â€‹The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (May 6) the receipt of one more application under the Land Sharing Pilot Scheme (LSPS), before the end of the application period (i.e. May 5).
      
     The application concerns a site at Fung Ka Wai, Ping Shan, Yuen Long, covering about 3.1 hectares of private lots and adjoining government land, currently zoned "Recreation" and "Village Type Development". The application proposes for about 1 500 public housing/Starter Homes units (the exact choice of subsidised housing type to be determined by the Government), about 700 private housing flats and supporting facilities, with a total domestic gross floor area of about 117 400 square metres. The application is made by Brasilia Limited (parent company is Lee On Investment (Holdings) Limited). 
      
     Same with the applications received previously, the Land Sharing Office (LSO) under the DEVB will co-ordinate with the departments concerned to facilitate and expedite the processing and vetting of the application.
      
     The LSPS was launched in May 2020 for three years originally. As announced in May 2023, the application period was extended by one year to May 5 this year. Including the aforesaid latest application, a total of seven applications have been received under the LSPS. Their key information and proposed development parameters have been uploaded to the LSPS webpage at (www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/land_sharing_pilot_scheme/land_sharing_pilot_scheme_applications/application_received/index.html) with the latest progress for public reference. 
      
     For the six applications received earlier, they have all been given in-principle endorsement by the Government. The applicants have been carrying out in-depth technical assessments in order to finalise the development schemes and parameters, and to complete the feasibility assessment in terms of traffic impact, environmental impact and infrastructure design, etc for subsequent statutory and administrative procedures including planning, works, and lease modification.  Statutory rezoning procedures for these projects would commence progressively from the second quarter this year.    
      
     A spokesperson for the DEVB said, "The LSPS has achieved its objective of encouraging land owners to share their private land with a view to increasing both the public and private housing supply in the short to medium term. Including the last application just received, the seven applications covering a total area of about 43 hectares, provide a total of more than 32 000 flats, including about 23 300 public housing units. With the Government-led efforts in land creation starting to deliver results, the need to increase the housing supply through the LSPS, with pre-set development parameters on housing yield and housing mix, has already subsided. Hence, the application period of the LSPS closed yesterday (i.e. May 5) in accordance with the announcement in early May last year. Of course, owners of private land are always welcome to pursue gainful use of their land for development subject to fulfilment of statutory planning process and lease modifications."
      
     The spokesperson continued, "We are very grateful to the land owners who have participated in the LSPS for taking practical actions to support the Government's multipronged approach to boost the housing supply. The LSO will continue to provide facilitation to the six applications with in-principle endorsement given by the Government, and process the newly received application for early completion of the projects."

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 6) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza. The CHP appealed to members of the public to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) in a timely manner to better protect themselves during the influenza season.

     The case involves a 6-year-old boy with good past health. He developed a fever and a runny nose on May 4 and sought medical attention from a private doctor on the same day. He was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital today for medical attention due to the worsening of symptoms and was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit. His respiratory specimen was positive for influenza A (H1) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy. He is now in critical condition.

     Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had not received SIV for this season and had no travel history during the incubation period. One of his home contacts is currently symptomatic. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing influenza-related hospitalisation and death. SIV is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public are advised to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP's website."

     A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:
 

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• For high-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when visiting public places. The public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     â€‹The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly COVID-19 & Flu Express for more information.

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 female psychiatric ward, the spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital made the following update today (May 6):
 
     One more patient in the ward, a 42-year-old female, presented with fever. 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. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the conditions of the patients in the ward concerned. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
 

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

     The Shenzhen and Hong Kong authorities announced today (May 6) the pilot launch of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-boundary data validation platform. The platform utilises blockchain technology and data coding (i.e. hash values) for document verification without involving any cross-boundary transfer or storage of the original documents. The platform provides a credible means for validating the authenticity of the documents presented by the data owners. 
 
      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has been working closely with Mainland authorities in facilitating the development of fintech innovation and cross-boundary data flow in both Guangdong and Hong Kong. All stakeholders are supportive of fintech adoption by financial institutions to promote cross-boundary data usage in an orderly and secure manner and in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
 
      In recent months, the HKMA co-ordinated and facilitated the development and testing of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-boundary data validation platform (Note) together with the Shenzhen Municipal Cyberspace Administration, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Shenzhen Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality, the Shenzhen Branch of the People's Bank of China, the Shenzhen Regulatory Bureau of National Financial Regulatory Administration.
 
      During the first phase of implementation of the platform, pilot trials will be conducted with cross-boundary use cases in the financial sector, covering validation of credit referencing reports as well as account opening documents for corporate customers.
 
      The HKMA will continue to work closely with the Mainland authorities, facilitating more banks to conduct pilot trials involving cross-boundary data validation in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and enhancing industry engagement through the HKMA's Fintech Supervisory Sandbox, with a view to promoting safe cross-boundary data flow, and enhancing banks' operational efficiency and risk management.

Note: The platform is operated by China (Qianhai) Internet Exchange, Shenzhen Smart City and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation in Shenzhen and Hong Kong respectively, while WeBank Co., Ltd. provides research and technical support.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 6) investigating a case of suspected neurotoxic shellfish poisoning affecting a 31-year-old man.

     The patient presented with vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, generalised weakness and four limbs rigidity about 45 minutes after consuming sea snails and areolate babylon at home yesterday (May 5). He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of United Christian Hospital on the same day and did not require hospitalisation. He has been in stable condition all along.

     An initial investigation revealed that the sea snails and areolate babylon were bought from a seafood stall at Po Tat Market in Kwun Tong. An investigation by the CHP is continuing.

     "Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning toxin is a natural toxin sometimes found in bivalve shellfish. It is heat-stable and cannot be destroyed through cooking," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "The neurotoxic shellfish poisoning symptoms include tingling of the lips, mouth and tongue, as well as gastrointestinal upset such as diarrhoea and vomiting. The onset is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after ingestion of the shellfish," the spokesman added.

     The spokesman reminded members of the public that they should seek medical advice immediately if they develop neurotoxic shellfish poisoning symptoms, and save any leftovers for investigation and laboratory testing.

     To reduce the risk of shellfish poisoning, the public should:
 

• Buy shellfish from reliable and licensed seafood shops;
• Remove the viscera, gonads and roe before cooking and discard any cooking liquid before consumption;
• Eat a smaller amount of shellfish in any one meal; and
• When symptoms occur after consuming shellfish, seek medical advice immediately.