The Education Bureau (EDB) held the "Positive Parent Campaign" Activity Day cum Prize Presentation Ceremony today (December 17) with around 360 parents and children stitching crochet squares into scarves together. The scarves will be sent to the elderly residing in care homes of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals or living alone as a token of warm wishes during visits being arranged by the EDB.
     
     During the ceremony, prizes were also presented to the award-winning schools, students and parents joining the collection of crochet squares and parent-child games. This was followed by the kick-off ceremony of the parent-child visiting the elderly programme. To show harmony across generations, the Intergenerational Dance Floor of Po Leung Kuk was invited to perform and share their feelings.
     
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said that good parent-child relationship can enhance the mental health of children. She encouraged parents to create happy childhood memories to heighten their children's sense of well-being through various parent-child activities, enabling children to thrive and shine in a healthy and happy environment. The EDB will further promote positive parent education and encourage parents to adopt positive parenting approaches in nurturing children in order to build a bright future together.
     
     Earlier, the EDB had organised the "Warm Stitches, Grateful Hearts" Parent-child Crochet Activity and encouraged parents and children to make crochet squares together. The activity was extremely well received with over 10 000 crochet squares submitted by around 3 000 students and parents from over 90 schools. Participants stitched the crochet squares into scarves together today during the ceremony and many works were uniquely designed.                                                                                                   
 
     In order to convey warm wishes and promote the culture of harmony across generations, the EDB will make arrangements to invite parents and children to visit the elderly, and to give the scarves to the elderly residing in the care homes of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals or living alone. The EDB hopes to encourage parents to cultivate their children with the virtue of compassion and helpfulness, and to express gratitude through actions.
     
     Other attending guests included the Chairman of the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, Mr Eugene Fong, and representatives of the Kowloon Region School Heads Association, the New Territories School Heads Association and the Hong Kong Island School Heads Association.
     
     The EDB has been running the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020 and promoting positive parent education through extensive and diversified channels to foster parents' positive thinking to help their children grow up happily. For the updates of activities of the Positive Parent Campaign, please visit the EDB Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en).

      

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (December 17) investigating a suspected imported case of measles infection and reminded the public that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.

     The case involves a 41-year-old man with good past health. He developed fever and skin rash. He attended the Emergency Medicine Centre of Union Hospital on December 10 and was admitted for treatment. His respiratory samples tested positive for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. He is in a stable condition. 

     The patient did not have contact with measles patients in Hong Kong, and travelled to Japan during the incubation period. The case has been identified as a suspected imported case.

     Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations. According to information provided by the patient, he played football with other people at the Artificial Football Pitch of Wong Chuk Hang Sports Centre on No.168, Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen between 7pm and 8pm on December 8. Since the patient does not have the contact information of all participants of the football activity, the CHP has set up an enquiry hotline (2125 2670) and appealed to persons who participated in the football activity at the above-mentioned venue to call the hotline. Officers of the CHP will assess their condition and offer suggestions. The hotline operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5.30pm, starting tomorrow (December 18). 

     The CHP has conducted the contact tracing at other locations during the communicable period of the case. Forty-nine contacts have been traced. All of them have remained asymptomatic so far. The CHP provided health and medical surveillance advice to the contacts. Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. 

     "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Members of the public who are planning to travel to places with a high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received a measles vaccination during childhood. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles, are urged to consult their doctor for advice on vaccinations at least two weeks before departure," a spokesman for the DH said.

     Measles is a highly infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It can be transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons, and, less commonly, by articles soiled with nose and throat secretions. A patient can pass the disease to other persons from four days before to four days after the appearance of a skin rash.

     The spokesman advised, "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals."

     Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of a rash to prevent the spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

     For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH’s Travel Health Service for news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters in various districts today (December 17) for people in need of the service. The temporary shelters will remain open when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.

     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.

     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department's hotline 2572 8427 for more information.

     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
——————–
 
Central and Western:

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
——————
 
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:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, 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:
—————-
 
Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall  
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung

North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung:
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

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

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) today (December 17) held the Fire Safety Activities during Festive Season Campaign 2023 cum Sha Tin Fire Station and Ambulance Depot Open Day at the Sha Tin Fire Station and Ambulance Depot as one of the major activities of the Campaign. The event was co-organised by the FSD, the District Fire Safety Committee (Sha Tin District), and the Sha Tin District Office, with the participation of a number of collaborative partners to foster community efforts in promoting fire safety.

     Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Public Safety and Corporate Strategy), Mr Derek Armstrong Chan, said that the number of fires in winter has been higher than the average for other seasons over the past five years. In view of this, starting from December 11, the FSD held a series of fire safety promotional and educational activities in various districts. Coupled with fire safety inspection and enforcement operations, the events aim at enhancing public awareness on fire safety over the festive season across the community.
 
     The Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations), Mr Wong Chun-yip, led the FSD personnel, together with members of the Yau Tsim Mong Fire Safety Ambassador Honorary Presidents' Association and Yau Tsim Mong Fire Safety Ambassadors to visit the Yau Tsim Mong districts. They distributed pamphlets and souvenirs to the residents, old building households and hawker stall owners to disseminate fire safety messages.

     One of the themes of the Campaign is the promotion of installing portable firefighting equipment (i.e. fire extinguishers and fire blankets) in household premises. The Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2023 has been enacted this year, in which some relevant statutory duties were exempted, including having the equipment inspected by registered fire service installation contractors every 12 months.

     Equipping the public with skills to avoid and respond to fires caused by cooking and electrical faults is another theme of the Campaign. Installing with simulation tools, the FSD's promotional vehicle will visit various districts to demonstrate such skills.

     The FSD appeals to members of the public to actively participate in fire prevention publicity activities and acquire fire safety knowledge during festive season celebrations. The public can also obtain the latest information regarding the Campaign via the FSD's social media platforms and its mobile application.

              

     With the full support of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd (COMAC), a series of visiting activities to Hong Kong for the home-developed aircraft C919 and ARJ21 were successfully held, allowing Hong Kong citizens to witness the country's important milestone in the aviation manufacturing industry and experience firsthand the country's significant achievements in the development of the aviation manufacturing industry.
      
     The Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) once again thanked the CAAC for its strong support to the work of the TLB and the Civil Aviation Department all along. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) looks forward to working together to promote the high-quality development of the country's civil aviation and write a new chapter in building national strength in civil aviation development.
      
     The HKSAR Government will continue to make every effort to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's positioning of "eight centres" as outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, including the status as an international aviation hub, as well as to proactively collaborate with other airports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
      
     The C919 and ARJ21 aircraft were first received by a ceremonial water salute upon their arrival in Hong Kong and a welcoming ceremony was organised on the next day. A series of visiting activities then followed, including a static display at Hong Kong International Airport for tours by nearly 60 groups (including the Executive Council, the Legislative Council, local and overseas aviation industry, as well as youth groups and district organisations) with a total of over 500 representatives; a flight demonstration by the C919 aircraft over Victoria Harbour; and a sharing session between representatives of the COMAC and more than 300 young people on knowledge and development of the two aircraft. The series of activities not only enable members of the public to gain a better understanding of the pace of aviation development in the country, but also help to enhance the sense of national identity among young people and inspire them to join the aviation industry.
      
     Lastly, the TLB again called on members of the public to participate in the C919 Aircraft Flight Demonstration in Hong Kong Photo Competition and submit their work capturing the very moment of the C919 aircraft soaring over Hong Kong for the first time through the Airport Authority Hong Kong's website on or before December 29.