The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 11) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza in Val-d'Oise Department in France, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the department with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 2 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 420 000 poultry eggs from France in the first three months of this year.

    "The CFS has contacted the French authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) carriers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following update today (July 11):
 
     In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has performed enhanced surveillance and one more 13-day-old baby boy was confirmed today (July 11) as an MRSA carrier without clinical symptoms. The baby is still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation and is in a stable condition.
 
     The hospital will continue with the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
 
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service:
 
     The Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong's Franchised Bus Service will hold hearings to receive oral evidence from nominated representatives of the interested parties as follows:
 

 
     The Committee's rules of procedure for the receipt of oral evidence and notice to the public attending the hearings to receive oral evidence are available on the Committee's website (www.irc-bus.gov.hk/eng/press.html).
 
     Having received and considered written submissions from various interested parties, and in order to obtain further information, the Committee is in the process of inviting specific interested parties to give oral evidence to the Committee through nominated representatives. Four hearings have been held so far to receive oral evidence from representatives of the Transport and Housing Bureau, the Transport Department, New World First Bus Services Limited and Citybus Limited, and the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited. A transcript of that evidence (and a translation in Chinese) is available on the Committee's website (www.irc-bus.gov.hk/eng/transcripts.html).
 
     The Committee wishes to invite family members of the victims and passengers on board the bus involved in the fatal incident on Tai Po Road, and other recent serious incidents involving franchised bus services, to attend the hearings, and invites them to contact the Secretariat in advance of the hearings if they wish to attend. Except for seats reserved for such persons as well as the media and specifically identified interested parties, all available seats in the hearing venues will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. A registration counter will open at 8.30am on July 14 and 16 and 9.30am on July 17.
 
     Enquiries regarding the hearings may be directed to the Secretariat of the Committee at 2867 5324.
 
Note: ZF Friedrichshafen AG and its subsidiary Openmatics s.r.o. are the manufacturer of black boxes installed on buses of three of the franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, namely the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, Long Win Bus Company Limited and New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited.

     Following is a question by the Hon Leung Che-cheung and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, in the Legislative Council today (July 11):
 
Question:
 
     An organisation in the horticulture industry has relayed that the development of the industry has all along been neglected over the years. The horticulture industry is not regarded as a separate trade in the construction industry, and there is currently no registration system for practitioners in the industry, rendering such practitioners being regarded as general workers only. Moreover, as it is difficult to attract new blood to join the industry due to its remuneration being on the low side, coupled with an ageing workforce, the industry has been beset by a shortage of manpower. The organisation has also pointed out that horticulture contractors often face financial difficulties arising from default on payments by the principal contractors of public works projects (PWPs). On the other hand, the proportion of greening projects in the all PWPs has been rather low in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the added value of horticulture-related industries, and its percentage in Gross Domestic Product, in each of the past three years;
 
(2) of the amount of resources allocated by the authorities in the past three years to assist in and promote the development of the horticulture industry;
 
(3) whether the authorities have projected and planned for the manpower requirements of the horticulture industry; if so, of the details, including a tabulated breakdown by trade of the number and age distribution of the practitioners in the past three years, as well as the manpower requirements in the coming three years; if not, whether the authorities will consider conducting relevant projections and planning;
 
(4) whether the authorities have plans to implement the initiative of "designated workers for designated skills" to stipulate that only registered workers in the trades of the horticulture industry may undertake the relevant work, so as to assist the industry in moving towards professionalisation; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(5) whether the authorities know if the Construction Workers Registration Board received in the past three years written applications for designating the trades of the horticulture industry as registered trades; if the Board did, of the relevant vetting and approval outcome;
 
(6) of the proportion of contracts of greening projects among the PWP contracts awarded in each of past three years;
 
(7) whether the authorities will, in the long run, increase the proportion of greening projects in all PWPs, so as to promote greening; and
 
(8) whether the authorities will consider separately awarding contracts of greening projects, so as to avoid horticulture contractors being defaulted on payments by principal contractors?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The reply to the question raised by the Hon Leung Che-cheung is as follows:

(1) According to the Census and Statistics Department, landscape care and greenery services contributed to 0.02 per cent of Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in recent years. The value added and GDP contribution of landscape care and greenery services from 2014 to 2016 is set out below. The figure for 2017 is not yet available.
 

(2) In the past three years, the Development Bureau (DEVB) organised 120 horticulture related seminars and workshops for horticultural practitioners and students to enhance their professional knowledge and work practices. These seminars and workshops, which included tree risk assessment, pre-wet season tree management, tree inspection after inclement weather, tree identification, proper tree care, urban forestry and management of Brown Root Rot disease, etc., would help support the development of the industry. To further broaden practitioners' professional knowledge, the DEVB also arranged expert members of the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel to deliver talks in urban forestry seminars, and, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Institute of Horticultural Science and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, invited Mainland and overseas experts to attend seminars to share their experience. Organising horticulture related seminars and workshops is an integral part of the work of the Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section of DEVB. There is no separate breakdown on the resources devoted to such work.
 
     In October 2016, the Qualifications Framework Secretariat of the Education Bureau set up the Arboriculture and Horticulture Industry Training Advisory Committee (A&H ITAC). In the past two years, the Promotion and Consultation Subcommittee of A&H ITAC has introduced the "Award Scheme for Learning Experiences", in which scholarships were awarded to three practitioners in the industry for participating in industry-related learning activities and promoting the Qualifications Framework (QF). In addition, the Subcommittee has also launched the "Pilot Project on QF Promotion in School Sector" to provide experiential activities in arboriculture and horticulture to about 100 secondary school students and to introduce the prospects of the industry in order to attract newcomers to the industry.
 
     With DEVB's assistance, the Horticultural and Arboricultural Trade Confederation (HATC) has been established to facilitate communication in the industry, support the formulation of the Specification of Competency Standards (SCS) and relevant professional code of conduct so as to uphold quality standards, and encourage continuous professional development.
      
     Besides, the Government also provides resources in support of local landscape architecture, horticulture and landscape management, including liaison with relevant organisations to implement education and human resources plan, and reserving over $10 million to subsidise relevant Bachelor Degree programmes via the "Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors".
      
(3) In 2015, the DEVB commissioned a consultancy study to assess the manpower supply for the arboriculture, horticulture and landscape management and maintenance industry (greening industry). The study also covered the assessment of education and training for the greening industry and explored measures to tackle short-, medium- and long-term manpower demands. The study was completed in 2017. The projected manpower situation in various years, as well as their age distribution in 2015 are set out below:
 

     The study indicated that there was an estimated workforce of approximately 7 300 in 2015 and projected that there would be an additional manpower requirement of about 2 530 in 2018, including 1 370 skilled workers and 1 160 unskilled workers. Based on the findings, the DEVB will undertake a series of measures, including actively working with educational and training institutions to provide more suitable training programmes on horticulture; and collaborating with educational and training institutions to organise activities to promote the industry to a wider audience.
      
(4) Currently, there is no registration system for horticulture-related work in Hong Kong. The "designated workers for designated skills" requirement is being implemented through contract terms. For example, the use of chainsaws, tree inspection and aerial tree works all require special training and qualifications.
 
     To assist the industry to move towards professionalisation and enhance the knowledge and standard of horticultural practitioners, A&H ITAC is now assisting the industry in formulating the SCS, setting the competency standards for major tasks in the industry and detailing the skills, knowledge, outcome standards, and professional ethics and attitude expected of practitioners. Based on the SCS, training programmes catering for the needs of the industry will be developed. The SCS can provide the basis for industry regulation. Formulation of the SCS will be completed by 2019.
 
(5) The Hong Kong Landscape and Arboriculture Professionals General Union requested the Construction Workers Registration Board (CWRB) to include the relevant trades under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance. The Subcommittee on Registration Matters (Subcommittee) under the CWRB considered the proposal in accordance with its workflow and principles of adding new trades (e.g. industry-recognised skill levels, availability of established skill assessment mechanism) and discussed with relevant industry stakeholders. The Subcommittee noted that the DEVB had commissioned a consultancy study to assess the manpower supply for the greening industry, which recommended that training should be provided and a qualifications framework for the industry be established. The CWRB considered that enhancement of training and establishment of a qualifications framework would be more effective in addressing the industry's request for recognising the competency level of industry practitioners and enhancing job opportunities.
 
(6) The percentage of planting works against total project estimates in public works contracts (Note 1) in the past three years is as follows:
 

Note 1: Only works contracts with planting elements are included.
Note 2: As the duration of maintenance works contracts usually spans several years, there is periodic fluctuation on the quantity and cost estimates of this type of contracts.
 
(7) The Government attaches importance to the quality of our outdoor environment.  Landscape and planting requirements are incorporated in all new and maintenance works projects. As works projects differ in nature and development parameters, the percentage of planting works against total project estimates also varies accordingly.
 
     Different types of projects are required through circulars and guidelines to incorporate certain greening percentage. For example, new Government building projects with site area of 1 000 square metres or above require 20-30 per cent green coverage. The Government also require at-grade public roads to reserve sufficient space for roadside planting works, and integrate landscape elements in the highway structure design. Further, there are technical guidelines on the use of vegetation in landslip prevention and mitigation works to integrate landscape works with its surrounds.
 
(8) Having regard to the type, complexity, technical requirements and costs of projects, works departments will formulate appropriate works contracts or split the project into separate works contracts. As various processes in horticultural projects need to be aligned and coordinated with other works components, singling out horticultural work into separate contracts is not an effective arrangement. This notwithstanding, under special circumstances, government departments may award planting contracts individually taking into account the characteristics of the project and practical circumstances.
 
     Subcontracting is a common practice in the construction industry to facilitate project implementation in a cost-effective and efficient manner. To enhance the transparency of subcontracting arrangements and accountability, all public works contractors are required to submit a "Subcontractor Management Plan" upon contract commencement and provide quarterly updates on details of their subcontracting management during the contract period. Works departments will monitor the contractors' performance. Substandard subcontracting management, if any, will be reflected in the quarterly performance report.

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved that an option of paying land premiums in respect of unsold niches by instalments be made available to private columbaria seeking a licence subject to the fulfilment of a number of requirements and terms.
 
     Announcing this today (July 11), a government spokesman said, "The Government has the sole and absolute discretion to decide whether to allow the payment by instalments option depending on the circumstances and merits of a case.
 
     "It is in the overall interest of the community to facilitate the development of private columbaria that have complied with all application requirements for a licence under our regulatory regime to cater for the growing demand for niches."
 
     This initiative aims to help private columbaria overcome difficulties in raising finance from financial institutions. According to feedback received after the enactment of the Private Columbaria Ordinance, raising loans from financial institutions has been increasingly difficult. It is related to the uncertainty associated with obtaining a licence. As the licensing regime is new, it takes time for a financial institution to build up proficiency in assessing whether a private columbarium is likely or unlikely to obtain a licence.
 
     "In other words, a private columbarium operator faces a catch-22 situation. On one hand, he or she needs to pay the land premium in order to obtain a licence. On the other hand, without a licence, he or she fails to obtain a loan for paying the land premium," the spokesman said.
 
     Under the payment by instalments option, the land premium is assessed up front at the time of the land grant/transaction. The interest rate to be charged by the Government will be the rate of investment return on fiscal reserves announced in the latest Budget, subject to a cap at the prevailing best lending rate plus 2 per cent (P+2%). This interest rate is cost-neutral to the Government from the investment perspective as the return on fiscal reserves may be seen as the opportunity cost for money owed to the Government. The maximum number of instalments will be capped at the number of years under the remaining term of the land lease or 10 years, whichever is the less.
 
     As part of safeguard measures, the Lands Department will put in place a control mechanism in the modified lease stipulating the maximum number of niches that could be sold or let out, with each instalment permitting the same number of niches. In any case, the aggregate number of niches that could be sold or let out is not allowed to exceed the total number of niches in respect of which the full land premium has been paid.
 
     In addition, the Private Columbaria Licensing Board has confirmed that it will formulate a suitable control mechanism under the licensing regime after seeking legal advice.
 
     To protect the Government against default risks, there is restriction against the operator selling or letting out niches under the licence concerned beyond the niches under the lease where the applicable premium instalments have been paid or beyond the validity period of the licence. On grounds of breaching the lease conditions, the Government may also re-enter the columbarium land. Default in payment constitutes a breach of contractual obligation and the operator remains liable to pay all of the outstanding amount to the Government. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department may also take enforcement actions against illegal operation of private columbaria under the Private Columbaria Ordinance. On conviction on indictment, the sanction could be as high as a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for seven years. 

     "We must stress that operators of private columbaria will not automatically get a licence because of the instalment option. The Licensing Board will still consider each application in strict accordance with the requirements for applying for a licence as set out in the Ordinance," the spokesman said.
 
     "Obtaining a licence requires satisfying more than 10 sets of legislative, government and other application requirements, including town planning, land use, building and fire safety, rights to use the premises, environmental protection, electricity and lift and escalator safety, crowd and traffic management, plans covering ash interment layout, ash interment capacity and ash interment quantity, as well as the financial plan for assuring sustainable operation. Applications failing to meet such stringent requirements may be refused by the Licensing Board."
 
     A Legislative Council brief on the detailed arrangements can be downloaded from the Food and Health Bureau's website at www.fhb.gov.hk/en/press_and_publications/otherinfo/160700_columbarium/index.html.