Tag Archives: China

     â€‹A sick 84-year-old male remand person in custody at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre died in a public hospital today (July 10).
      
     The remand person in custody suffered from heart disease. He required continuous medical care and follow-up treatment at the institution hospital and a public hospital. On July 9, he was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 8.10am today.
      
     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.
      
     The person in custody was remanded for the offence of wounding with intent in December 2023. read more

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Lau Chi-pang and a reply by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, in the Legislative Council today (July 10):   Question:    &nbs… read more

     About 600 experts and delegates in emergency response, paramedic services, medical professions and fire engineering from various countries and regions are taking part in the Fire Asia 2024 international conference being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from today (July 10) to July 12. 

     Delegations of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from 19 countries, including the Director General of the General Administration of Civil Protection, Ministry of Interior, Egypt; and heads or senior officials of emergency or fire departments in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore were invited to attend.

     The three-day conference is one of the mega events being held in Hong Kong in July. Themed “Collaboration and Technology – Better Prepare the Community for Emergency” this year, the conference has brought together global fire and emergency professionals to gain invaluable insights into fire safety and groundbreaking research from eminent speakers worldwide, striving to promote the development of the industry. The conference also exemplified the international co-operation and exchanges that could make a difference, regionally and globally, and to tell the China story and the Hong Kong story well.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; and the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, officiated at the opening ceremony this morning.
 
     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Chan said, “Emergency preparedness is essential to protecting an economy and its people from the impact of wide-ranging disasters, crises and other emergencies. An effective emergency management system helps mitigate disruptions to essential services, economic stability and social order. In today’s interconnected world, the threats of emergencies and disasters could be cross-border by nature. Regional and international teamwork play an important role in reducing risks and enhancing resilience.”

     Also speaking at the ceremony, Mr Yeung said that it is crucial for fire and emergency professionals to adopt an innovative approach to addressing emergency situations. The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) has been actively using modern technology to boost the department’s emergency response capabilities. Innovative solutions, such as robots, drones and self-developed artificial intelligence-powered systems to cope with emergencies, have significantly enhanced the effectiveness and safety of the department’s work.

     Fire Asia 2024 is jointly organised by the Institution of Fire Engineers (Hong Kong Branch), the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Building Services Division and Fire Division), the China Hong Kong Ambulance Service Institute and the China Hong Kong Fire Protection Association, supported by the HKFSD and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The conference covers various topics, including new approaches to disaster management and fire safety measures, collaboration in the Greater Bay Area and emergency preparedness in the Belt and Road region, as well as the latest research in fire engineering and emergency medical services.

          

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 10) announced that the department collected eight liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in June 2024 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications.
 
     The detailed test results are available on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/gas_safety/lpg_vehicle_scheme/publications/general/results_of_lpg_sample_analysis/index.html). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD’s hotline on 2333 3762.
 
     In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements. read more

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Dennis Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 10):
 
Question:
 
     According to the Hong Kong Population Projections 2022-2046 published by the Census and Statistics Department, the proportion of elderly population in the total population will increase from 20.5 per cent in 2021 to 36 per cent in 2046, meaning more than one in every three Hong Kong people will be an elderly. On the other hand, it is learnt that ageing in the Mainland has become a common phenomenon in recent years. Regarding the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong (the GD Scheme), will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that the Social Welfare Department relaxed the eligibility criteria for operators under the GD Scheme in July last year by allowing non-governmental and private organisations alike to register their residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) located in the Mainland cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as Recognised Service Providers, of the respective numbers of applications from such organisations received and approved by the Government since the relaxation of the GD Scheme;
 
(2) as the Government indicated in May this year that it was exploring the expansion of the GD Scheme to include RCHEs solely operated by Mainland entities this year, and that it was liaising with relevant departments in the GBA cities to conduct on-site inspections and jointly select suitable RCHEs, of the progress of the relevant work; and
 
(3) of the average monthly expenditure incurred by the Government on each subsidised RCHE place purchased under the GD Scheme?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) Since July 28, 2023, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has relaxed the eligibility criteria for service operators to join the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong (GDRCS Scheme). Hong Kong organisations, including non-governmental and private ones, which have experience and a good track record in providing subsidised residential care services for the elderly, may apply for inclusion of their residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) located in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in the GDRCS Scheme. The SWD has received seven applications so far, among which two applications have been approved and have joined the GDRCS Scheme since May 2024, while one application has been rejected. The SWD is vetting the remaining four applications.
 
(2) The 2023 Policy Address announced that the Government would explore expanding the GDRCS Scheme to include specific RCHEs operated by Mainland organisations in 2024, i.e. RCHEs which do not have experience in operating residential care homes in Hong Kong, so that elderly persons will have more retirement choices in the Mainland cities of the GBA. In November 2023, the Labour and Welfare Bureau signed a letter of intent on collaboration with the Department of Civil Affairs of Guangdong Province. Both sides would kick-start exploring the selection of RCHEs operated by Mainland organisations in designated Mainland cities of the GBA to join the GDRCS Scheme. The RCHEs concerned must be rated four stars or above on the “List of Star-rated Senior Care Organisations” by the Department of Civil Affairs of Guangdong Province based on the standards of the national “Classification and Accreditation for Senior Care Organisation”, and have at least a two-year record of operation. With the assistance of the Mainland government departments, the SWD has been visiting RCHEs for selecting more suitable RCHEs to join the GDRCS Scheme, with a view to providing more choices for Hong Kong elderly persons retiring in the Mainland cities of the GBA.
 
(3) The estimated expenditure for the GDRCS Scheme in 2024-25 is about $32.5 million. As at end-March 2024, there were about 170 Hong Kong elderly persons joining the GDRCS Scheme. The number of places to be purchased by the SWD each year depends on the number of participating elderly persons. The expenditure on purchasing the places is affected by various factors, e.g. the city and location where the RCHEs are situated, and the facilities and service level of the RCHEs. To avoid affecting the ongoing negotiations on the purchase of places between the SWD and the RCHEs concerned, the Government should not disclose the average monthly expenditure for subsidising the places for the elderly. read more