The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Beijing today (June 21).
 
    This morning, joined by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, and the Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Arthur Yuen, Mr Chan met with the Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr Pan Gongsheng. Both sides discussed a range of topics, such as maintenance of financial stability, internationalisation of the Renminbi (RMB) and the operation of Bond Connect.

     Mr Chan and Mr Lau then called on the China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr Fu Ziying.
      
     Following this was a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Mr Liu Kun. Also joining the meeting was the Chairman of the Insurance Authority, Dr Moses Cheng. Mr Chan expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Finance for supporting the development of Hong Kong’s financial services industry, and for issuing in Hong Kong RMB sovereign bonds nine years in a row, as well as US dollar sovereign bonds last October. Mr Chan also introduced a host of initiatives launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote further development of the bond market, green finance, and the insurance and reinsurance industry.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Chan addressed a finance seminar and a sharing session for Hong Kong student interns. Under the summer internship and mentorship programme organised by the Fin Society, Hong Kong university students could work in financial institutions in the Mainland as interns to broaden their horizons, and to learn more the latest developments of the financial sector in the Mainland. Today’s seminar was the highlight of the internship programme. It drew over 200 participants, including government officials and practitioners from the financial sector and university students from both Beijing and Hong Kong.
      
     Tomorrow (June 22), Mr Chan will attend the ACCA Global Summit before departing for Hong Kong in the afternoon.
     

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, visited Tung Chung today (June 21) to learn about the North Lantau Hospital (NLH) Phase II development and the operation of the Pei Mei Village Refuse Collection Point.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Island District Council (IDC), Mr Chow Yuk-tong, and the District Officer (Islands), Mr Anthony Li, Professor Chan first inspected the site between the soccer pitch at On Tung Street and NLH, which is reserved for the hospital's Phase II development.
 
     After that, she visited NLH to understand more about the Phase II development as well as the additional services provided by the hospital and the services of its community health centre.
 
     "The Hospital Authority (HA) has been developing the medical services provided by NLH in an orderly manner to meet the increasing medical needs in the district. In 2018-19, NLH will provide 50 additional beds, comprising 20 acute beds, 20 extended care beds and 10 ambulatory care beds. Moreover, paediatric and urology services will also come into operation," she said.
 
     Professor Chan noted that the Government has been striving to take forward major public hospital development projects to cater for the growing healthcare service demand and to improve existing services. The Government earmarked $200 billion to implement the first 10-year Hospital Development Plan (HDP) in 2016, including the construction of a new acute hospital, redevelopment and expansion of 11 hospitals, and construction of three community health centres and a supporting services centre. The HDP will provide more healthcare facilities including some 5 000 additional beds and 94 additional operating theatres as well as increasing the capacity of specialist and general outpatient clinics.
 
     Professor Chan noted that the Government has invited the HA to start planning the second HDP to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services due to demographic changes.
 
     Professor Chan then inspected the Pa Mei Refuse Collection Point (RCP) in Tung Chung and was briefed by staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on the hygiene conditions of the RCP and the application of Internet protocol cameras. She learned that beyond daily cleaning services, the FEHD also deploys staff to strengthen patrol and enforcement actions to combat illegal dumping of refuse.

     The Government attaches great importance to the environmental hygiene conditions of various districts. The FEHD has been improving refuse collection services, and is contemplating the introduction of new facilities to help enhance work efficiency, such as the adoption of refuse bins and hydraulic refuse hoppers equipped with compaction devices.
 
     Moreover, the FEHD has commenced a one-year pilot scheme on installation of Internet protocol cameras at about 80 refuse deposit black spots in the territory to combat illegal dumping of refuse with a view to improving environmental hygiene.
 
     Earlier in the day, Professor Chan also took the opportunity to meet with members of the IDC to listen to their views on various issues relating to healthcare and environmental hygiene in the district.

            

     The Department of Health (DH) and the Police today (June 21) conducted a joint operation and raided a retail shop in Sha Tin for suspected illegal sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products, which were found to contain undeclared controlled ingredients.
 
     Acting upon a public complaint, samples of products were purchased from the above shop for analysis. Test results from the Government Laboratory confirmed that the samples of three products contained undeclared Part 1 poisons, which are as follows:
 

 
     During the operation, two women aged 31 and 61 were arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale and possession of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products. The DH's investigation is continuing.
 
     Clobetasol propionate is a steroid substance used for treating inflammation. Inappropriate or excessive application of steroids could cause skin problems and body-wide side effects like moon face, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, muscle atrophy, adrenal insufficiency and osteoporosis. Products containing clobetasol propionate should be used under a doctor's directions and be supplied in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription. Miconazole and ketoconazole are used for the treatment of fungal infections with side effects including local irritation and sensitivity reactions.
 
    According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), 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 and Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
 
     "The public should not buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of 'HK-XXXXX'. Safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed. Those who have purchased the products concerned should stop using them and consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or feeling unwell after use," a DH spokesman said.
 
     They can submit the products to the DH's Drug Office in Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 21) that due to inclement weather, red flags have been hoisted at Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 21) that due to inclement weather, red flags have been hoisted at Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.