Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare and Chairperson of the Community Care Fund Task Force under the Commission on Poverty, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on the Modular Social Housing Scheme – Nam Cheong Street after chairing a meeting of the Task Force this afternoon (June 1):

Reporter: The cost of this modular housing is relatively high, so how is the Government going to ensure that it is going to accommodate people in need? And as the suggested funding is now passed, does the Government have any other plans to do so that less people would be waiting for public housing?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Let me answer your questions. I can't answer really directly, very specifically, but somehow this modular housing is something – although it is not really new in Hong Kong, for the government bureaux and departments, it is the first time participating in these processes. So, we really need to set up a pilot programme to try out all those things, including the rules and procedures, the guidelines and things like that for this kind of modular housing to be acceptable and secure housing for people in Hong Kong.

     This pilot programme will help the Government to consider whether this kind of modular housing can be built more or in a much larger scale in the future if needed. We are optimistic and therefore we, from the Community Care Fund's point of view, support this pilot programme. Hopefully that would provide information for the future consideration for the Government.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 31) seized about 970 grams of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $520,000 at Lok Ma Chau Control Point.

     Customs officers conducted Customs clearance on an incoming male passenger at Lok Ma Chau Control Point yesterday evening and found the suspected methamphetamine inside a paper bag carried by him. The 16-year-old man was then arrested.  

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drugs is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or  dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Home Affairs Department will open 15 temporary night heat shelters tonight (June 1) for people in need of the service.
      
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
      
     For further information, please call the department's enquiry hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
      
     The 15 temporary night heat shelters are located at:
      
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern/Wan Chai –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

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 1) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 1) announced the arrangements to be made in public hospitals starting from this month to progressively substitute the anti-hypertensive drug Adalat Retard 20mg to ensure appropriate medication treatment for patients in need.
 
     The spokesperson explained, "The HA was notified earlier by Bayer HealthCare Limited that the supply of Adalat Retard 20mg to Hong Kong will be discontinued upon the completion of the supply contract to the HA in September 2019. Meanwhile, the HA was also informed of unstable supply very soon.
 
     "To ensure that patients' medication treatment would not be affected, the HA convened an expert panel meeting to examine and recommend the substitution drugs with equivalent therapeutic effects. A co-ordinated approach to switch to alternative drug treatment was confirmed with the specialties concerned.
 
     "The Clinical Co-ordinating Committees of the specialties concerned agreed to progressively start prescribing to patients other anti-hypertensive drugs in the HA Drug Formulary with equivalent therapeutic effects as those of Adalat Retard 20mg beginning this month."
 
     The spokesperson added that there are now 120 000 general outpatients, specialist outpatients and inpatients being prescribed with Adalat Retard 20mg. However, there is no immediate need for these patients to replace the drugs on hand. Doctors will prescribe the substitution drugs, such as amlodipine and felodipine, according to patients' clinical conditions during their next consultation for continuous blood pressure control.
 
     "The HA has informed front-line staff of the arrangements and prescription choices for their consideration. Currently, the supply and the stock of all other anti-hypertensive drugs remain normal and is sufficient to cover patient prescriptions," the spokesperson remarked.