The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 10) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From May 3 to yesterday (May 9), the CHP recorded one imported DF case. The patient had been to Malaysia during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday, 21 cases of DF, including 20 imported cases and one local case, had been recorded in 2024. In 2023, 62 imported cases of DF were recorded.

     According to the World Health Organization, the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge. In 2023, ongoing transmission, combined with an unexpected spike in DF cases, has resulted in close to a historic high of over 5 million cases and more than 5 000 dengue-related deaths reported in over 80 countries/territories. The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some places in Asia (such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand) compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of 2024, the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina and Peru, have recorded over 6 million cases, reaching a record number of cases. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

     "Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     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 or 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 page 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.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session after attending the Care Teams in Southern District – First Anniversary and Healthy Life Launching Ceremony today (May 10):
 
Reporter: Can you talk about the future plan of Care Teams? Would there be further expansion of the Care Teams like increase the number of the Care Teams and also maybe more crucial roles the members can have? The second question is on the waste-charging scheme. A green group has proposed the scheme to begin only at government premises and also facilities. So will the Government actually consider this plan?
 
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: I am grateful for all members of the Care Teams as they are all volunteers. They have rendered excellent services in our community. They are dedicated to providing district-based services in the community. In case of emergency, our Care Team members always arrive at the scene in a very short time to provide support and assistance to the residents concerned. This kind of service is what we want to deliver in our community. I believe that with the dedicated service of the Care Team members, we can achieve the goal of setting up the Care Teams, that is to gather the resources and efforts of all sectors in the community to benefit residents in the districts. The first phase of the Care Team services will last for two years. After two years, we will definitely review the whole scheme and see how we can enhance and improve the scheme so that more residents can be benefited and we can provide more district-based services to our residents. About the MSW charges (Municipal Solid Waste Charging), I understand from the Environment and Ecology Bureau that they are undergoing different channels to collect views from the residents. I am sure they will definitely consider views from different sectors and all stakeholders and formulate measures that will be beneficial to the society as a whole.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     â€‹The Islands District Office (IsDO), in collaboration with relevant government departments and local organisations, conducted a rescue and evacuation drill today (May 10) to enhance their and residents' preparedness in the event of serious flooding in Tai O, and to promote residents' understanding of the emergency response arrangements.
 
     Participating in the drill were the IsDO, the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), the Drainage Services Department, the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Housing Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Civil Aid Service, the Tai O Rural Committee, the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office, the Hong Kong Red Cross and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College.

     According to the relevant emergency response plan, when the HKO forecasts that the sea level at Tai O would rise to 3.3 metres above chart datum or more in the coming few hours due to the effect of a tropical cyclone, the HKO will issue an alert to relevant government departments, organisations, Tai O resident representatives and fishermen representatives by SMS. Upon receipt of the alert, the IsDO will activate an emergency co-ordination centre at the Tai O Rural Committee Office, jointly set up by the IsDO, the FSD, the HKPF, the SWD, as well as other relevant government departments and non-governmental organisations. The emergency co-ordination centre will co-ordinate any necessary evacuation, rescue and emergency relief efforts for Tai O. The drill simulated the real situation and added unexpected elements to increase the difficulty. Participating departments were required to carry out rescue tasks immediately under unexpected circumstances, posing challenges to their response capabilities.
 
     In addition, upon receipt of the HKO's alert, resident representatives and fishermen representatives in Tai O will help disseminate the information to residents to enable them to stay vigilant for flooding and take refuge in safe locations if necessary. Temporary shelters at the Tai O Rural Committee Office, the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office, the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College and the Transit Centre situated at Lung Tin Estate will be opened for residents in need.

          

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (May 10) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for April 2024.
 
     The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs decreased from 45.5 in March 2024 in the contractionary zone to 43.8 in April 2024, whereas the one-month's ahead (i.e. May 2024) outlook DI on business receipts was 46.3. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for all the surveyed sectors dropped in April 2024 as compared with previous month, particularly for the restaurants (from 41.4 to 38.3) and logistics (from 44.6 to 41.7).
       
     The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades decreased from 47.4 in March 2024 to 46.4 in April 2024, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month's time (i.e. May 2024) was 45.9.
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that overall business sentiment among SMEs and their expectations on the business situation in one month's time softened in April. The overall employment situation also eased somewhat.
 
     The spokesman added that while the complicated external environment would continue to affect business sentiment in the near term, further growth of the economy should render support. The Government will monitor the situation closely.
 
Further information
 
     The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled "Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey" released by the C&SD.
 
     The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents' perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected around the last week of the reference month.
 
     More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises". Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300).
 
     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk).

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announces that a tender of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes will be held on May 22, 2024 (Wednesday), for settlement on May 23, 2024 (Thursday), as set out in the published tentative issuance schedule. This is to roll over an issue of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes maturing on the same day. 
      
     A total of HK$1,200 million 2-year Notes will be on offer, of which HK$5 million will be made available for offer to members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender bids through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC). If the Notes reserved for non-competitive tender are under-subscribed, the non-subscribed amount will be added to the portion of notes for competitive tender (initially set at HK$1,195 million). The Notes will mature on May 26, 2026 and will carry interest at the rate of 3.77 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.
      
     Members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender applications for Notes that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for those who hold Investor Accounts of the Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) at the HKSCC, directly through HKSCC, for submission to the HKMA for processing. Competitive tender applications for the Notes must be submitted through any of the Eligible Market Makers appointed by the HKMA, with the current published list available on the HKMA's website at www.hkma.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender.
      
     The tender results will be published on the HKMA's website, the Refinitiv screen (HKMAOOE), and Bloomberg. Applicants who submitted non-competitive tender bids through HKSCC may also obtain the tender results from Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for applicants who hold Investor Accounts at HKSCC's CCASS from the CCASS terminal for CCASS Broker/Custodian/Participants and CCASS Phone System.
 
HKMA Exchange Fund Note Programme Tender Information
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     Tender information of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes:
 

     Price/Yield Table of the new EFN at tender for reference* only:
 

 
* Disclaimer: The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here.