Tag Archives: China

     The Census and Statistics Department maintains a computerised Central Register of Establishments which contains information relating to some 410 000 active establishments in Hong Kong. Information kept in the Register is updated on a quarterly basis through feedback from various surveys of the department and administrative returns from relevant government departments. Information in respect of the first quarter of 2018 is now updated in the Register.
 
     The Register serves mainly as the sampling frame for various economic surveys conducted by the department. In addition, many other government departments and private organisations also make use of the disclosable particulars kept in the Register for their surveys, publicity, business promotion, customer classification and research work. These disclosable particulars cover the name, address, type of business and employment size class of the establishments. They are available to the public in the following two forms.
 
20% sample listing
 
     A sample listing containing 20% of the records randomly selected from the Register, together with disclosable particulars of the establishments, is available to users. Users may apply for all or part of the records in the 20% sample listing in writing by providing the following information:
 
* Particulars of the applicant (including name, position, organisation, address, telephone, fax and email);
 
* Details of the project (including name, purpose, expected completion date, and specifications of information required such as industries, employment sizes and districts); and
 
* Medium of delivering the information (e.g. photocopy or CD-R and file format such as Visual FoxPro, Excel or text, if applicable).
 
     The application can be faxed to 2827 2296, emailed to cre@censtatd.gov.hk or posted to the Employment Statistics and Central Register of Establishments Section, Census and Statistics Department, 20/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
 
     The information can be supplied in the form of CD-R or photocopies at the following rates:
 
* CD-R – a charge of about $1,540 per listing, compiled to the user’s requirements (exact amount depending on the complexity of the job concerned);
 
* Photocopies – a ready, standard listing is available for photocopying (in part if desired). A charge of $1.20 per page is levied.
 
Matching operation with specified establishments
 
     Users may apply to conduct matching operations for a list of establishments in their databases and then extract disclosable particulars for the matched establishments from the Register. The matching operation will be done using the application program supplied by the user and conducted on the computing facilities in the Department. Both the name and address of establishment will be used as matching keys.
 
     Users may apply for this service item by submitting a proposal of the matching operation to the department. The proposal should cover the intended use of the information derived from the matching operation, the specifications of the establishment database provided by the user, the details of the matching process and the specifications of the output data.
 
     The information can be supplied in the form of CD-R.  A charge will be levied at the following rates:
 
* a minimum charge of about $4,800 for the service required (exact amount depending on the complexity of the matching operation conducted); plus
 
* $1 per matched record with information supplied to the user.
 
Enquiries
 
     Further details about the above service items can be obtained from the Employment Statistics and Central Register of Establishments Section of the department at Tel: 2582 4760; fax: 2827 2296 or email: cre@censtatd.gov.hk. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 11) reported that the outbreak of measles in Okinawa, Japan since late-March is under control and reminded members of the public to undertake continuous vigilance against measles when travelling to other places with high incidence or outbreak of measles.
 
     According to the information from the Government of Okinawa Prefecture, there was an outbreak of measles involving a total of 99 confirmed cases with the index case confirmed on March 20. The last patient in Okinawa did not have any exposure in the community after May 15. Since then, there has been no new case for four weeks, and the Government of Okinawa Prefecture has announced the end of this outbreak of measles.
 
     Meanwhile, measles remain as an endemic infection in many places around the world. In southeast Asia, according to data from the World Health Organization, as of May 11, the 12-month measles incidence (number of cases per million population) has reached 76.9, 61.1, 26.7 and 25.2 in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand respectively. In Europe, there were marked increases in measles cases in recent months, with the highest 12-month incidence (number of cases per million population) in Greece (255.6), Romania (108.3), Italy (66.6) and France (36.4).
 
     “Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. As the summer vacation is approaching, members of the public who are planning to travel to places with high incidence or outbreak of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially non-local born people who might not have received measles vaccination during childhood. Information on the history of measles vaccination in Hong Kong is available from the CHP’s measles page.
 
     “For those who had received two doses of measles-containing vaccine or confirmed to have measles infection in the past are considered to be immune to measles,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     For those with incomplete vaccination, unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles, they are urged to consult their doctor for advice on measles vaccination at least two weeks before departure, as it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop and provide protection against measles.
 
     Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy who are non-immune to measles as well as children aged under one year who are not due for the first dose of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) combined vaccine under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, are advised not to travel to places with outbreaks of measles.
 
     “If travellers returning from places with high incidence or outbreak of measles develop symptoms of measles (e.g. fever and rash), they should seek medical advice immediately and avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially pregnant women and infants. They should also report their symptoms and prior travel history to the healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities to prevent any potential spread,” the spokesman appealed.
 
     For outbreak news of measles or the latest travel health advice, please visit the website of DH’s Travel Health Service. For more information on measles, the public may call the 24-hour health education hotline 2833 0111 or visit the CHP’s measles page. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 11) announced that a sample of Chinese chives was found to have pesticide residue at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS … read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, June 11, 2018 is 99.6 (down 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).
 
     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, June 9, 2018 is 99.7 (same as last Friday’s index). read more

     The owner of a motorcycle workshop, Safety Motorcycle Accessories Company, located at Wood Road in Wan Chai, illegally handled spent lubricating oil and was fined $7,000 by Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (June 11) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) conducted a blitz inspection at Wood Road in Wan Chai last November. It was found that the motorcycle workshop concerned illegally deposited spent lubricating oil, which is classified as chemical waste, on the pavement outside the workshop and the spent lubricating oil was not properly labelled and stored in accordance with the statuary requirements. After the EPD’s investigation, it was confirmed that the owner of the maintenance workshop was not registered with the department as a chemical waste producer. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the owner concerned for contravening the Regulation.

     An EPD spokesman explained that spent lubricating oil generated by vehicle maintenance workshops is classified as chemical waste and contains various toxic chemicals. Improper handling of such waste will cause the spent lubricating oil to leak into nearby drains and soil, which pollutes the environment and causes harm to public health.
      
     The spokesman reminded all garage operators and workers engaged in the vehicle repairing business that they should register as chemical waste producers with the EPD in accordance with the above Regulation. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, and has to be collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for treatment. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may visit the EPD’s website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html. read more