Tag Archives: China

     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) stepped up enforcement actions against illegal smoking in statutory no-smoking areas of public transportation facilities and bus interchanges on June 19 and 20 and today (June 25). During the operations, officers conducted 116 inspections and issued fixed penalty notices to 80 persons caught smoking illegally, including drivers of public transport carriers. Officers also publicised the relevant smoking ban regulations to members of the public.

     There are currently 260 public transportation facilities and 14 bus interchanges designated as no-smoking areas. The no-smoking areas are clearly marked with visible no-smoking signage. The boundaries of the no-smoking areas are also delineated in a clear manner based on the actual physical environment to remind the public to comply with the smoking prohibition. The plans depicting the boundaries of the no-smoking areas have been uploaded to the TACO website for public reference.

     From January 2021 to April 2024, TACO has conducted over 16 570 inspections at public transportation facilities and bus interchanges regarding smoking offences, and issued more than 6 700 fixed penalty notices/summons.

     “To protect public health, it is the established policy of the Government to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and protect the public from second-hand smoke. Strengthening inspections and enforcement in public transportation facilities aims to further protect the public from the harms of second-hand smoke,” a spokesman for the DH said.

     Any person who does a smoking act in no-smoking areas will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. TACO inspectors will prosecute smoking offenders without prior warning.

     “We appeal to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. They are encouraged to call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183. The hotline is operated by registered nurses, providing professional counselling services on smoking cessation,” the spokesman said. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 25) continued its investigation into a confirmed local case of dengue fever (DF) announced earlier, with no new cases identified. The CHP urged the public again to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel, and seek medical advice if they develop symptoms.

     The CHP has been conducting epidemiological investigations on the case, including contact tracing and site visit. The home contact of the patient has been asymptomatic so far, and has been put under medical surveillance. As at 6pm today, the CHP has contacted over 4 400 residents from over 1 700 households of Tin Shui (1) Estate in Tin Shui Wai where the patient resided. No suspected case has been identified among them.

     According to the latest findings of the epidemiological investigation, no linked case has been identified by the CHP so far. Letters have been issued to local doctors and hospitals to alert them to the latest situation. For the sake of prudence, the CHP is now working closely with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to enhance anti-mosquito work in the vicinity of the patient’s residence and places visited by the patient. Such measures will continue until summer. Also, the CHP has held health talks to provide health information for residents living near the patient’s residence as well as for staff working in relevant workplaces.

     The CHP appeals again to persons who have been to Tin Shui (1) Estate with DF symptoms to call the CHP’s hotline (2125 2374) which is operating from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) for laboratory investigation or referral as appropriate. Dengue fever is clinically characterised by high fever, a severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes and rashes.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing and uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Reapply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     â€‹The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF pages of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. read more

     â€‹The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (June 25) fostered collaboration between Hong Kong and Shanghai at government, business and community levels in Shanghai.
      
     In the morning, Mr Chan first met with Vice Mayor of Shanghai Mr Chen Jie to discuss issues of mutual concern. Mr Chan pointed out that, with the establishment of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference mechanism for over 20 years, the exchanges and co-operation between the two places have resulted in fruitful achievements. Following the Sixth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference successfully held in April this year, the government departments and relevant organisations of Hong Kong and Shanghai have been furthering exchanges and co-operation in diverse fields such as commerce, finance, innovation and technology, culture and creativity, education, and youth development, to jointly develop new quality productive forces on both sides.
      
     He said he hoped that Hong Kong and Shanghai will continue to pursue deeper and higher-level exchanges and co-operation in more areas under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits, with a view to making greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development.
      
     Afterwards, Mr Chan visited the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (SHETO) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and received a briefing on its work. He also chatted with Hong Kong students doing internships at the SHETO. He was pleased to learn that, since the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland last year, the SHETO has paid visits to various Mainland provinces and cities. By organising and participating in a number of investment promotion events, exhibitions, cultural and arts performances, youth activities and more, the SHETO has been promoting Hong Kong at full steam.
      
     He encouraged SHETO colleagues to continue leveraging various online and offline platforms to promote exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the Eastern China region, tell good stories of Hong Kong to Mainland residents, and at the same time, strengthen liaison with and support for Hong Kong people and businesses on the Mainland.
      
     Around noon, Mr Chan attended a meet-and-greet session held by the Shanghai Hong Kong Association. He met with dozens of Hong Kong people, and representatives of Hong Kong enterprises, in Shanghai to know more about their latest developments in Shanghai. He also introduced to them the latest policies of the HKSAR Government on proactively trawling from around the world for talent and enterprises, improving district governance etc.
      
     He thanked the Shanghai Hong Kong Association for its efforts of and contributions to fostering exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai. He encouraged Hong Kong people, and representatives of Hong Kong enterprises, in Shanghai to continue supporting Hong Kong’s active integration into the national development. He also encouraged them to promote Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages to Shanghai talent and enterprises, attracting them to Hong Kong for business, investment, employment and entrepreneurship, and in turn, injecting impetus into Hong Kong’s growth and serving the country’s needs at the same time.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Chan attended the “Hello Hong Kong” event organised by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) and exchanged views with stakeholders of the cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Speaking at the event, he said that the HKSAR Government has been steadfastly promoting the development of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries and working with industry players to drive the city’s development into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. The HKSAR Government has restructured Create Hong Kong into the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency to fully implement industry-oriented principles, and funded Hong Kong television stations to co-produce television variety programmes with Mainland/Asian production teams via the CreateSmart Initiative. “Endless Melody 2” co-produced by TVB and its Hunan partner is one of the funded projects.
      
     Mr Chan stressed that the film and television entertainment industries are an integral part of Hong Kong’s pop culture and a key area of East-meets-West cultural exchanges. The HKSAR Government will continue to further exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong television stations and their partners from the Mainland as well as from around the world. This will involve producing more high-quality entertainment works and elevating the profile of Hong Kong’s pop culture in the GBA and the global Chinese community at large, thereby fostering people-to-people bonds and mutual developments.
      
     He also noted that both Hong Kong and Shanghai are important international cities of the country, with profound cultural heritage and rich cultural resources. He encouraged the industries in the two places to strengthen liaison and co-operation to jointly contribute to the high-quality development of the country’s cultural and creative industries.
      
     Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (June 26).

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     â€‹The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen between June 24 and 25, and paid courtesy calls on various aviation authorities and units to understand the regulatory framework and … read more

     Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the opening ceremony of the “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” special exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum this evening (June 25):
 
Consul General Drulhe (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Christile Drulhe), Mrs Corréard (Chief Executive Officer of Les Arts Décoratifs, Mrs Sylvie Corréard), Mr Figueras (Director of International Development and Production of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Mr Yvon Figueras), Winnie (Chairman of Hong Kong Palace Museum Board, Ms Winnie Tam), Joe (Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Joe Wong), Betty (Chief Executive Officer of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Mrs Betty Fung), Louis (Director of Hong Kong Palace Museum, Dr Louis Ng), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. ​It is my great pleasure to be here for the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s special exhibition “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris”. I warmly welcome our esteemed guests coming all the way from Paris to Hong Kong. The year of 2024 is an especially important year to celebrate our friendship with France on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the China-France diplomatic relations. We would like to thank you for your wonderful support in bringing the amazing arts and culture from France to Hong Kong.
 
     “The Adorned Body” is a magnificent exhibition. It tells a fascinating story about French fashion, which has had immense global influence for the past two centuries. Over 300 exquisite pieces of French costumes and accessories from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries will be shown. Almost all of the exhibits will be displayed in Asia for the first time, and some of them have never been seen outside France or even Paris. It is our honour to have such a comprehensive and beautiful collection of historical clothing, jewellery and fashion accessory pieces from France exhibited in Hong Kong. Taking place at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which houses the imperial costume and jewellery pieces from the Qing dynasty, this exhibition can be viewed in an intercultural context, demonstrating the blend of Chinese and Western cultures in our city. I am confident that the extraordinary beauty of the historical French fashion and its cultural significance will further strengthen our people-to-people exchange and mutual admiration between China and France, which are deep-rooted with present-day resonance.
 
     This exhibition is one of the four in the West Kowloon Cultural District this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The staging of these exhibitions and other international projects is fully in line with the goal of our Government to further develop Hong Kong into a major destination for cultural tourism and the East-meets-West Centre for international cultural exchange. With our cultural pluralism and international outlook, we are well placed to be one of the world’s finest cultural cities for generations to come.
 
     I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs team, which has made it possible for our residents and tourists from far and near to enjoy these stunning treasures of fashion and jewellery from their prestigious collection.
 
     Before I close, I also would like to congratulate the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Hong Kong Palace Museum on making this exceptional exhibition a reality by collaborating with the Paris team.
 
     I wish the exhibition a huge success and everyone here an enjoyable day. Thank you. read more