The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 7) announced that 14 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) will provide public holiday GOPC services during the Tuen Ng Festival holiday (June 10) (see table below). Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function of the "HA Go" mobile app.

     The spokesperson reminded members of the public that they should stay vigilant to personal and environmental hygiene during the public holiday to avoid spreading diseases. Members of the public who develop respiratory symptoms should wear a mask and seek medical advice promptly. Apart from GOPCs of the HA, patients may also consider attending consultation by private family doctors. To choose a suitable family doctor and related clinic service, the public can browse the Primary Care Directory of the Health Bureau at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk.

     GOPC service arrangements on Tuen Ng Festival holiday (June 10):
 

Service hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

     With the theme "Let's Go! The Pet Owner's Journey", Pet Adoption Day organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will be held for two days from tomorrow (June 8). Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join.

     Pet Adoption Day is co-organised by the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation, the Hong Kong Rabbit Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Lifelong Animal Protection Charity. The event aims to encourage people who wish to keep pets to adopt cats, rabbits and reptiles, and promote responsible pet ownership.

     Participants can visit rabbits and reptiles available for adoption, and view photos or videos of cats up for adoption during the event. In addition, sharing sessions by animal welfare organisations, a virtual reality game, game booths, an interactive educational exhibition, a handicraft workshop, an instant photo booth, and an arm painting booth will be available at the event. To avoid affecting small animals in the venue, members of the public should not bring dogs along.

     An AFCD spokesman said, "The department always encourages those interested in keeping pets to adopt animals through animal welfare organisations. Pets surrendered by owners or unclaimed animals received by the AFCD, with a gentle temperament and good health as assessed by veterinarians, are sent to partner animal welfare organisations for adoption. Free desexing will be offered for cats, dogs, and rabbits adopted by members of the public through partner animal welfare organisations."

     The Pet Adoption Day will be held between 11am and 6pm at AIRSIDE in Kai Tak. For details of the event, please refer to the Annex, visit www.petswithlove.com.hk or call 9375 3860 between 9am and 6pm, Monday through Saturday.

     The Government today (June 7) welcomed the publication of the 2023 Annual Report of the Process Review Panel for the Insurance Authority (PRP), which covered the PRP's review of selected cases completed or discontinued by the Insurance Authority (IA) in the period between January 1 and December 31, 2022.

     A spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, "The PRP conducted a comprehensive review of the internal procedures and operational guidelines relating to the IA's performance of various regulatory functions including complaints handling, authorisation of insurers, licensing of intermediaries, conducting investigations, taking disciplinary actions, etc. Observations and recommendations of the PRP are conducive to the fair and consistent exercise of regulatory powers by the IA, which will benefit sustainable development of the insurance industry of Hong Kong.

     "We would like to express sincere gratitude to the PRP Chairman, Mr Eugene Fung, SC, and members of the PRP for their dedication and insight in advising the IA to enhance our regulatory regime," the spokesman added.

     The PRP is an independent panel established with the approval of the Chief Executive to review and advise the IA on the adequacy of its internal procedures and operational guidelines governing the actions taken and operational decisions made by the IA and its staff in the performance of regulatory functions.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (June 7) announced that the department tested 53 water samples collected from cooling towers in 32 buildings in its routine inspections in May 2024. Three samples were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers in which the three samples were collected are located at Pacific Trade Centre, 2 Kai Hing Road, Kwun Tong, and 223 Sai Yee Street, Yau Tsim Mong. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of the cooling towers requiring appropriate disinfection work to be done. Disinfection of the cooling towers in these cases has already been completed by the owners. Details of the cases can be found in Annex 2.

     The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website
     (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).

     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

     â€‹The Chief Executive in Council has authorised the proposed improvement works at the So Kwun Po Interchange. The notice was gazetted today (June 7).
      
     Details of the works are set out in the Annex.