The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a medical and geriatrics ward, the spokesperson for the Shatin Hospital gave the following update today (May 14):
 
     One more patient in the ward concerned, a 102-year-old female, presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patient and the test result was positive for Influenza A. The patient concerned is being treated in isolation and is in stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the concerned ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. 
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 is 106.1 (same as yesterday's index).

     A spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau said today (May 14) that the Social Workers Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 will be gazetted on Friday (May 17) and introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) on May 22.

     The spokesman said, "Registered social workers (RSWs) shoulder great responsibilities and have far-reaching impacts. As social workers have the trust of their clients and exert on them significant influence, they are more obliged to honour the rule of law, and consciously safeguard national security, social order and public interest, while performing their duties in a fair and impartial manner. Therefore, it is imperative for the Social Workers Registration Board to perform its statutory functions in a fair and impartial manner with due regard to public interest to safeguard the interest of their clients and the community as a whole. The Bill will improve the governance of the Board so that it would more effectively serve the interests of the wider community and safeguard national security."

     Subject to its passage, the Bill will expand membership of the Board for broader and more balanced participation, enable prompt removal of RSWs convicted of serious offences, lend clarity to the effective date of the Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers and Disciplinary Committee Panel appointment, set continuing professional development requirements for the social work profession and require all members of the Board to take an oath.

     The Bill will be introduced into the LegCo for first and second readings on May 22. The spokesman stressed that the Government would fully complement the work of the LegCo in scrutinising the Bill, with a view to seeking the LegCo's support and passage of the Bill.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level.
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning May 20, 2024:
 

     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 May 13 to noon today (May 14), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 201 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 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 51 056 samples of food imported from Japan (including 33 056 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 13 086 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.