The Department of Health (DH) today (April 25) invited interested organisations to submit proposals for service provision under the Healthy Teeth Collaboration (HTC).

      The HTC aims to: 
 

1. Provide free dental care services to eligible service users through behavioural management, conscious sedation, deep sedation or general anaesthesia; and
2. Promote oral health through oral hygiene education to eligible service users and their parents/family members/legal guardians/caregivers.

    The current service year for the HTC will run until July 15, 2024. Interested organisations are invited to submit proposals for the new service period from July 16, 2024 to March 31, 2027. Starting from the new service year, the HTC will extend to cover persons with autism spectrum order, applicants must meet all of the following requirements: 
 

1. A non-profit-making entity and exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112);
2. Operating at least one dental clinic with at least one full-time Registered Dentist and one full-time Dental Surgery Assistant for the public at the application closing date;
3. At least one of the Registered Dentists assigned to the HTC must
   (i) have worked as a qualified dentist for at least five years in aggregate immediately preceding the application closing date and have experience in providing dental service to persons with intellectual disability or persons with autism spectrum disorder; or 
   (ii) have received recognised training on provision of dental care services for persons with intellectual disability or persons with autism spectrum disorder; and
4. Registered in accordance with requirements under section 12 of the Dentists Registration Ordinance (Cap. 156) at the application closing date.

     The Government will assess the proposals from interested organisations in accordance with the requirements specified in the invitation document, their experience and track record in operating dental clinic(s) and providing dental services to the public and persons with intellectual disability. 

     Interested organisations can collect a set of invitation documents from the DH's Adult Special Dental Care Division at Room 404, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Hong Kong, or request a copy by email (am_htc@dh.gov.hk).

    Applications should reach the DH at the Adult Special Dental Care Division at Room 404, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Hong Kong, at or before 9.30am on May 24, 2024. Late applications will not be accepted. For enquiries, please call the Adult Special Dental Care Division (2692 3700). 

     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 April 24 to noon today (April 25), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 170 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 45 737 samples of food imported from Japan (including 29 905 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 12 132 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold the Hong Kong Reading Week Fun Day this weekend (April 27 and 28) with diverse activities at selected public libraries across Hong Kong to encourage the public to enjoy the pleasure of reading.

     The fascinating activities of the fun day to be held at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL) on April 27 include a storytelling theatre based on the Chinese traditional folklore story "The Ten Brothers", a comedic performance featuring Chinese acrobatics, balloon twisting and a photography booth. The public libraries in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao earlier organised the 4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition with the same theme of "Reading Love (Love Reading)". The HKPL will hold a prize presentation ceremony on April 27 at the HKCL to commend the participants from Hong Kong who excelled in the competition. The winning works of the three places will be on display at the Exhibition Gallery from the same date until May 1, followed by a roving exhibition at various public libraries.

     In support of the establishment of the Chinese Culture Promotion Office earlier this month, the HKPL is putting the focus of reading on books related to Chinese history, stories of celebrities and venerable traditions to promote Chinese culture. Selected public libraries will be adorned with decorations featuring rich Chinese cultural elements, and will set up thematic book displays on April 27 and 28. An array of activities with the theme of Chinese culture will also be held at libraries in different districts, including parent-child storytelling workshops, related workshops and booths of traditional handicrafts such as paper cutting, flour-doll making, movable type printing, rainbow calligraphy, as well as Chinese costume experience zones, where members of the public will be able to try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos. For details of the activities, please visit: hkrw.readingpromotion.gov.hk/category/HKRW_Fun_Day.
 
     The Pop-up Library@Hong Kong Reading Week 2024 under the theme of Chinese culture will be held at YM2 Yue Man Square (YM2) in Kwun Tong on April 28. A specially designed truck, Library-on-Wheels, will be stationed outside YM2 during the event to provide a book-lending service and chances to experience the HKPL's electronic resources. A thematic reading zone, a book display on Chinese culture and an interactive storytelling device will be set up inside YM2. Fun-filled activities such as Chinese historical figures' cosplay, a Chinese music performance, storytelling by story ambassadors, workshops on Chinese Rainbow Calligraphy and handmade incense sticks, etc will also be held. This event is under the Chinese Culture Promotion Series of the LCSD. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.
 
     For more information about Hong Kong Reading Week, please visit the thematic website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkrw).

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 25) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Pui O Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach. 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 25) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.