Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the speech (translated from Chinese) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in presenting the Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 71A and No. 72 in the Legislative Council today (December 11):
 
President,
 
     I lay on the table today the Government Minute (GM) responding to Report No. 71A and 72 of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
      
     I welcome the PAC Reports No. 71A and 72 presented to the Legislative Council on May 8 and October 16, 2019 respectively. I am grateful for the time and efforts devoted by the Chairman, Mr Abraham Shek and Members of PAC. The Government accepts PAC’s various recommendations and sets out in detail the specific responses of the relevant bureaux/departments in the GM. PAC has conducted public hearings regarding “Centre for Food Safety: Import Control of Foods” in Report No. 71A and “Employment services provided by the Labour Department” in Report No. 72. I would like to highlight the key measures taken and progress made by the two departments (namely, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Labour Department (LD)) in response to the recommendations.
 
Import Control of Foods by CFS
 
     The Government attaches great importance to safeguarding food safety. CFS will continue to discharge its responsibilities in import control of foods to ensure the safety of imported foods. To this end, CFS will adhere to its established mechanisms and procedures in implementing a pre-entry licensing system, verifying health documents, and conducting food inspections and surveillance at various food import control points of air, land and sea routes.
      
     With respect to the control of foods imported by air, CFS definitely does not accept importers pre-selecting food samples for inspections. According to its operational manual in use, CFS staff must personally inspect each consignment of the targeted food by taking samples at random and examine the import documents. Having regard to Audit Commission’s (Audit) observations, CFS has enhanced the guidance and training for and supervision of its frontline staff, including setting out the number of samples to be collected and formulating the guidelines on random sampling for physical inspections at the Airport Food Inspection Office, and implementing improvement measures to step up supervisory inspections of its staff.
      
     For the control of foods imported by road, CFS has put in place a series of improvement measures, including extending the joint operations with the Customs and Excise Department. Apart from targeting vegetable vehicles, vehicles carrying regulated foods (e.g. eggs, meat, etc.) are also covered. Measures also include issuing a checklist on the required import documents for different types of food and the items to be inspected for the frontline staff at the Man Kam To Food Control Office, and requiring the frontline staff to check whether the vehicles and containers transporting chilled meat and poultry are on the approved list of CFS and to ensure that only those on the list are released.
      
     Regarding the control of foods imported by sea, CFS is actively considering the feasibility of setting up a formal food control office with chilling facilities at the Kwai Chung Customhouse checkpoint with a  view to  enhancing inspections of targeted food consignments. It has updated the operational manual to clarify the requirement for CFS staff to witness the act of breaking container seals, and enhanced its computer system to ensure that the same food consignment will not be issued with multiple import licences. CFS has also stepped up its supervision to ensure that officers will take appropriate follow-up actions in accordance with the operational manual against importers which are late in submitting original health certificates for food consignments imported by sea.
      
     CFS has implemented various improvement measures concerning the control of live food animals and live aquatic products, including checking whether the consignee’s name on the animal health certificate matches with the importer’s name on the permit issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department during import inspections, and verifying whether the quantities of livestock admitted to slaughterhouses match the quantities shown on the movement permits issued by officers at boundary control point to drivers. Furthermore, CFS has reviewed and will introduce within this year a simplified Food Import Declaration Form for completion by drivers in order to collect the necessary information more effectively for food traceability.
      
     Regarding the registration of food importers or distributors, CFS has taken measures to further remind its staff at the boundary control points to check the importer’s registration status immediately upon the arrival of a food consignment, and to take appropriate enforcement actions against unregistered food importers. CFS has also enhanced the supervision of food trader inspections to ensure that officers of the Food Importer/Distributor Registration and Import Licensing Office keep a proper record of the findings of inspections and follow-up actions, which include putting food traders involved in unsuccessful inspection cases on a monitoring list based on the circumstances of individual cases. Further, CFS has improved its monitoring system to remind its staff to arrange inspections of food traders on the list.
      
     Meanwhile, CFS is developing and setting up five major information technology (IT) systems with a view to supporting the work of its frontline staff and reinforcing its capability in control and surveillance of imported foods, management of food safety incidents, risk assessment and food traceability. These IT systems are expected to be rolled out in an order of priorities starting from late 2019 and be completed by 2024.
      
Employment services provided by LD
 
     With respect to employment services provided by LD, LD has been actively following up on the recommendations made by the Audit’s and PAC on its provision of employment services, and has introduced various improvement measures with a view to providing more effective and convenient employment and recruitment services for job seekers and employers.
      
     LD strives to enhance the employment opportunities of job seekers with special needs (including young and elderly job seekers and job seekers with disabilities) and step up its efforts in assisting them to stay longer in their jobs upon placement. LD will launch a pilot scheme to encourage young people, elderly aged 60 or above, and persons with disabilities engaged respectively under the Youth Employment and Training Programme, the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged, and the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme to undergo and complete on-the-job training through the provision of a retention allowance, thereby stabilising employment. Apart from that, the department will launch a pilot programme in conjunction with non-government organisations to provide employment services to ethnic minority job seekers through a case management approach.
      
     Taking into account the local economic situation and employment situation of the labour market, LD will continue to review the operation of its services from time to time. Corresponding adjustments or enhancements will be initiated in a timely manner so as to better meet the changing needs of both the job seekers and the employers.
      
     President, I would like to thank the Chairman and Members of PAC again for their efforts and guidance. The concerned bureaux and departments will strictly adhere to its responses in the GM to make improvement in its daily operations and ensure the proper use of public funds.
      
     Thank you, President.
 
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     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Pierre Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (December 11):
 
Question:
 
     The Department of Health (DH) introduced in October last year the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme under which outreach teams went to various schools to provide free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for primary school students. In October this year, DH regularised the Programme and extended, on a pilot basis, the Programme to kindergartens and child care centres. In addition, under the Enhanced Vaccination Subsidy Scheme Outreach Vaccination, schools may invite the participating doctors published on DH’s website to provide free SIV for their students at their schools. On the other hand, DH provides respectively free and subsidised SIV to eligible groups through the Government Vaccination Programme and the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of (a) primary schools and (b) kindergartens/child care centres which have participated in (i) the School Outreach Vaccination Programme and (ii) the Enhanced Vaccination Subsidy Scheme Outreach Vaccination, since the beginning of the current school year, as well as the relevant details; the respective numbers of school children who have and who have not received SIV, and how the relevant school children uptake rate compares with that of the same period last year;
 
(2) of (i) the amount of expenditure incurred by the Government for procuring seasonal influenza vaccines and (ii) the total amount of subsidy claimed by the private doctors participating in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, in each of the past five years;
 
(3) of the number of persons in each of the groups set out in the table below who received SIV and the uptake rate, in each of the past five years (set out separately in tables of the same format as the table below);
 
Year:             

Group	Number of persons who received vaccination	Uptake rate
Children between six months and under six years old
Children aged between six and under 12
Persons aged between 12 and under 50
Persons aged between 50 and under 65
Persons aged 65 or above
Pregnant women
Persons with chronic health problems
Overall population

 
(4) of (i) the quantity of nasal seasonal influenza vaccines procured by DH and the amount of expenditure so incurred, as well as (ii) the respective numbers of persons from the various groups set out in the aforesaid table who received such vaccines, since April last year; whether it will consider using more of such nasal vaccines in providing SIV for children;
 
(5) of the respective (i) quantities of seasonal influenza vaccines procured by DH and the Hospital Authority (HA), and amounts of money involved, as well as (ii) quantities of unused but expired or damaged seasonal influenza vaccines which were discarded by DH and HA, and amounts of money involved and relevant procedure, in each of the past five years; and
 
(6) whether the Government will consider subsidising all members of the community for receiving SIV; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Vaccination is one of the effective means to prevent seasonal influenza (SI) and its complications.  It also reduces the risks of flu-associated in-patient admission and mortality.  Therefore, the Government has all along been encouraging the public to receive vaccination as early as possible. In 2019/20, free or subsidised seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is provided for eligible groups under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP), the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) and the 2019/20 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach (Free of Charge) (School Outreach (Free of Charge)). To enhance the uptake rate among school children, the Department of Health (DH) has regularised the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme in 2019/20 to cover more primary schools, and extended the coverage to kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centres and child care centres as a pilot programme. The DH also actively co-ordinates with schools and private doctors to organise outreach SIV activities in schools. In consultation with the DH, the reply to the six parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) As at November 24, 2019, a total of 431 primary schools and 706 kindergartens/kindergarten-cum-child care centres/child care centres participated in the School Outreach (Free of Charge), while a total of 107 primary schools and 51 kindergartens/kindergarten-cum-child care centres/child care centres provided outreach SIV under the VSS (School Outreach (Extra Charge Allowed)). As at November 24, 2019, about 229 000 children aged between six months and under 12 received SIV under various government vaccination schemes, representing an uptake rate of 33.5 per cent. The uptake figure is comparable to that of the corresponding period last year.
 
(2) The expenditure incurred by the DH for procuring SI vaccines under various government vaccination schemes, and for subsidising vaccination provided by private doctors under the VSS in the past five years are detailed in Annex 1.
 
(3) The number of persons in each eligible group who received SIV under various government vaccination schemes and their uptake rates in the past five years are detailed in Annex 2. Since some people from the eligible groups might have received SIV through arrangements other than government vaccination schemes, the figures related to these persons are not reflected in Annex 2.
 
(4) As nasal SI vaccines have not been widely used in Hong Kong, and having regard to their supply, the DH has provided this type of vaccine for some of the schools served by its outreach teams in 2019/20 to test the feasibility and logistical arrangements in applying such vaccines under various vaccination schemes. A total of 2 000 nasal vaccine doses were procured in 2019/20, involving an expenditure of $380,000. As at November 24, 2019, over 600 primary school children and 500 children from kindergartens/ kindergarten-cum-child care centres/child care centres have received nasal vaccination. The DH will review the experience in the trial and consider whether such vaccines should be used in the future, taking into account factors such as their supply and acceptance rate. 
 
(5) The DH is responsible for procuring SI vaccines under the GVP and the School Outreach Vaccination Programme (Note). SI vaccines used by the Hospital Authority under the GVP are procured and allocated by the DH. In general, the product life of SI vaccine can last for one year and expired vaccines will not be used.  Unused but expired or damaged vaccines are arranged for disposal in phases in accordance with the statutory requirements. In the past five years, the cost involved in the disposal of these vaccines has been included in the expenditure for procuring vaccines under various vaccination schemes (see Annex 1). The quantities of SI vaccines procured and the number of doses of unused but expired or damaged vaccines under various vaccination schemes in the past five years are detailed in Annex 3.
 
Note: Including all participating primary schools and a small number of kindergartens/kindergarten-cum-child care centres/child care centres under the School Outreach (Free of Charge) which DH provides outreach vaccination services.
 
(6) Certain groups of people are at higher risk of catching severe influenza or transmitting influenza to those at high risk, and should be given higher priority for SIV. The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection examines from time to time local epidemiological data, latest scientific evidence and overseas experiences, and reviews the recommendations regarding the priority groups for SIV. Every year, the Government will make reference to the recommendations from the Scientific Committee, practices of overseas health authorities, other public health factors and the affordability of people receiving vaccination, etc. in order to designate the eligible groups under the VSS and the GVP and consider whether there is a need to expand the target groups of relevant scheme. For example, the Government has expanded the eligible groups of the VSS to cover people aged between 50 and 64 since 2018/19. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 11) closely monitoring an imported case of Zika Virus Infection reported in â€‹Guangdong. The CHP was notified by the Health Commission of Guangdong Province yesterday (December 10), and again urged the public to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures and safe sex during travel. Pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika virus transmission (affected areas).
 
     The male patient aged 33 returning from Cambodia arrived at Shenzhen International Airport on December 8. ​He was detected as febrile upon arrival. The case was laboratory confirmed subsequently, and ​h​e ​was under isolation ​and management in stable condition. 
     
     The CHP’s Port Health Division (PHD) has introduced a requirement on aircraft disinsection for all inbound aircrafts from Zika-affected areas since April 2017 to prevent importation of diseases through infected mosquitoes. The PHD has also stepped up inspections and health promotions at boundary control points (BCPs) to maintain strict environmental hygiene with effective mosquito control.
 
     “Routine health surveillance on body temperature of inbound travellers at all BCPs is ongoing. However, infected persons are mainly asymptomatic. Therefore, we urge those arriving from Zika-affected areas to apply insect repellent for at least 21 days upon arrival to reduce the risk of transmission,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
  
     “We are maintaining close liaison with the World Health Organization as well as overseas, neighbouring and Mainland health authorities to closely monitor the latest developments,” the spokesman added.
 
     Apart from general measures on preventing mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, the public should take heed of the advice listed below:
 
A. Travelling abroad
 

• If going to affected areas, travellers, especially persons with immune disorders or severe chronic illnesses, should arrange a consultation with a doctor at least six weeks before the trip, and have extra preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites; 
• During the trip, if travelling in rural affected areas, carry a portable bed net and apply permethrin (an insecticide) on it. Permethrin should not be applied to skin. Seek medical attention promptly if feeling unwell; and  
• Travellers who return from affected areas should apply insect repellent for at least 21 days after arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell e.g. having fever, should seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to a doctor.

 
B. Sexual transmission
 

• Travellers should consider not having sex during travel to affected areas, or else a condom should be used; and  
• Male and female travellers returning from affected areas should abstain from sex for at least three months and at least two months respectively upon return, or else a condom should be used.

 
C. Pregnant women
 

• Pregnant women should not travel to affected areas. Women preparing for pregnancy should note Point B above. If they or their male sex partners plan to travel to affected areas, they should consult their doctors for advice on the risk. Use of mosquito repellent containing DEET during travel and returning from these areas for a period of at least 21 days are advised for all travellers including pregnant women;  
• Attend antenatal follow up regularly and tell the attending doctor the history of recent travel;  
• Observe for symptoms of Zika Virus Infection and seek medical advice as soon as possible if feeling unwell; and  
• Abstain from sex with partner who had travelled to affected areas, or else a condom should be used throughout the pregnancy.

 
     The public may visit the Zika pages of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the Outbound Travel Alert page of the Security Bureau and anti-mosquito precautions for women for more information. read more

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Chiang Lai-wan and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (December 11):
 
Question:
 
     The world’s first case of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus (HEV) was found in Hong Kong in September last year. Since then, a total of nine cases of this type have been identified globally with eight of them being found in Hong Kong. Some academics consider that the fact that a number of rat HEV infection cases were found in Hong Kong within a short time span has reflected signs of persistent spreads and outbreaks of the disease. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the latest progress of the Government’s anti-rodent work and investigations into the relevant infection cases, as well as the up-to-date results of the rat HEV detection tests performed on rat samples;
 
(2) whether it will conduct regular anti-rodent operation in designated target areas with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work in the districts; if so, of the timetable and details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) given that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is currently conducting tests on different rodent baits for identifying the most suitable one for the situation in Hong Kong, of the details of the tests concerned;
 
(4) given that FEHD has, since April this year, put on trial the use of night-vision and thermal imaging cameras with artificial intelligence functionality to monitor the whereabouts of rodents, of the effect of such monitoring work in eradicating the rodent problem;
 
(5) whether it will review the methodology for calculating the Rodent Infestation Rate (RIR), and include in the formula for calculating RIR the number of complaints about rodent infestation, the number of live rodents caught, the number of dead rodents collected, etc. with a view to reflecting more comprehensively the seriousness of rodent infestation in the districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(6) how the Pest Control Steering Committee will step up its efforts in coordinating and synergising interdepartmental rodent control work?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     My reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) After confirming the eight cases of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the Government has conducted immediate and intensive anti-rodent work in the vicinity of the patients’ residence.  In so far as public places are concerned, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has already strengthened cleansing services, carried out rodent prevention and control work (including placing rodenticides and trapping devices as well as filling rat holes) and taken enforcement actions against illegal disposal of refuse.  As for private places and public housing estates, FEHD, together with property management companies of private housing estates, the Housing Department as well as District Councillors, have conducted site inspections to observe the rodent infestation situation and provided professional advice and technical guidance on placing rodenticides and trapping devices, destroying rat holes, improving rodent proofing structures in buildings and stepping up refuse clearing work etc.
 
     Upon notification of the cases, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has immediately commenced epidemiological investigations to determine the source and route of infection, which however cannot be confirmed based on the available epidemiological information.  The CHP’s investigation is still in progress.
 
     Regarding the laboratory tests for HEV, the DH has been working in close collaboration with the Hospital Authority and the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong (HKU).  Since November 2018, the DH has enhanced the surveillance of HEV by conducting further testing on rat HEV in the samples collected from HEV patients, in addition to regular testing on human HEV types.
 
     As for the tests performed on rat samples, HKU’s Department of Microbiology has performed 62 tests in 2019 on samples provided by the FEHD and detected rat HEV in one of the rat samples collected in Wong Tai Sin in May 2019.
 
(2) In view of the effectiveness of anti-rodent operations in designated target areas over the past two years, the FEHD plans to conduct such exercises regularly.  An eight-week operation will be carried out on a territory-wide basis in both May and November 2020.  Each District Environmental Hygiene Office of the FEHD will identify target areas in its district, taking into account factors including the Rodent Infestation Rate (RIR), the number of complaints received, views of the local community and the number of food premises and “three-nil” buildings.  The FEHD will also consider the views of District Councillors.  The operation will target at the three fundamental survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourage and passages, i.e. elimination of the food sources and hiding places of rodents as well as blockage of their dispersal routes.  Multi-pronged strategies including improving environmental hygiene, stepping up rodent disinfestation and reinforcing enforcement will be adopted to strengthen rodent prevention and control work.   The FEHD will also collaborate with District Councils and District Offices of the Home Affairs Department (HAD) to organise anti-rodent promotional activities and encourage active participation of the community.
 
(3) The FEHD has been monitoring the effectiveness of rodenticides in use currently, including whether rodents have developed resistance to the rodenticides.
 
     Upon recommendation of the World Health Organization, the FEHD invited a British anti-rodent expert to Hong Kong in November 2019 to advise on the local rodent control work.  The expert confirmed the effectiveness of the methods currently adopted by the FEHD while suggesting that enhancement can be made by further improving environmental hygiene with more public participation.  As rodents are omnivores with food choices depending on environmental conditions, time and weather etc., no particular type of food is appealing to all rodents.  The expert recommended using different types of baits at the same time and place to attract rodents.  The FEHD will examine the effectiveness of using mixed rodent baits through tests in the coming few months.
 
(4) and (5) At present, the FEHD conducts RIR surveys by setting baits in selected areas.  The percentage of baits bitten will be used to infer the distribution of rodents in public places.  There is no internationally adopted RIR.  The FEHD has, when devising the RIR, made reference to overseas practices and the actual situation of Hong Kong.  We are open to methods on improving the RIR.
 
     In devising and implementing rodent prevention and control work, government departments concerned will take into account, in addition to the RIR surveys, factors such as complaint figures and reports, views of the local community and trails left by rodents found during inspections, in order to have a comprehensive assessment of the rodent problem in the district concerned and carry out targeted anti-rodent operations in problematic areas.
 
     The FEHD is studying the use of thermal imaging cameras with artificial intelligence analytical function for monitoring the areas and extent of rodent activities.  Initial test results have shown that the data can quantify and assess the effectiveness of anti-rodent work by directly comparing the rodent population density before and after anti-rodent operations.  The technology can also be used to identify rodents’ entry points, travel routes and areas they frequently visit, so that rodenticides and trapping devices can be placed in a more effective manner and more targeted rodent control measures can be implemented.  The FEHD has planned to conduct field trials in Kowloon City District in early 2020 in order to update and upgrade the quantifying functions of the RIR.  Furthermore, cameras will be installed before and after anti-rodent operations in designated target areas next year with a view to quantifying and reviewing the effectiveness of the operations.
 
(6) The Pest Control Steering Committee (PCSC) led by the Food and Health Bureau is responsible for formulating policies on pest control, promoting inter-departmental co-ordination and regularly reviewing the effectiveness of pest control measures carried out by government bureaux and departments.  The PCSC has set objectives in three areas for its work plan in 2019, namely strengthening prevention, co-ordination and surveillance.
 
     On enhancing inter-departmental co-ordination, the PCSC launched a territory-wide cleaning campaign in May 2019, requiring various government departments to strengthen their cleaning and anti-rodent work.  Among these, the FEHD, HAD and Highways Department have, through intelligence exchanges, carried out improvement works and enhanced cleaning at back alleys where there are hygiene problems.  The Hong Kong Housing Authority, with FEHD’s technical support, has installed rodent-proofing structures in public housing estates.  The Buildings Department and the Architectural Services Department have also promulgated guidelines on incorporating rodent-proofing design in new buildings for building professionals’ reference.  These guidelines will also serve as reference for renovation of old buildings.  In addition, the FEHD has stepped up enforcement against irregularities of food premises such as food preparation at rear lanes.  The FEHD will continue to provide technical support and professional training to various government departments. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, in the Legislative Council today (December 11):

Question:

     It is learnt that domestic violence is a social issue of global concern. The victims usually suffer psychological abuse, bodily injuries or even sexual violence, and most of the batterers are their family members. The information of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) shows that there were 2 937 newly reported spouse/cohabitant battering cases in 2018, and among the victims concerned, 2 387 were female (i.e. 81.3 per cent). Regarding the handling of domestic violence problem, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) Of the following details of each of the refuge centres for women and the Family Crisis Support Centre currently subvented by SWD and operated by non-governmental organizations: the name of the centre, the district in which the centre is located, and the number of accommodation places available (with a breakdown of the number of accommodation places by (i) gender of the service targets, (ii) whether or not they are members of the ethnic minorities and (iii) whether or not they are new arrivals); 

(2) Given that the maximum period of stay, in respect of the temporary accommodation service currently provided by the refuge centres for women, is usually two weeks, and that period may be extended to three months when necessary, of the considerations and criteria based on which the authorities set such limits on the period of stay; 

(3) Of the details of (a) the Batterer Intervention Programme and (b) the Anti-Violence Programme implemented by the authorities, including (i) the numbers of participants, (ii) the gender of the participants and (iii) the effectiveness of the programmes respectively, in each of the past three years; 

(4) Of the number of participants of the Support Programme for Enhancing Peaceable Relationship since it was launched in October last year, as well as the age/gender profile of the participants; and 

(5) Whether the authorities have provided housing assistance under the Compassionate Rehousing Scheme to victims of domestic violence or persons whose families are in crisis; if so, of the application procedure, and the number of persons receiving such assistance in the past three years?

Reply:

President,

     My reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) At present, there are five Refuge Centres for Women (Refuge Centres) across the territory, including Harmony House, Wai On Home for Women, Serene Court, Sunrise Court and Dawn Court, providing a total of 268 accommodation places. Besides, there are one Family Crisis Support Centre (FCSC) and one Multi-purpose Crisis Intervention and Support Centre (CEASE Crisis Centre) providing 50 and 80 temporary or short-term accommodation places respectively. Given the nature of their respective services, the address of FCSC in Kwun Tong is made public whereas the addresses of the Refuge Centres and CEASE Crisis Centre are kept confidential.

     While Refuge Centres provide places for women only, FCSC and CEASE Crisis Centre provide places for both genders without quota limit for each gender. Besides, there is no quota limit for ethnic minorities or new arrivals to Hong Kong in the above centres and hence no breakdown was available according to each category of service users.

(2) Refuge Centres provide temporary accommodation and support services for victims of domestic violence or family crisis and their children during the crisis period. In general, the accommodation is provided for abused women for two weeks and the maximum period of stay can be extended to three months where necessary. For cases that require further extension of stay, social workers may give due consideration according to the actual needs of the abused women such as their safety upon discharge, availability of appropriate accommodation, financial condition, emotional support and child care arrangement, etc.

(3) On the basis of casework service, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) provides the Batterer Intervention Programme (BIP) for persons who have used violence towards their spouses/heterosexual co-habitants. The target participants of this 13-session counselling programme are batterers who wish to maintain and improve their intimate partner relationships. The programme aims to help the perpetrators understand intimate partners’ violence and its impact, learn about non-violent approaches of conflict resolution and improve relationship with their partners. According to the evaluation study of the pilot project of BIP from April 2006 to March 2008 and the experience of frontline social workers, the combination of casework and group counselling service and the provision of sole casework service were both effective in changing perpetrators’ violent behaviour. As for enhancing perpetrators’ relationship with their partners, participants of BIP demonstrated more significant positive changes than people who only received casework counselling. The positive changes also helped them continue to get along with their partners in non-violent ways. In the past three years, there were a total of 152 batterers participating in the programme. Details are as follows:
 

Participants	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
Male	24	7	41
Female	19	44	17
Total	43	51	58

     The Anti-Violence Programme (AVP) is a psycho-educational programme approved by the Director of Social Welfare. The court, in granting a non-molestation order under the Domestic and Cohabitation Relationships Violence Ordinance (Cap 189), may require the respondent to attend AVP. It aims to reduce the risk of reoccurrence of violence and to change the violent attitude and behaviour of the participants, so as to enhance the protection of the victims of domestic violence. AVP provides service for those, including persons acting in a violent or molesting manner towards their spouses/former spouses/cohabitants/former cohabitants, children or other family members, who were covered under the aforementioned Ordinance. The programme consists of 12 to 14 sessions conducted in the form of individual or group counselling. The number of participants in the programme depends on the number of referrals by the Court. In the past three years, there were a total of two male batterers referred by the Court to participate in the programme.

(4) Since October 2018, SWD has subvented three non-governmental organisations to operate the Support Programme for Enhancing Peaceable Relationship (SPeaR) at five service clusters in Hong Kong. SPeaR aims at providing an early and flexible intervention for batterers/potential batterers to prevent and stop intimate partner violence (IPV) as well as improve the quality of their intimate relationships. It also provides support service for children who have witnessed or been exposed to IPV and victims of IPV, with a view to protecting them from harm.

     Up to September 2019, a total of 438 participants had participated in the Programme in the form of individual/group/family educational activities, of whom 151 were male and 91 were female who were batterers/potential batterers, 8 were male and 41 were female victims and 147 were children aged 18 or below who had witnessed or been exposed to IPV.

(5) Compassionate Rehousing (CR) is a form of special housing assistance, which aims at providing housing assistance for individuals and families (including victims of domestic violence or family crisis) who have genuine and imminent long-term housing needs but, owing to their social and/or medical needs arising from specific circumstances or experience, have no other feasible means to solve their housing problems. CR has to be assessed comprehensively by professional social workers or approved persons. SWD is responsible for recommending cases to the Housing Department (HD). On receipt of CR recommendations, HD will arrange detailed eligibility vetting in respect of the clients and allocation of public rental housing (PRH) units for eligible cases.

     â€‹SWD does not have the statistics on the number of victims of domestic violence or family crisis having been allocated PRH through CR. read more