Tag Archives: China

　　The Department of Health (DH) today (November 20) launched a new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk) to further enable members of the public’s access to testing for HIV infection.
　　 
　　Starting from today, the new website has replaced the original AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com). In addition to the existing feature to make reservations of AIDS Counselling and Testing Service (ACTS), the new website provides an enhanced function for ordering HIV self-test kits, so as to provide members of the public with convenience in undergoing HIV tests.
　　 
　　A DH spokesman said, “HIV testing is critical for AIDS prevention, treatment and care. HIV testing facilitates early detection of HIV-infected people, and early treatment prolongs survival and improves quality of life. Sexual transmission remains the major mode of HIV transmission. Members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. Key populations with a higher risk of infection should undergo regular HIV screening, while people who had sex but do not belong to these key populations should consider getting tested at least once.”
　　 
　　The HIV self-test kits offered on the HIV Testing Service website include oral fluid-based and blood-based (fingerprick) testing kits. The testing kits can be collected at various pick-up locations in Hong Kong. During registration, members of the public will only need to provide a mobile phone number and an email address for receiving messages, which will be kept confidential. When ordering a test kit, each registered user is required to make a payment on hold of $130 which will be cancelled once the test result is uploaded to the website within 14 days of placing orders. Registered users only need to settle the delivery fee.  
　　 
　　Furthermore, the HIV Testing Service website will continue to provide information on HIV/AIDS testing, prevention and treatment, as well as allow reservations to be made for AIDS Counselling and Testing Service with a clear and user-friendly webpage. To further publicise information on AIDS to members of the public (including ethnic minorities), the website offers an abridged version of HIV/AIDS information available in six languages. Members of the public are most welcome to visit the website. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
     The Judiciary today (November 20) expressed deep sadness over the passing of the Right Honourable the Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe, Non-Permanent Judge (NPJ) of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA).

     Lord Walker was appointed an NPJ of the CFA of Hong Kong in 2009. Since then, he had sat on the CFA on many occasions and written important judgments which have greatly enriched Hong Kong’s jurisprudence. For his contributions to and support for the rule of law in Hong Kong, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2019.
 
     Lord Walker was born in the United Kingdom in 1938. He graduated from Trinity College of the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 and was made an Honorary Fellow of that college. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1960 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1982. He was Treasurer of Lincoln’s Inn in 2010.
 
     Lord Walker was appointed a High Court Judge of the Chancery Division, a Lord Justice of Appeal and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in the United Kingdom in 1994, 1997 and 2002 respectively, and a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2009.
 
     The Judiciary extends its deepest sympathies to Lady Walker and other members of his family. read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department… read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (November 20) expressed sorrow over the passing of the Right Honourable the Lord Robert Walker, Non-Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.     &… read more

     â€‹The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 20) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in October dropped further to 2.3 per cent from 4.5 per cent in September, which was at the lowest Level 1, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the areas surveyed was not extensive.

     In October, all the 64 survey areas were recorded with a gravidtrap index lower than the alert level of 20 per cent. Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in October was 1, which represented that an average of one Aedes albopictus adult was found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department’s website at www.fehd.gov.hk.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, “The Government is very concerned about mosquito infestation. The FEHD has continued to intensify mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD has also conducted site inspections with relevant departments, and provided them with professional advice and technical support to assist them in formulating and implementing effective anti-mosquito measures swiftly. At the same time, the FEHD has strengthened publicity and education. Under the concerted efforts and collaboration of various parties, the index in October dropped further. The FEHD will continue to monitor the mosquito infestation in all districts, and will conduct prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work.”

     The FEHD has conducted a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The third phase of the territory-wide campaign, lasting 12 weeks, was launched from August 7 to October 27. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD targeted areas that have drawn particular concern, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, to remove accumulated water and to carry out mosquito prevention and control work. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have also carried out the second phase of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations since April 24 to focus on eliminating potential mosquito breeding places, and called on property management offices to arrange necessary repairs to their premises so as to minimise mosquito breeding places. Furthermore, intense adult control has been conducted by means of regular ultra-low volume fogging operations after the onset of the rainy season.

     The FEHD appeals to members of the public to work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

     Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF). DF is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia. The dengue activity in neighbouring areas has remained high and Hong Kong has recorded 47 imported DF cases so far this year. Members of the public should stay vigilant and continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. read more