The Department of Health (DH) today (December 10) drew public attention to a safety alert concerning the NADAL hCG Pregnancy Test [Product Code: 141000, Lot/Batch: 169757, Expiry Date: 30 November 2020] manufactured by nal von minden GmbH, as incorrect instructions for interpreting results are shown on individual packaging.

     The DH, through its routine surveillance on medical devices, noticed a safety alert issued by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency of the United Kingdom. According to the alert, pregnancy test strips of batch 169757 are enclosed in individual packaging with incorrect instructions for interpreting the results of pregnancy test. This will produce an incorrect result (positive and negative results are reversed). 

     A spokesman for the DH explained that incorrect results in the worst case can result in misdiagnosis and significant harm.

     "The DH is following up to see if the affected products have been distributed in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the public should be alerted as some of them may have obtained the product from abroad or from Internet purchase. The public is advised to stop using the concerned batch of the product and seek advice of healthcare professionals if in doubt," the spokesman said.

     So far, the DH has not received any local report of adverse incidents arising from use of the product.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, commended and congratulated winning departments and teams for their service excellence while officiating at the prize presentation ceremony of the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2019 today (December 10).

     Expressing gratitude to civil service colleagues in her speech, Mrs Lam said these individuals gave full play to their team spirit to rise to the challenges in their respective posts in the extremely difficult environment over the past few months, providing quality service to members of the public with dedication and enabling the normal operation of society. She said she believes that the professional and efficient civil service will be the cornerstone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the demanding macro environment down the road.

     Also speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, praised the Civil Service for its consistently high standard of performance and perseverance in providing excellent public service especially during the difficult times in the past few months. He further commended colleagues in various departments for their extra efforts in handling large amounts of additional work to restore as soon as possible the facilities damaged in violent protests.   

     Mr Law said he believed that apart from a sense of responsibility, colleagues' commitment to duties and team work arises from their love for Hong Kong. He showed appreciation for the civil service teams for their dedicated efforts, and felt proud of them for their professional performance.

     The Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme is a biennial event organised by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) since 1999. The Scheme aims to recognise the efforts of government departments and teams in providing outstanding services to the public, promote a customer-focused culture, inspire civil servants to strive for innovation and provide a platform for departments and teams to share experiences in service enhancement. This year's awards under the Scheme were presented at three levels, namely inter-departmental partnership awards, departmental awards and team awards. Thirty-three entries from 22 departments were awarded under eight award categories.

     The award-winning departments and entries were assessed by some 70 adjudicators from different sectors and professions including Legislative and District Councillors, staff members of the Central Consultative Councils of the Civil Service, representatives from professional organisations, experienced practitioners from service industries and senior officials from the CSB. All entries went through two stages of rigorous adjudication.

     To promote the commendable efforts of the award winners and their notable achievements, the CSB has arranged to present the winning cases in a TV programme, with broadcast details as follows:
 

 
     Details of the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme are available in www.servicexcellence.gov.hk.

          

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, after attending the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development today (December 10):

Reporter: Secretary, what do you think of the tariff increase this time, and can you also comment on whether the Government will look for ways to reduce the tariff increase in the future? Because once the subsidy is used up, people will be paying even more for their tariffs and there will be a greater backlash.

Secretary for the Environment: In response to your last point, what you said might not be most accurate. For instance, for the residential units, we anticipated that there would be an incremental increase. But we announced the electricity charges relief last year. Even there would be an incremental increase over the five years but the material impact on the residential units would be minimal as we have a relief of $50 on average each month. But for the non-residential units, I think the major issue is more about on how to restore the economic situation and social order. But for this particular year, due to special circumstances, that as Government, we provide subsidy and also urge the power companies to do more to support the non-residential units, so it is done for this particular year. As mentioned, we would like to support the environmental transformation by the power companies. So we have offered both the relief and subsidies to tackle the situation. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Hongkong Post announced today (December 10) that, as advised by the postal administration of Australia, the hazardous air quality in Sydney caused by bushfires is affecting the operation of Sydney's mail processing centre, thus resulting in delays for all mail delivery services (including Speedpost Service) to New South Wales (postcodes 2000-2999) and nearby areas. 

     Police today (December 10) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Ma On Shan.

     Yan Chi-ho, aged 54, went missing after he left his residence in Chung On Estate yesterday afternoon (December 9). His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.75 metres tall, 80 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a light brown long-sleeved jacket, light blue jeans and white shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9689 7445 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.