Following is a question by Dr the Hon Dennis Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (November 1):

Question:

     One more case of invasive meningococcal infection was recorded in Hong Kong in August this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of cases of meningococcal infection recorded in Hong Kong, as well as the serogroups involved, in each of the past five years;

(2) as it has been reported that about 90 per cent of children and adolescents infected with Neisseria meningitidis died within 24 hours of infection, of the details of the authorities' promotion and publicity programmes regarding meningococcal vaccination for children and adolescents at present;

(3) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of members of the public in Hong Kong who received meningococcal vaccination in each of the past five years; and

(4) as it has been reported that the largest group of meningococcal infections in Hong Kong in recent years was caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, whether the Centre for Health Protection will study the formulation of guidelines on vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Meningococcal infection is one of the statutory notifiable diseases in Hong Kong. The incidence of the disease is low (below 0.2 cases per 100 000 population in Hong Kong in the past five years). According to World Health Organization (WHO)'s recommendation, incidence at two cases or more per 100 000 population per year is considered as medium and high endemicity. Meningococcal infection is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions or droplets from infected persons or carriers. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis). Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics. Close contacts would need to be placed under medical surveillance for early signs of disease and may be given preventive medications when necessary. 

     To effectively prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to observe personal hygiene (e.g. cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, etc) and environmental hygiene (e.g. maintain good indoor ventilation, avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places). When having respiratory symptoms, members of the public should wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly. These measures are also effective against respiratory tract infections, including COVID-19, seasonal influenza and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, etc. 

     The reply, in consultation with the Department of Health (DH), to the questions raised by Dr the Hon Dennis Lam is as follows:

(1) Between 2018 and 2022, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH received a total of 26 notifications of invasive meningococcal infection, ranging from 0 to 14 cases per year (i.e. annual incidence of 0 to 0.19 cases per 100 000 population). As of October 20, 2023, there were a total of five notifications of invasive meningococcal infection recorded this year. The number of cases and the related serogroups are provided in the table below. All reported cases were sporadic and no cluster outbreak occurred.
 

(2 to 4) The CHP has been keeping abreast of the latest position of the WHO on immunisation and vaccination, the scientific evidence of vaccines, the latest global and local epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, and the advice and practical experience of health authorities across the world. The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the CHP meets regularly to review and develop strategies for prevention and control of vaccine preventable diseases and their risk factors in the light of changing epidemiology and advances in medical science, so as to provide science-based advice on vaccine use at population level to the Government.

     The WHO recommended countries with medium and high incidence (i.e. two cases or more per 100 000 population per year) and frequent outbreaks of invasive meningococcal infection should implement large scale meningococcal immunisation programme.

     The incidence of meningococcal infection is low in Hong Kong. Regarding the use of meningococcal vaccine, the SCVPD has not made any recommendation on large scale immunisation in Hong Kong. The SCVPD recommends that if travellers have the following itinerary, they may consider receiving meningococcal vaccination after consulting doctor:

(i) according to the risk of exposure and local epidemic situations, persons going to stay in the sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season; 
(ii) persons going to areas that are known to experience epidemic meningococcal infection as announced by the local health authorities; and 
(iii) persons visiting Saudi Arabia for Hajj, Umrah or for seasonal work in Hajj zones.  

     At present, meningococcal vaccines, including meningococcal group B vaccine and meningococcal group ACWY vaccine, have been registered in Hong Kong. Public may receive the concerned vaccine in the private clinic after consulting doctor.

     Except for COVID-19 vaccines, there is no current legislation requirement for private doctors to upload the vaccination record of patients to the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth). The Government does not maintain the figures on meningococcal vaccine received in private clinics by the public.

     The SCVPD will continue to closely monitor the scientific development of meningococcal vaccine and the latest epidemiology of invasive meningococcal infection, and update the recommendation as needed. 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (November 1) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and urged the public to heighten vigilance and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. Meanwhile, high-risk target groups are advised to receive Mpox vaccination.

     The case involves a 56-year-old male patient with an underlying illness. He had developed vesicles since October 29, and visited the Wan Chai Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the DH on October 30. He is in stable condition and arrangements were made for him to be admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital. 

     An initial investigation revealed that the patient had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period with no travel history. No epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and will report the case to the World Health Organization.

     A total of 52 confirmed Mpox cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far. The CHP appeals again to high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccination with a view to lowering the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. Persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once, and they should not engage in activities with others during which other people may have contact with their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection.

     The CHP had earlier set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373). The hotline operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5pm, which enables those who suspect or are concerned they have had high-risk contact with confirmed patients, in particular men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice.

     The Government has activated the Alert level of the preparedness and response plan for the disease in September last year and will continue to assess the risk in view of the latest scientific evidence and situation, and implement corresponding control measures.

     The Mpox vaccination programme for high-risk groups commenced on October 5 last year. Under the programme, the following high-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination on a voluntary basis:
　　

1. Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
2. Healthcare workers responsible for caring of patients with confirmed Mpox;
3. Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
4. Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrence in animals in Hong Kong.

     High-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination at the designated Mpox vaccination centre (situated at 2/F, CHP building, 147C Argyle Street, Mong Kok), by appointment through email (mpv_booking@dh.gov.hk) or telephone booking line (2547 1900) during office hours. They can also receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at all of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS). Further information of the clinics including their locations is available at www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcf.html and www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcm.html.

     Meanwhile, the DH's Integrated Treatment Centre in Kowloon Bay, and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will continue to provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

     For more details, please visit the CHP's page on Mpox.

     Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kwok-fan and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (November 1):
 
Question:
      
     Under the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (Cap. 563), if the redevelopment project concerned requires an amendment to the land use zoning in the relevant Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will implement redevelopment by way of a "development scheme"; if the development involved in the redevelopment project concerned accords with the land use zoning in the relevant OZP, the URA will implement redevelopment by way of a "development project". Each year, the URA has to prepare a draft corporate plan setting out the projects proposed to be implemented in the next five years as well as a draft annual business plan for submission to the Financial Secretary (FS) for approval. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of development schemes and development projects whose commencement has been gazetted by the URA since Cap.‍ 563 took effect;
 
(2) whether the FS has rejected or amended the projects proposed to be implemented in the draft corporate plans submitted by the URA since Cap. 563 took effect; if so, of the number of projects involved and the reasons for that;
 
(3) given that under Cap. 563, authorisation from the Secretary for Development (SDEV) must be sought for implementing redevelopment by way of a development project, whether the SDEV (and the former Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (SHPL) as well as the former Secretary for Planning and Lands (SPL)) have declined to authorise the implementation of or made amendments to development projects since Cap. 563 took effect; if so, of the number of projects involved and the reasons for that;
 
(4) given that under Cap. 563, projects proposed to be implemented by the URA already require the prior approval of FS, why authorisation from the SDEV (or the former SHPL as well as the former SPL) must be sought in accordance with Cap. 563 again when implementing development projects, and of the legislative intent of the relevant authorisation procedure; 
 
(5) whether it has examined the average time currently required from the gazettal of development projects or development schemes by the URA to the completion of land resumption through invoking the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Cap. 124) by the Government; whether the authorities have considered reviewing Cap. 563 to streamline the URA's workflow of implementing redevelopment, thereby expediting the pace of urban renewal; if not, of the reasons for that; and
 
(6) of the following information on each development scheme and development project whose commencement has been gazetted by the URA since the publication of the new Urban Renewal Strategy on February 24, 2011: (i) the way of implementation (i.e. by way of a development scheme or development project), (ii) the ages and number of buildings involved, (iii) the number and percentage of buildings in poor conditions, (iv) the number and percentage of buildings in varied conditions, (v) the number and percentage of buildings in satisfactory conditions, (vi) the number and percentage of buildings in good conditions, and (vii) the number and percentage of "three-nil" buildings involved (set out in the table below by project number and project name)?
 

Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), I would like to reply as follows:
     
(1) Since the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (Cap. 563) (Ordinance) came into force in 2001 and up to end-October 2023, the URA has commenced 23 development schemes under section 25 of the Ordinance and 32 development projects under section 26 of the Ordinance.

(2) In accordance to sections 21 and 22 of the Ordinance, the URA shall, no later than three months before the end of each financial year, submit to the Financial Secretary (FS) for approval a draft corporate plan for the next five years (including the next financial year) and a draft business plan for the next financial year. The FS is empowered to approve or refuse to approve the two draft plans in accordance with the Ordinance. The two draft plans should be endorsed by the Board of the URA before they are submitted to the FS. 
     
     Since the Ordinance came into force, after considering the redevelopment plans, building rehabilitation programmes and other works as proposed in the draft plans submitted each year, the FS was generally satisfied that the work of the URA has followed the missions of the Ordinance and the guidelines set out in the Urban Renewal Strategy (Note), and the URA was able to maintain a healthy and sustainable financial position. As such, while during the process the FS might provide comments to individual aspects and request the URA to make adjustments as necessary, all the draft plans submitted by the URA in the past have been generally approved by the Financial Secretary.
     
(3) and (4) In deciding whether to approve the corporate plan and business plan, the FS will mainly deliberate at the macro-policy level and financial aspects. That said, as the implementation of individual redevelopment projects will affect relevant owners, tenants, business operators and the community, the Ordinance therefore provides a mechanism for affected parties to raise objections to the development schemes / development projects. For "development schemes", affected parties can make representations within two months after the relevant plans were published in Gazette notices according to the Town Planning Ordinance (Cap. 131) (TPO), and the Town Planning Board (TPB) will handle the representations in accordance with the TPO. For "development projects", affected parties can raise objection to the URA within two months from the publication of the projects in Gazette notice in accordance with the Ordinance. Afterwards, the URA is required to submit the social impact assessment reports of the relevant redevelopment projects, together with the written objections and its deliberation on the written objections, to the Secretary for Development (SDEV). In determining whether to authorise, or otherwise, the URA to undertake the relevant projects, the SDEV should also examine the written objections concerned. This mechanism enables the SDEV to consider the actual circumstances of individual development projects, deliberate thoroughly on public views and take account of public interest as well as the interests of affected persons before deciding whether to authorise the URA to proceed with the projects, or otherwise, to make amendment to the projects.

     Since the Ordinance became effective and up to end-October 2023, the SDEV once declined to authorise a development project under the Ordinance in 2013, namely the industrial building redevelopment at No. 12P Smithfield, Kennedy Town (IB-1: CW). The owners of the industrial building concerned raised objections to the implementation of the development project by the URA for the reason that they had the intention and resources to redevelop on their own. After prudent consideration of those owners' written objections and the deliberations submitted by the URA, the SDEV decided to decline to authorise URA to proceed with that development project.

(5) Among the 55 redevelopment schemes / redevelopment projects mentioned in part (1) above, the Government has completed resumption of private land under the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Cap. 124) (LRO) for 43 projects for redevelopment by the URA. For these 43 schemes / projects, counting from the date of publishing the Gazette notice under the Ordinance and conducting the freezing survey immediately, and up to the date the Government invoked the LRO to resume the relevant private land (in between, the URA has to seek approval from the TPB to amend the land use zoning indicated in the relevant Outline Zoning Plan (in case of development schemes) or authorisation from the SDEV (in case of development projects), as well as to undertake acquisition and relocation,etc.), the average time required is about 34 months.

     The URA has to go through a series of statutory procedures after the publication of Gazette notice to commence individual redevelopment schemes / redevelopment projects. As mentioned in parts (3) and (4) above, affected persons can raise objections to the redevelopment schemes / redevelopment projects within the stipulated deadline, and the URA has to submit the written objections received, its deliberation on the written objections as well as the social impact assessment reports of the redevelopment schemes / redevelopment projects to the SDEV (if involving redevelopment projects) or the TPB (if involving redevelopment schemes) for consideration. Afterwards, the URA has to conduct extensive consultations with the owners, tenants and business operators in regard to compensation, relocation and rehousing issues, etc. The principle is to acquire the properties through negotiation as far as possible. If eventually acquisition through negotiation cannot be made for all the properties concerned, the Government will then invoke LRO to resume the relevant private land.

     Although it takes time to complete the complicated processes such as property acquisition involved in the redevelopment programme, the URA has endeavoured to compress the time required in order to ensure that the affected parties will receive appropriate compensation and support, whereas the projects can be implemented the soonest possible so that capital can be returned earlier for better cash flow management. Moreover, redevelopment projects of the URA can also benefit from the streamlined development-related statutory procedures introduced by the relevant legislation effective from September 2023, which include shortening of the town planning procedures and allowing certain statutory processes to be conducted, such as publication of Gazette notices respectively for road works and land resumption, at a similar time. These adjustments help accelerate the redevelopment work of the URA. We therefore consider that there is no need to amend the Ordinance at this stage. 

(6) Since the promulgation of the new Urban Renewal Strategy on February 24, 2011 and up to end-October 2023, the URA has commenced a total of 37 development schemes or projects as announced in the Gazette notices published under the Ordinance. Details are set out in the Annex. 

Note: Formulated by the SDEV in accordance with section 20 of the Ordinance.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 1) that to facilitate preparation of new exhibitions, the 1/F of the Hong Kong Museum of History will be closed starting from tomorrow (November 2). The "Recreating a Classic: The Best Features of The Hong Kong Story" exhibition at the 1/F exhibition gallery will also be closed. Details of the new exhibitions and opening dates will be announced later.

     For enquiries, please call 2724 9042.

     Following is a question by the Hon Leung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (November 1):
 
Question:
      
     It has been reported that after the Government's introduction of the Feed-in Tariff Scheme in collaboration with the two power companies in 2018, solar energy generation systems have been installed on the rooftops of quite a number of private buildings, and that during the earlier onslaught of super typhoon Saola in Hong Kong, accidents of falling solar panels occurred in many districts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows the current number of private buildings in various districts where solar panels have been installed, and the names of Tenants Purchase Scheme estates where solar panels have been installed;
 
(2) of the number of cases of falling solar panels in each of the past three years and, among such cases, the respective numbers of those involving breaches of the relevant safety requirements and those in which prosecutions were instituted; and
 
(3) whether it has formulated measures to conduct random checks regularly on private buildings where solar panels have been installed, so as to ensure that the installations are in compliance with the safety requirements; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Housing Bureau (HB), our reply to the question is as follows:
      
     Erection of supporting structures for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on general private buildings (other than New Territories Exempted Houses (village houses) (Note 1) is considered building works regulated under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO). For supporting structures with a height not exceeding 1.5 metres, their relevant minor works can be commenced in accordance with the simplified requirements under the Minor Works Control System (MWCS) without prior approval from the Buildings Department (BD) (Note 2). In cases where supporting structures exceed 1.5 metres in height, the owner shall appoint an authorised person and (if required) a registered structural engineer to submit plans in accordance with the BO to the BD for approval, and further appoint a registered contractor to commence the works upon obtaining approval and consent from the BD for the plans. This regulatory regime ensures the safety of building structures, residents and the public. The BD has also drawn up technical guidelines on the MWCS, which include technical guidelines for the installation of supporting structures for solar PV systems.
      
     The estates under the Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS), which are properties developed and subsequently sold or divested by the Hong Kong Housing Authority, are subject to the control of the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) that works directly to the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing under delegated authority in accordance with the BO, and policies and guidelines of BD. Therefore, the erection of supporting structures for solar PV systems in the TPS estates is also subject to the control of the ICU in accordance with the above requirements. 
     
     Our reply to various parts of the question is as follows: 
 
(1) To promote renewable energy, the Government and the power companies have introduced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Scheme since end 2018, with a view to providing incentives for the private sector to develop renewable energy. As at September 2023, the two power companies received a total of over 24 700 applications, of which over 20 700 applications have been approved and connected to the power grids. It is estimated that about 310 million kilowatt hours of electricity can be generated each year through the approved system, which is sufficient to meet the annual electricity demand of over 92 700 households.  

     According to the information provided by the two power companies to the EEB (Note 3), relevant figures as at September 2023 are tabulated as follows: 
 

(2) and (3) In the past three years up to the end of August this year, there was no case involving fallen solar PV panels in the TPS estates. As for other buildings, the BD does not have readily available statistics on the number of cases of non-compliance with the BO and its subsidiary legislation involving fallen solar PV panels.

     â€‹Regarding the seven cases involving fallen solar PV panels in private buildings during the onslaught of a super typhoon in September, two of the cases involved unauthorised building works and the BD would issue removal orders to the owners concerned to order the removal of the relevant supporting structures for solar PV panels. As for the remaining five cases involving erection by building professionals/registered minor works contractors (RMWCs) through the MWCS or green and amenity facilities of New Territories Exempted Houses, the BD would carry out further investigation and, if any irregularities are found, consider instigating prosecutions and/or disciplinary actions against the relevant building professionals/prescribed registered contractors. The ICU would also follow up on the investigation of four cases involving the TPS estates.

     For erection of supporting structures for Building Services Installation under the simplified requirements of the MWCS, the BD adopts a random audit check approach, selecting some minor works for document and on-site audit checks to ensure their compliance with the BO and its subsidiary legislation. Similarly, the ICU will conduct random audit checks in accordance with the established mechanism. If contravention of the BO and its subsidiary legislation is found, the BD or the ICU will take enforcement actions against unauthorised minor works and instigate prosecution and/or appropriate actions against the persons involved.

     In response to the earlier incidents involving fallen solar PV panels during the onslaught of the super typhoon, the BD will step up publicity on the technical guidelines and points to note for the installation of solar panels. The BD will also increase the number of audit checks on the installation of solar PV systems as necessary to ensure compliance with the specified dimensions and safety standards.

     In addition, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is responsible for processing applications for registration of renewable energy generating facilities, including solar PV systems, conducting audit checks on the electrical safety of registered facilities, setting up a hotline to answer public enquiries on the FiT Scheme and promoting renewable energy and electrical safety to the public, etc. From April 2019, the EMSD processes more than 13 840 applications for registration of renewable energy generating facilities, conducted more than 380 site inspections and 30 audit checks, and followed up on about 320 cases involving unregistered renewable energy generating facilities, etc.

Note 1: The Government announced in October 2018 initiatives aiming at further supporting and facilitating the development of renewable energy, including relaxation of restrictions on the installation of solar PV systems on rooftops of village houses. For village houses exempted under the Buildings Ordinance (Application to the New Territories) Ordinance (Cap. 121), solar PV systems that are not more than 2.5 metres in height, with the space underneath the systems unenclosed, and not cover more than half of the covered area of the village house in which it is situated, and without unauthorised building works erected on the rooftop of the village house, may be installed on the rooftops without prior permission from the Lands Department (LandsD) or the BD. Installation of solar PV systems exceeding 1.5 m but not more than 2.5 m in height necessitates both certification and submission of a safety certificate to the LandsD for record by an authorised person registered under the BO.

Note 2: Under the Building (Minor Works) Regulation (Cap. 123N), minor works items are classified into three classes according to their nature, scale, complexity and level of risk. Erection of supporting structures for Building Services Installation (including air-conditioning unit, light fitting or antenna, transceiver for public telecommunications services or solar PV system, etc.) falls under either minor works item 1.50 (Class I) or minor works item 3.50 (Class III), subject to the weight of the system. Regardless of the class of minor works, all minor works items shall be carried out by prescribed registered contractors. For minor works items under Class I, owners are required to additionally appoint a prescribed building professional for the design and supervision of the works. The prescribed building professional or prescribed registered contractor shall submit a Notice of Commencement of minor works to the BD, together with relevant supporting documents at least seven days before the commencement of works (only for minor works items under Classes I and II) and a certificate of completion of works along with relevant supporting documents within 14 days after the completion of works (for all minor works items), to the BD for record purpose.

Note 3: With reference to the declarations of their customers, the power companies categorise the FiT applications into Commercial and Industrial Customers, Residential Customers, Village / Detached Houses, Schools and Other Customers, while Private Buildings is not one of these specified categories.