The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, today (November 26) visited Zhuhai to attend and witness the signing ceremony of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK)'s equity acquisition of Zhuhai Airport.

     The Agreement of Shares Acquisition concerning the equity acquisition of Zhuhai Airport was signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the AAHK, Mrs Vivian Cheung, and the Chairman of the Zhuhai Transportation Holdings Group, Mr Chen Weijia, in Zhuhai. Mr Lam; Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhuhai Municipal Committee and the Mayor of the Zhuhai Municipal Government, Mr Huang Zhihao; and the Chairman of the AAHK, Mr Fred Lam, witnessed the signing ceremony.

     The Zhuhai Municipal Government and the AAHK have been jointly operating and managing Zhuhai Airport since 2006, driving the continuous growth of passenger traffic and the expansion of the domestic aviation network, which shows that the co-operation between the two parties has achieved remarkable results. The commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has shortened the travelling distance between Hong Kong and Zhuhai, creating favourable conditions for the two places to further strengthen collaboration in their airports and aviation industries.

     With the support of the Central Government, the AAHK and the Zhuhai Municipal Government have been pressing ahead with the AAHK's equity acquisition of Zhuhai Airport according to market principles in the past few years with a view to promoting a deeper co-operation between the two airports. Today's signing ceremony of the Agreement of Shares Acquisition of Zhuhai Airport marks a new milestone for co-operation between two airports, providing a more solid foundation for enhancing passenger and cargo connectivity between the airports.

     Mr Lam Sai-hung said, "The National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have recognised Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been making continuous efforts in promoting the aviation development on multiple fronts, including fostering closer connections with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to achieve a multiple synergistic effect and proactively contribute to the development of a world-class airport cluster in the GBA. The deepened co-operation between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Zhuhai Airport today is one of the great examples of strong alliance with complementary advantages.

     "The long-awaited Three-Runway System of HKIA is about to come into operation, and the capacity of HKIA will increase significantly. The HKSAR Government will seize the opportunity by increasing our efforts to expand the aviation network and connect the whole nation through establishing an intermodal transport network with other cities in the GBA, leveraging Hong Kong's role as a 'super connector' between the Mainland and the rest of the world. In this regard, we will work with Zhuhai to enhance the 'Fly-Via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong' service, achieving greater synergy by integrating the international aviation network of HKIA and the domestic aviation network of Zhuhai Airport. We will also pursue co-operation in other aspects, including the development of the international air cargo business in collaboration with Zhuhai and taking forward the development of a high-end aviation industrial cluster, with an aim to realise a development plan which is mutually beneficial to the two places," he added.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways visited the construction site of MTR Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line today (November 26) to learn about the latest progress of the project.

     At the Kwu Tung Station project site, Members received a briefing from representatives of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) on the project's engineering features and the construction progress of the station concourse and other facilities. Members noted that Kwu Tung Station will be the first new station in Hong Kong to be built on top of an operating railway tunnel. It will be located between Lok Ma Chau and Sheung Shui stations of the East Rail Line, being a new public transport hub for the future Kwu Tung North New Development Area. The bulk excavation work at Kwu Tung Station was completed in September this year, using the "cut and cover" construction method to excavate and remove the soil covering the tunnel structure. A lateral support system was then installed to support the weight of soil on both sides, and groundwater control was being implemented to ensure the stability of the tunnel structure and maintain the daily operations of the East Rail Line.

     Members then toured the construction site to understand how various smart devices and technologies such as the Common Data Environment were adopted for providing real-time updates on project planning and more effective monitoring of construction progress, aiming for completion of the entire project by 2027. During the visit, Members exchanged views with MTRCL and Government representatives on issues including the challenges of station construction, enhancing site safety, and ensuring the operations of the East Rail Line not to be affected.

     Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr Gary Zhang, and Subcommittee member Mr Yang Wing-kit; as well as non-Subcommittee members Dr Junius Ho, Ms Yung Hoi-yan and Mr Lau Kwok-fan.

      

     â€‹In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
      
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on November 25 to noon today (November 26), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 139 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 102 106 samples of food imported from Japan (including 65 630 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 22 914 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (November 26) that a total of 85 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and 22 new cases of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in the third quarter of 2024 in Hong Kong. The prevalence of HIV infection among the general public in Hong Kong remained at 0.1 per cent, well below the global average. The number of new cases has decreased since the peak in 2015 and there were fewer than 90 new cases for two consecutive quarters, demonstrating the effectiveness of AIDS control and prevention in Hong Kong. The CHP urges people with a history of unsafe sex to undergo early HIV testing to keep track of their health status, and those infected persons to receive treatment as early as possible in order to suppress the virus.
      
     "The 85 new HIV cases involve 72 males and 13 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 75. Among the cases with a reported route of transmission, 65 cases (97 per cent) acquired the infection via sexual contact, including 44 who acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact and 21 via heterosexual contact. The cases were mainly reported by three sources: public hospitals, clinics and laboratories (41 cases); the DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (14 cases); and private hospitals, clinics and laboratories (14 cases). The cumulative total of HIV infections reported locally since 1984 is 12 308," said Dr Bonnie Wong, the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the Public Health Services Branch of the CHP.
      
     "Among the new AIDS cases, which included 20 males and two females, 18 (81.8 per cent) were diagnosed with HIV infection at the time of progression to AIDS, and the most common AIDS-defining illness remained Pneumocystis pneumonia. Since 1985, a cumulative total of 2 545 confirmed AIDS cases have been reported in Hong Kong," Dr Wong said.
      
     She stressed that, although the number of new cases has dropped, the proportion of late presenters among newly reported cases in Hong Kong has increased from 28.5 per cent in 2014 to 47 per cent in 2023, and required more attention.
     
     Late presenters refer to individuals with a very low CD4 cells count (less than 200 cells/mm3) at the time of HIV diagnosis. Late presentation indicates that these individuals were not diagnosed and put on treatment in a timely manner at an earlier stage of infection, resulting in a weakened immune system as the virus attacks CD4 cells. Late presentation can lead to an increased risk of opportunistic infections and malignancies, leading to a higher mortality rate. In addition, as a result of an unsuppressed viral load, late presenters contribute to an increased risk of HIV transmission in the community. 
      
     Having taken into consideration the latest local epidemiology, scientific evidence, recommendations from the World Health Organization and overseas practices, the Scientific Committee on AIDS and STI  (Sexually Transmitted Infections) recently published "Recommendations on HIV Testing in Hong Kong" (The Recommendations).
      
     "In view of the rising trend of late presentation and the fact that HIV infection is mainly acquired through sexual transmission, early detection of infection is essential. People who have had sex should get HIV testing at least once to keep track of their health status, and that people with risk behaviours should undergo regular screening. People with HIV should seek specialist care and HIV treatment as soon as possible for viral suppression and for health restoration," said Dr Lee Cheuk-kwong, the Chairman of the Scientific Committee on AIDS and STI, today.
      
     The Recommendations contain sections on who to get tested, how to test, consent, post-test care and referral pathways, serving to provide references and practical guidance to healthcare professionals and frontline service providers in the community. Details of the Recommendations are available on the CHP's website at www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24003.html.
          
     HIV is the cause of AIDS. Sexual transmission remains the major mode of HIV transmission. Members of the public should use condoms consistently and properly to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. In addition, undergoing HIV antibody testing early is an important component in HIV prevention.
      
     There are community resources available which enable members of the public to undergo HIV antibody testing. Members of the public can reserve a free, anonymous and confidential HIV antibody test by visiting the HIV Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk) or calling the AIDS Hotline (2780 2211). They can also order HIV self-test kits (oral fluid-based and blood-based (finger prick) testing kits) on the HIV Testing Service website, and collect the self-test kits at various pick-up locations in Hong Kong. In addition, members of the public can access to the above services via the link to HIV Testing Service website after downloading the "Department of Health @DH Mobile App".
                
     Dr Wong stressed that HIV infection is a manageable chronic disease. Early HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs can effectively prevent the progression to AIDS and other complications. Lifelong antiretroviral treatment is indicated for all people with HIV, and the treatment remarkably improves their health and possibility of survival. Moreover, those who achieve sustained viral suppression to an undetectable level with treatment will not transmit the virus through sex, i.e. Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).
                
     The public may visit the following pages for more information on HIV/AIDS: the Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the HIV Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk) and the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.gov.hk).

  

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 26) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Saitama Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 2 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 227.42 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first nine months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Japanese authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.