The Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address that in order to promote elderly-friendly building design, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will co-ordinate with relevant bureaux to incorporate more comprehensively the concepts of universal design and accessibility into the Buildings Department (BD)'s building design manual and relevant regulations and guidelines. Mr Wong convened the first meeting as the Head of the Task Force today (February 6).
 
     The Task Force will review existing legislation and elderly-friendly related design provisions in the BD's Design Manual: Barrier Free Access, and put forward proposals within this year. The directions of work are as follows:
 

• to make reference to the design requirements for elderly-friendly buildings or facilities in Hong Kong and other places, including building designs concerning common areas and private units, how to integrate technology application with user-centred designs, with a view to formulating more practicable elderly-friendly building design requirements and guidelines;

• to consider how to implement relevant design requirements, including which requirements should be mandated through legislative amendment, which can be advisory best practices, and which can be encouraged measures for the industry's adoption through provision of incentives; and

• to explore the adoption of relevant design requirements in public housing projects as pilots.

 
     Mr Wong said that in face of an ageing population in Hong Kong, the Policy Address has proposed a series of cross-sectoral policies and measures to cater for the needs of the elderly. Of which, elderly-friendly building design is a beneficial measure complementing the Government's policy of ageing in place. The Government will put forward preliminary proposals later this year and listen to the views of stakeholders to finalise the plan.
 
     At the meeting, Task Force members discussed the overall directions of the Task Force's work, as well as the upcoming work plan and arrangements.
 
     Other members of the Task Force include the Secretary for Development, the Secretary for Housing, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, the Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, the Director of Architectural Services, the Director of Buildings, and the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Hong Kong Housing Society.
 
    The terms of reference of the Task Force are set out in the Appendix.

    

     The Department of Health (DH) today (February 6) conducted an operation against the sale of two slimming products, namely HOTCHA Botanical Beverage Mix chocolate with Morosil and HOTCHA Botanical Beverage Mix Hazelnut Coffee with Morosil, which were found to contain an undeclared controlled and banned drug ingredient. During the operation, a 40-year-old woman was arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 poisons.
      
     Acting upon a public complaint, the DH obtained samples of the above products via an online platform for analysis. Test results from the Government Laboratory revealed that the samples contained sibutramine, which is a Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (the Ordinance). The DH conducted an operation today and a 40-year-old woman selling the products concerned was arrested. The investigation is continuing.
      
     Sibutramine was once used as an appetite suppressant. Since November 2010, pharmaceutical products containing sibutramine have been banned in Hong Kong because of an increased cardiovascular risk.
          
     According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. 
      
     The DH spokesman strongly urged members of the public not to buy products of unknown or doubtful composition, or to consume products from unknown sources. Members of the public who have purchased the above products should stop consuming them immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if feeling unwell after consumption.   
      
     The spokesman added that weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control. They may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for "Health message on overweight problem and slimming products" and "Slimming products with undeclared Western drug ingredients" for information.   
          
     The public may submit the products to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1801, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.

  

     The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) conducted today (February 6) market surveillance, publicity and education activities around Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po before the Lunar New Year, and distributed pamphlets to members of the public and traders to remind them not to sell, purchase or use pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards from unknown sources or allegedly having completed real-name registration.

     "To raise public understanding of the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards (Real-name Registration Programme) and ensure traders' compliance with the registration requirements, the OFCA conducts ongoing market surveillance, publicity and education activities to remind members of the public and visitors to complete the real-name registration with their own original identity document, and not to purchase or resell registered PPS cards, with a view to protecting their own interests and avoiding any loss and criminal liability. Meanwhile, the OFCA urges traders not to assist any persons in using the identity document of any third party in completing real-name registration, and not to sell PPS cards allegedly having completed registration," a spokesman for the OFCA said.
 
     The spokesman added, "The OFCA has been maintaining close contact with telecommunications service providers, and reminding them to strengthen the inspection of the user information of the registered PPS cards. In case of any suspicious cases, they should promptly be referred to law enforcement agencies for follow-up. Up to the end of December 2023, in accordance with the legal requirements and relevant guidelines, telecommunications service providers had rejected around 1.02 million registration requests because customers failed to provide information that meets the registration requirements, and had deregistered around 1.16 million non-compliant PPS cards."
 
     "Telecommunications service providers also conduct sample checks on the registration information from time to time. Upon the receipt of an SMS message from his/her telecommunications service provider using the designated sender address '#SIMREG', the user subject to the sample check must provide his/her own identity document again as soon as possible by following the instructions provided in the SMS message for verification of the registered information. If the user subject to the sample check is unable to provide relevant information to complete the verification before the stipulated deadline, the relevant PPS card will be deregistered and cannot be used afterwards. Telecommunications service providers will continue to enhance their real-name registration platforms. Starting from December last year, their platforms will gradually support 'iAM Smart' and members of the public can complete real-name registration more conveniently through 'iAM Smart'. The list of telecommunications service providers that support 'iAM Smart' and their respective user guides can be found on the OFCA's website," the spokesman continued.
 
     The spokesman emphasised that providing false information and/or false documents under the Real-name Registration Programme may constitute a criminal offence. Depending on the nature of the act and proof of evidence, the applicable offences include obtaining services by deception under section 18A of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and/or using false instruments under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200). In addition, any person who knowingly transfers PPS cards for illicit purposes may be liable for aiding and abetting the commission of the relevant offence under section 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221).
          
     Under the Real-name Registration Programme, all SIM cards issued and used locally (including service plan SIM cards and PPS cards) must have their real-name registration completed before service activation. The OFCA will continue to carry out a series of monitoring and enforcement actions to ensure that telecommunications service providers and other relevant parties comply with the requirements of the law and relevant guidelines.
 
     For details of the Real-name Registration Programme, please visit the OFCA's website (www.ofca.gov.hk/simreg/en).

    

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 Public Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and phishing emails, which have 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 emails 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 website or emails concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     A spokesman for the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration's Office said today (February 6) that the Government has commenced to disperse the one-off Newborn Baby Bonus of $20,000 to the first batch of about 6 000 eligible parents, following completion of the required internal procedures after obtaining funding approval for implementing the Bonus from the Legislative Council Finance Committee on January 19 this year.
 
     The applications for the first batch of about 6 000 eligible parents were submitted between October 25, 2023 and mid-January this year. The Government will notify payees by SMS message through a designated telephone number (852-5928 7409) upon disbursement.
 
     From now on, provided that the information, including bank account details, provided by eligible applicants is correct, applicants will receive the Newborn Baby Bonus via their designated bank account in about two to three weeks from the time of application.
 
     The spokesman said, "The Government reminds the public that no hyperlink will be included in the SMS notifications of bonus disbursements. Members of the public should stay vigilant and avoid falling prey to fraud in the name of the Newborn Baby Bonus."
 
     The Government hopes to reverse the low level of the local birthrate to provide the manpower required for the long-term economic development of Hong Kong, and to alleviate the challenges of an ageing population. The Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address last year an array of measures to promote fertility by adopting a "combination of punches" approach, such as providing a newborn cash allowance for eligible parents. The Newborn Baby Bonus scheme will run for three years. The Government will provide a one-off cash allowance of $20,000 as a financial incentive to eligible parents for each eligible baby. In order to be eligible for the bonus, two conditions have to be fulfilled: babies must be born in Hong Kong between October 25, 2023 (the day of the announcement of the Policy Address), and October 24, 2026, and either parent of the baby must be a Hong Kong permanent resident when applying for the bonus.
   
     The Newborn Baby Bonus scheme has become open for applications since October 25 last year. As of February 3 this year, a total of about 6 900 eligible applications were received. For details of the scheme, please visit www.cso.gov.hk/newbornbabybonus/eng/index.htm.