operation of the facility, the contract between the EPD and the contractor of T·PARK has set emission standards for TOC, and conduct continuous monitoring. During the period from last October to this July, there were a few occasions of suspected short-term non-compliance of TOC emission standards under the contract from certain T·PARK’s flue stacks. As the contractor had different views on whether the emission of TOC from the facility had violated the contract provisions, the EPD had to conduct investigation into the incident.

     As the relevant investigation has been completed, the EPD has reuploaded the environmental monitoring reports for the period from last October to this October to the website www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/data/data_stf.html read more

     Hong Kong Customs on December 27 and 28 detected two cases involving possession of etomidate (the main ingredient of “space oil drug”), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations, by passengers at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. A total of four suspected “space oil drug” capsules were seized.
      
     The first case involved a local female passenger, aged 17, who departed for the Mainland via the Lok Ma Chau Control Point on December 27. During customs clearance, one suspected “space oil drug” capsule and a related inhaling device were found in her handbag. The woman was subsequently arrested.
      
     The second case involved a 32-year-old local male passenger. The man went to the Mainland via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on December 28. During customs clearance, three suspected “space oil drug” capsules were found concealed in a specially sewn pocket on the jeans he was wearing. He was then arrested.
      
     The two arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. Investigations are ongoing.
      
     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

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