â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 9) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County in Hungary, and notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H7N6 and H5 avian influenza in Mogalakwena Local Municipality of Limpopo Province and Phokwane Local Municipality of Northern Cape Province in South Africa respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Hungary and South Africa for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 270 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Hungary in the first nine months of this year. No poultry meat was imported into Hong Kong from South Africa in the first nine months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Hungarian and South African authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Edwin Tsui, visited Po Leung Kuk Lee Siu Chan Kindergarten-Cum-Nursery in Kwun Tong this morning (November 9) to view the implementation of the school outreach seasonal influenza vaccination service and appealed to parents to arrange early seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for their children with a view to having better protection in the coming influenza season.

     The school has joined the outreach vaccination service for the fifth year and about 50 pupils have received SIV this season, with the figure representing around 75 per cent of the total number of pupils of the school. The DH procured and delivered the vaccines in advance while a Public-Private-Partnership Team visited the school today to provide vaccination to the schoolchildren.

     "We are delighted with the smooth outreach vaccination service. According to local experience, school outreach can double the rate of receiving SIV, effectively strengthening the immunity barrier of schoolchildren. We look forward to the continuous and full support from schools and parents as home-school co-operation has been of vital importance in enhancing vaccination coverage," Dr Lam said.

     Dr Tsui added that SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as greatly reducing hospitalisation and death, For schoolchildren, it can also reduce absenteeism and is beneficial to their personal health and learning. Although the summer influenza season, which started in late August this year and lasted for 10 weeks, has ended, based on historical data, influenza season usually arrives in the winter months (late 2023 to early 2024). As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, parents are reminded to arrange SIV for their children as soon as possible.

     Dr Lam said that the DH welcomes the joint statement made by 12 medical and relevant organisations earlier on October 19 appealing to infants, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly and those with chronic diseases to receive SIV as soon as possible and complete their COVID-19 vaccination. He stressed that influenza vaccines are safe and effective. All persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive SIV for personal protection. Dr Lam also appealed to high-risk groups such as people aged 50 to 64, the elderly and immunocompromised patients to receive SIV early via the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme to safeguard the health of themselves and their families. In addition, co-infection of COVID-19 and influenza is possible and high-risk individuals should receive booster COVID-19 vaccine at appropriate times.

     To enhance the vaccination rate of schoolchildren and to assist in arranging outreach vaccination services by schools, the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach (Free of Charge) Programme was launched in 2018/19 and has been regularised since 2020/21. Under the Programme, the Government arranges for a Public-Private-Partnership Team or a Government Outreach Team to provide free SIV for schoolchildren at schools. Schools not participating in the above free-of-charge programme can invite doctors providing outreach vaccination under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme from the list published on the CHP's website to arrange outreach SIV service at their campus under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme School Outreach (Extra Charge Allowed). Around 330 secondary schools, around 570 primary schools and around 870 kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centres and child care centres have enrolled in the above two programmes, accounting for about 65, 85 and 75 per cent of the schools concerned across the territory.

     For eligible children not receiving SIV through school outreach vaccination, parents can arrange for subsidised vaccination for their children in clinics of private doctors enrolled in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. As of October 31, under the various SIV programmes, the vaccination coverage rate for children aged 6 months to under 2 years was about 9.6 per cent, whereas that for children aged 2 years to under 6 years, aged 6 years to under 12 years, and aged 12 years to under 18 years was about 31.0, 26.6 and 10.2 per cent respectively.

     "The DH has always been keeping close liaison with our partners. Under the concerted efforts of the education sector, healthcare sector, parents and other stakeholders, a total of about 189 900 doses of SIV have been administered for children aged 6 months to 18 years under the various SIV programmes accounting for an increase of nearly 40 per cent comparing with the same period of last year with a 20 per cent of overall vaccination coverage rate. This also reflects that parents and schools attach great importance to vaccination," Dr Lam said.

     As of October 31, about 280 700 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered via the Government Vaccination Programme and 494 600 doses via the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. The total number of doses administered by various programmes was about 888 400, representing an increase of about 20 per cent comparing with the same period of last year.

     Members of the public may call the CHP's hotline (2125 2125) for enquiries during office hours or visit the Vaccination Schemes page for more information on the vaccination programmes.

        

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements from November 10 to 13 to facilitate the holding of a car racing event to be held in Central Harbourfront.

Road closure
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     The following roads will be closed from 2pm on November 10 to 6am on November 13:

1. Yiu Sing Street;
2. Eastbound Lung Wo Road between Man Yiu Street and Lung Hop Street;
3. Westbound Lung Wo Road between westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel Wan Chai Exit and Lung Hop Street;
4. Westbound Lung Wo Road between Tim Wa Avenue and Man Yiu Street;
5. Tim Wa Avenue and westbound Lung Wo Road between Legislative Council Road and Tim Wa Avenue, except for vehicles heading for Chief Executive’s Office, Central Government Offices car park and Chinese People’s Liberation Army Forces’ Barracks;
6. Eastbound Fenwick Pier Street between Lung King Street and Convention Avenue; and
7. The slip road leading from westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel to Finance Street.

Special traffic arrangements
———————————-

     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented from 2pm on November 10 to 6am on November 13:

1. All vehicles will be prohibited from turning right from eastbound Man Cheung Street onto southbound Man Yiu Street (the slip road from northbound Man Yiu Street to westbound Man Cheung Street will be maintained);
2. All vehicles will be prohibited from turning right from southbound Man Yiu Street onto Harbour View Street;
3. All vehicles will be prohibited from turning right from westbound Convention Avenue onto northbound Lung Tat Path;
4. A temporary slip road, which connects westbound Finance Street and the slip road of westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel that leads to Central and Airport Express Station, will be provided;
5. All vehicles exceeding 10 metres in length will be prohibited from turning left from northbound Man Yiu Street onto westbound Finance Street;
6. All vehicles will be prohibited from turning left from Fenwick Pier Street to Convention Avenue; and
7. Vehicles can turn right from westbound Harbour Road to Grand Hyatt Hotel and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Harbour Road entrance.

Traffic diversions
———————

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from 2pm on November 10 to 6am on November 13:

1. Vehicles on eastbound Man Po Street heading to Admiralty or Mid-Levels will be diverted via eastbound Man Po Street, westbound Finance Street, temporary slip road, slip road of westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel, eastbound Man Kat Street, eastbound Connaught Road Central and eastbound Harcourt Road;
2. Vehicles on southbound Man Yiu Street heading to Admiralty or Mid-Levels will be diverted via southbound Man Yiu Street, eastbound Connaught Place, eastbound Connaught Road Central and eastbound Harcourt Road;
3. Vehicles on southbound Man Yiu Street heading to Harbour View Street will be diverted via westbound Man Cheung Street, eastbound Connaught Road Central, northbound Connaught Place and westbound Harbour View Street;
4. Vehicles not exceeding 10 metres in length on eastbound Man Cheung Street heading to Admiralty or Mid-Levels will be diverted via northbound Man Yiu Street, westbound Finance Street, temporary slip road, slip road of westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel, eastbound Man Kat Street, eastbound Connaught Road Central and eastbound Harcourt Road; vehicles exceeding 10 metres in length will be diverted via northbound Man Yiu Street, roundabout, southbound Man Yiu Street, eastbound Connaught Place, eastbound Connaught Road Central and eastbound Harcourt Road ;
5. Vehicles on eastbound Man Cheung Street heading to Harbour View Street will be diverted via eastbound Man Cheung Street, U-turn, westbound Man Cheung Street, eastbound Connaught Road Central, northbound Connaught Place and westbound Harbour View Street;
6. Vehicles on northbound Edinburgh Place heading to Western District will be diverted via southbound Edinburgh Place, eastbound Harcourt Road, eastbound Gloucester Road, northbound Fenwick Street, westbound Fenwick Pier Street, flyover, westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central;
7. Vehicles on eastbound Harcourt Road / northbound Cotton Tree Drive / southbound Tim Wa Avenue heading to Western District will be diverted via eastbound Harcourt Road, eastbound Gloucester Road, northbound Fenwick Street, westbound Fenwick Pier Street, flyover, westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central;
8. Vehicles on eastbound Harcourt Road / northbound Cotton Tree Drive heading to Tim Wa Avenue will be diverted via eastbound Harcourt Road, northbound Tim Mei Avenue, northbound Legislative Council Road, westbound Lung Wo Road and southbound Tim Wa Avenue;
9. Vehicles on westbound Lung Wo Road near Legislative Council Road heading to Western District will be diverted via southbound Legislative Council Road, eastbound Lung Wui Road, eastbound Fenwick Pier Street, eastbound Lung King Street, southbound Convention Avenue, westbound Fenwick Pier Street, flyover, westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central;
10. Vehicles on westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel Wan Chai Exit heading to Central will be diverted via westbound Convention Avenue, westbound Fenwick Pier Street, flyover, westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central;
11. Vehicles on westbound Lung Wo Road near Lung Tat Path heading to Western District will be diverted via southbound Lung Tat Path, westbound Convention Avenue, westbound Fenwick Pier Street, flyover, westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central;
12. Vehicles on westbound Convention Avenue heading to Western District will be diverted via westbound Convention Avenue, westbound Fenwick Pier Street, flyover, westbound Harcourt Road and westbound Connaught Road Central;
13. Vehicles on eastbound Fenwick Pier Street heading to the junction of Fenwick Street and Gloucester Road will be diverted via eastbound Fenwick Pier Street, eastbound Lung King Street, southbound Convention Avenue and southbound Fenwick Street;
14. Vehicles on northbound Fenwick Street / westbound Harbour Road heading to eastbound Harbour Road will be diverted via westbound Fenwick Pier Street, southbound Fenwick Pier Street, eastbound Harcourt Road, eastbound Gloucester Road, northbound Fleming Road and westbound Harbour Road; and
15. Vehicles on slip road of westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel heading to Airport Express Station will be diverted via eastbound Man Kat Street and eastbound Man Cheung Street.

Suspension of parking spaces
———————————–

     Parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 8am on November 10 to 6am on November 13:

1. Parking spaces on westbound Man Kwong Street outside Central Pier No.3 and 7;
2. All metered parking spaces on Yiu Sing Street; and
3. Nine metered parking spaces and 14 motorcycle parking spaces on Lung Wo Road outside General Post Office.

     It is anticipated that the traffic in Central District will be heavily congested during the event. Members of the public who plan to go to the affected areas are advised to use public transport as far as possible.

     Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (November 9) reminded members of the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements would be implemented in Wan Chai North and Tsim Sha Tsui to facilitate the holding of the Cross Harbour Race 2023 this Sunday (November 12):

Traffic and landing step arrangements
——————————————

* The section of Expo Drive East (including the pick-up/drop-off area) north of its junction with Expo Drive outside Golden Bauhinia Square will be temporarily closed from 0.00am to 1pm on November 12; and

* The landing steps of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, the landing steps Nos. 1 and 2 at Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui and landing steps Nos. 1 to 4 of the Kowloon Public Pier are suspended in phases from 9am today to 5pm on November 13.

Public transport arrangements
———————————-

* The short-working route service of the "water taxi" ferry service (Tsim Sha Tsui East – West Kowloon – Tsim Sha Tsui East – Wan Chai – Central – Wan Chai – Tsim Sha Tsui East) will be suspended from the first sailing to 12.55pm on November 12. On the same day, the two ferry services plying between Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui and between Central and Hung Hom will be suspended from the first sailings to 11am and noon respectively. Resumption of the "water taxi" and ferry services will be subject to the actual reopening time of the affected area of the harbour; and

* The terminal point of cross-harbour bus route No. 961 at Expo Drive East will be relocated to Harbour Road outside the Wan Chai Swimming Pool from 0.00am to 1pm on November 12, while the bus stop of Citybus route No. H1 at Expo Drive East near Golden Bauhinia Square will also be suspended.

     For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) or its mobile application "HKeMobility". Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators.

     â€‹The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or "HKeMobility".

     As 2023 marks the 220th anniversary of the birth of world-renowned French composer Hector Berlioz, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch "The Music of Hector Berlioz" lecture series from December to January next year. Hosted by local music critic Ernest Wan, the lecture series will introduce Berlioz's works in different genres, including symphonies, mélodie, choruses, operas and religious music, allowing audiences to experience his unique music style and its conflation of genres.
 
     Details of the six lectures are as follows:
 
Topic: Berlioz: "Episode in the Life of an Artist"
Date: December 13 (Wednesday)
Content: To introduce the wildly popular "Symphonie fantastique" and the little-known "sequel" from this work to understand the life stories of Berlioz and the characteristics of his music.

Topic: Berlioz's Other Symphonies
Date: December 27 (Wednesday)
Content: To introduce Berlioz's symphonies concertante, choral and ceremonial and interpret the origins that inspire his creativity.

Topic: Berlioz's Songs
Date: January 3, 2024 (Wednesday)
Content: To study how Berlioz elevated French songs from the traditional "romance" to the refined "mélodie".

Topic: Berlioz's Secular Choral Music
Date: January 10, 2024 (Wednesday)
Content: To introduce Berlioz's choral works including songs, cantatas and the "dramatic legend" inspired by Goethe.
 
Topic: Berlioz's Operas
Date: January 24, 2024 (Wednesday)
Content: To discuss Berlioz's opera works and his theatrical inspiration from Shakespeare, Vergil and "certain episodes in the life" of another artist.
 
Topic: Berlioz's Religious Music
Date: January 31, 2024 (Wednesday)
Content: To share Berlioz's religious music works including three Latin works and a "sacred trilogy".

     Wan, the host of the lectures, focused his studies on music theory and analysis at the City University of New York and the University of British Columbia. He is currently a culture and arts writer, translator and editor who specialises in music criticism. His previous projects include writings for performing arts and cultural organisations, programme annotations for concerts, pre-concert talk deliveries, as well as productions and presentations of radio programmes on arts.

     All the lectures will be conducted in Cantonese and will start at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Tickets priced at $60 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1640.html.