Tag Archives: China

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (May 30).      The arrangements will come into effect two hours befo… read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kin-yuen and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (May 30):

Question:

     The Education Bureau (EDB) has decided to resume the Primary 3 Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA) from this year. Each year, the EDB will sample 10 per cent of the Primary 3 students from each public sector and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) primary school to participate in TSA, which is administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA). Meanwhile, schools may apply to the HKEAA on their own for participation in TSA by all the Primary 3 students in their schools, and may request for their TSA school reports from the HKEAA under such circumstances. It has been reported that, as at April 30, about 230 primary schools in Hong Kong, including 30 government primary schools, opted for all the Primary 3 students in their schools to participate in TSA this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of schools to date that have applied for participation in TSA by all the Primary 3 students in their schools this year and the total number of students involved, together with a breakdown by school type (i.e. aided, DSS, government and private primary schools);

(2) as the EDB has indicated that it will, upon resumption of TSA, continue to monitor whether there is any recurrence of the situation of schools drilling their students for participating in the assessment, whether the EDB has formulated a specific monitoring mechanism for this purpose and monitor the situation directly through major stakeholders such as teachers and parents; if so, of the details and the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) of the type of follow-up measures to be adopted by the authorities for addressing situations such as schools drilling students or disrupting their normal learning in order to cope with TSA, or attracting enrolment by students through boasting about their TSA results?

Reply:

President, 

     In March 2018, the Education Bureau (EDB) accepted the report and recommendations of the Coordinating Committee on Basic Competency Assessment and Assessment Literacy (the Committee), including the new arrangements for Primary 3 Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA) in 2018 and beyond. Under the new arrangements, the arrangements for the territory-wide and school levels of Primary 3 TSA will be handled separately.

     At the territory-wide level, the Government will sample about 10 per cent of students from each public sector and Direct Subsidy Scheme school to participate in the annual Primary 3 TSA. In addition, to understand the overall learning performance of non-Chinese speaking students and students with special educational needs so as to provide appropriate support, a certain number of students from these two student groups have to be separately sampled to meet the statistical requirements. Students’ assessment results will only be counted as territory-wide data. Since only a small number of students in each school will participate in the assessment and the situation of individual schools cannot be reflected, school reports will not be provided.

     Schools which would like to obtain school-level reports to improve learning and teaching may directly approach the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) to arrange participation of all of their Primary 3 students. In addition, in the light of school-based and subject-based needs, schools may choose to obtain different assessment information, including four different types of reports, reports on overall performance of students with special educational needs and/or non-Chinese speaking students, and school reports for the questionnaire survey on learning attitude and motivation. The HKEAA will put reports of their choice into the online system for schools’ direct downloading. The EDB will not obtain school reports of individual schools from the HKEAA.

     In fact, as part of the review process in the previous two years, some schools indicated their requests on the continuous use of assessment information to improve learning and teaching, while, at the same time, some members of the community showed their distrust of the previous arrangements for TSA. The new arrangements recommended by the Committee manage to balance the views of both sides, and aim to further strengthen the confidence of the education sector and the community in TSA and rebuild mutual trust, ultimately achieving TSA’s objective of promoting assessment for learning to benefit the students. The audio-visual assessment for Chinese and the speaking assessment parts for Chinese and English of Primary 3 TSA in 2018 were conducted on May 2 and 3, and the written assessment parts for Chinese, English and Mathematics will be conducted in mid-June. It has progressed smoothly so far. The EDB will continue to closely monitor related operational arrangements.

     Our reply to the Hon Ip Kin-yuen’s question is as follows:

(1) Under the new arrangements, schools which would like all their Primary 3 students to participate in TSA and obtain detailed school reports may approach the HKEAA directly for arrangements. The EDB has publicly pledged not to enquire about the participation of individual schools or obtain school reports of individual schools from the HKEAA. Therefore, the EDB does not have information on the participation of individual schools, including school names, types, number of students and respective school sponsoring bodies. The EDB will also not enquire about relevant information from the HKEAA so as to avoid misunderstanding. According to the information released by the HKEAA to the public, by end of April 2018, about 230 primary schools opted for full cohort participation in Primary 3 TSA.

(2) and (3) The new arrangements and the enhancement measures have greatly reduced the incentives for drilling, and drilling problem before the 2016 Tryout Study (Primary 3) and 2017 Basic Competency Assessment Research Study was not observed, while the EDB will closely monitor the situation. In the previous two years, the EDB adopted questionnaire surveys to collect and gauge views of more than 23 000 parents of students participating in Primary 3 TSA, and more than 50 focus group meetings for teachers were conducted to understand how schools take forward and implement the arrangements for Primary 3 TSA, including whether there were additional exercises for TSA. The EDB will continue to collect and gauge views of parents and teachers of students participating in Primary 3 TSA through questionnaire surveys and focus group meetings.

     In addition, the EDB will keep in view the implementation of school-based assessment through various channels, including inspections, school visits and daily contact. It is worth noting that Primary 3 TSA is an assessment on Basic Competencies which form part of the curriculum, and are the core requirements of the curriculum that students are expected to acquire upon completion of the learning stage. We should not simply categorise the exercises that schools or teachers give to students for consolidating their Basic Competencies as drilling for the purpose of Primary 3 TSA or simply equate Primary 3 TSA with drilling.

     According to the prevailing practice, when downloading school reports from the website of the HKEAA, schools must follow the “Protocol of School Level Data of the TSA” and undertake not to publicise the school level data, or part of the data in isolation, through any channels (such as school’s publication, school’s website and other publicity materials) to anybody outside school. The HKEAA will seriously follow up with schools for any violations.

     In fact, the community’s extensive discussion and concern about TSA issues have significantly enhanced the transparency about schools’ taking forward and implementation of the new arrangements for Primary 3 TSA. The EDB will closely monitor the implementation of the new arrangements and maintain communication with schools and related stakeholders to explore room for continued enhancement and follow-up arrangements. If related complaints are received, the Bureau will investigate and take follow-up actions.

     Thank you, President. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Yiu Si-wing and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (May 30):

Question:

     Some members of the public have relayed that the difficulty levels of hiking trails graded by different community groups according to different standards may result in inexperienced hikers having difficulties in appreciating the actual difficulty levels of the trails, making them susceptible to danger. Although the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) had erected warning signs in more precarious areas within country parks to alert hikers not to go there, a number of incidents in which hikers got into danger and were injured or killed still occurred in such locations in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of cases in which hikers (i) sought help, (ii) were injured and (iii) were killed after getting into danger in each of the past three years (set out in the table below);
 

Year	(i)	(ii)	(iii)
2015
2016
2017

(2) whether it has considered grading the difficulty levels of all trails for the reference of hikers in deciding the routes they go hiking; if so, of the details (including the criteria used); if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that a fatal drowning accident occurred at Quadruplex Pool in Sai Kung early this month even though the area had already been put on a list of high risk locations by AFCD, whether the authorities have considered taking more effective measures (including reviewing the locations and contents of existing warning signs), with a view to reducing the occurrence of accidents at high risk locations; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) given that green tourism has become increasingly popular, whether the authorities have considered setting the professional requirements to be met by docents and guides of green tour groups (such as the basic knowledge for leading a tour group and first aid skills), so as to ensure the personal safety of tour group members; if so, of the details, if not, the reasons for that?

Reply：

President,

     Replies to the Hon Yiu Si-wing’s enquiries are as follows:

(1) According to the records of the Fire Services Department, the numbers of mountain search and rescue calls received and casualties involved in the past three years are tabulated below:
 

Year	Number of calls received	Number of people injured	Number of deaths
2015	1 314	213	10
2016	1 443	269	7
2017	1 372	175	15

(2) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) all along encourages hikers to use hiking trails that are managed and maintained by it and advises hikers not to open up new routes or hike on unmaintained paths to avoid accidents. To assist hikers to plan for a route that suits the interest, physical strength and level of difficulty of individuals or group members, the AFCD has taken into account the length, gradient, surface condition and time required for completing the journey to evaluate the overall level of difficulty of various hiking trails managed by the AFCD, including Long Distance Trails, Country Trails, Family Walks and Nature Trails. Hikers may obtain such information at the “Enjoy Hiking” website (hiking.gov.hk) or the mobile application. Moreover, the AFCD also sets up information boards and directory signs at suitable locations in country parks to provide trail information to hikers.

(3) Apart from uploading relevant information of high risk locations with records of serious or fatal accidents in country parks to the “Enjoy Hiking” website, the AFCD has also erected warning signs near locations of potential danger to alert hikers not to go there to avoid accidents. In respect of Quadruplex Pool at Sheung Luk Stream in Sai Kung, the AFCD have also erected warning signs at the pool side to remind visitors of the potential danger there. Upon a recent review of the warning signs on site, the AFCD will replace the warning signs with a sterner tone and adjust their locations to remind visitors more explicitly the potential danger of Quadruplex Pool and seriousness of the previous accidents. The AFCD will also review the measures at other locations from time to time, modify the existing warning signs and install additional ones where needed.

     In addition, the AFCD will continue to strengthen the publicity and promotion of hiking safety to the public and collaborate with the Civil Aid Service (CAS). The CAS will deploy its members to the relatively high risk locations in country parks to convey the message of hiking safety to visitors and to raise public awareness.

(4) Under the current Tourist Guide Accreditation System implemented by the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), tourist guides will only be granted a tourist guide pass unless they have met specified qualification requirements, completed pre-service training and passed TIC’s examination. The qualification requirements include possession of a valid first aid certificate or attendance certificate. The pre-service training includes a compulsory module of “Eco Tour and the Tour Guiding Skills”, which equip pre-service tourist guides with general guiding skills on walking tours, as well as knowledge about ecotourism (including characteristics of ecotourism, the ecological environment in Hong Kong, skills of organising eco tours, etc.). Furthermore, tourist guides with passes are required to participate in the Continuing Professional Development Scheme for Tourist Guides as a pre-requisite for pass renewal, to maintain and upgrade their professional knowledge, skills and ethics.

     To enhance the service quality of the travel industry, TIC has rolled out the Training Programme Subsidy Scheme under the Government’s funding since early 2018 to subsidise training bodies to organise training activities, including those on green tourism. Out of the three activities approved so far, two pertain to green tourism, featuring specialised guiding skills on the hiking trails and rural areas that carry tourism merits respectively. read more

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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limit… read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 30):
 
Question:
 
     Some members of the public are concerned that with contacts between residents of Hong Kong and the Mainland growing day by day, there is an increasing risk of cross-boundary spread of infectious diseases. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows the respective numbers of confirmed cases of infection with four types of multi-drug resistant bacteria (i.e. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing organisms, Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in each of the past five years, with a breakdown by hospital cluster, hospital name and reason for the patients seeking treatment;
 
(2) whether it knows, among the cases in (1), the respective numbers of those where the routes of transmission were suspected to have involved (i) Mainland residents who sought medical treatment on the Mainland and (ii) Hong Kong residents who had settled on the Mainland and returned to Hong Kong for medical treatment, with a breakdown by hospital name;
 
(3) of the number of suspected cases of infectious diseases reported to the authorities by operators of cross-boundary conveyances and staff of the various port offices in each of the past five years, with a breakdown by name of the infectious disease, as well as the details of each case; and
 
(4) of the details concerning the exchange of information among the relevant authorities of Hong Kong, Macao and the Guangdong Province in each of the past five years under the infectious disease notification mechanism, including the name of diseases, number of cases, number of deaths, age group and causative agents; among such information, the respective numbers of cases involving the infectious diseases listed in Schedule 1 to the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap 599) and the infectious diseases caused by infectious agents listed in Schedule 2 to the same Ordinance?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
(1) The Hospital Authority (HA) normally uses antibiotic resistance rate (i.e. the ratio of organisms showing antibiotic resistance) to indicate the situation of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in public hospitals. The antibiotic resistance rates of MDROs in public hospitals in the past five years are listed at Annex 1. The HA does not keep statistical information on the causes of MDRO cases.
 
(2) The HA does not keep such statistical information. 
 
(3) The Port Health Office of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has been carrying out health surveillance at all boundary control points, including the Hong Kong International Airport, harbour ports and ground crossings, with the use of infrared thermal imaging systems for body temperature checks on inbound travellers. Passengers entering Hong Kong by cross-boundary transport are required to go through body temperature checking facilities at various boundary control points. Suspected cases of infectious diseases are referred by the CHP to healthcare facilities for follow-up, and among them, suspected cases of severe infectious diseases (e.g. avian influenza or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) are directly referred by the CHP to public hospitals for follow-up.  
 
     The numbers of suspected cases of severe infectious diseases identified by Port Health officers at various boundary control points and referred to public hospitals during the period from 2014 to March 2018 are listed at Annex 2. None of them were confirmed cases.
 
(4) As early as 2005, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed a Co-operation Agreement on Response Mechanism for Public Health Emergencies with the then State Ministry of Health and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The three places have enhanced collaboration and exchange in areas such as notification of information in response to major public health emergencies and infectious disease epidemics, co-ordinated effort in emergency response, as well as technical issues, training and scientific research regarding public health emergency response. In addition, DH signed an Agreement of Co-operation on Emergency Public Health Incidents in Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao with the then Health Department of the Guangdong Province and the Health Bureau of Macao in 2006.  The parties have since maintained co-operation in areas including notification of information, surveillance and alert in respect of infectious diseases, so as to enhance the capabilities of the three places in disease prevention and control.
      
     The CHP has maintained close liaison and co-operation with the National Health Commission (formerly known as the National Health and Family Planning Commission), the Health and Family Planning Commission of the Guangdong Province and the Health Bureau of Macao under an established mechanism. The mechanism requires Hong Kong, the Mainland (especially the Guangdong Province) and Macao to notify one another of surveillance data on infectious diseases, emergency public health incidents and responses to major infectious diseases. 
      
     The three places exchange surveillance data on infectious diseases on a regular basis, including the statistics on 50 statutory notifiable infectious diseases under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap 599) shared with the Mainland and Macao authorities on a monthly basis, details of which are set out at Annex 3. As regards imported cases of infectious diseases from the Mainland and Macao (e.g. food poisoning, Legionnaires’ disease, dengue fever and human infection of avian influenza), the CHP gives timely notification to the Mainland and Macao for follow-up investigation and implementation of necessary prevention and control measures, so as to enhance the capabilities of the three places in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. On the part of Hong Kong, follow-up investigation into cases notified by the Mainland and Macao that involve Hong Kong people is carried out by the CHP. In addition, the three places exchange information on major public health incidents and cases of severe infectious diseases, including human infection of avian influenza, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, yellow fever, plague and Zika virus infection. The CHP also gives relevant information, such as press releases, to the Mainland and Macao in a timely manner to facilitate joint efforts in risk assessment for effective control of infectious diseases.
      
     Hong Kong has maintained a stable and effective co-operation mechanism with the Mainland and Macao over the years, under which information on various infectious diseases can be shared through enquires and notification among the three places by telephone, email or fax. This has been part of the routine work of the CHP in its investigation and surveillance efforts in infectious disease control. There were about 180 to 760 notifications of cases of infectious diseases made with the Mainland and Macao each year between 2013 and 2017. Most of the cases involved were human infection of avian influenza, followed by cases of Legionnaires’ disease and Zika virus infection. read more