The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the fifth meeting of the Commission on Children today (August 16).
 
     The Commission approved 43 applications from child care groups, non-governmental organisations and schools seeking funding support of about $9.1 million from the Funding Scheme for Children's Well-being and Development.
 
     "About half of the applications aim to promote the healthy development of children, while others focus on the development of children's potential and talents, raising public awareness of children with special needs and promotion of child protection. The Scheme attaches great importance to children's participation, and the awarded projects are able to provide children with a wide range of participation opportunities, including participation in the design of games to boost their creativity as well as theatre training and performance to nurture their communication and problem-solving skills. Most projects also involve parents, teachers and other stakeholders in order to enhance their understanding and communication with children," Mr Cheung said.
 
     The Commission has also endorsed the proposal to rename the "Working Group on Children with Special Needs" as "Working Group on Children with Specific Needs" to reflect better its scope of work which covers children with special educational needs and ethnic minority children.
 
     The Commission took note of the screening, assessment, diagnosis and early intervention services provided by the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities from birth till they enter secondary schools. The Child Assessment Service provided by the DH has adopted a triage system to ensure that children with urgent and serious conditions are given priority for timely assessment. To improve its services, the DH has started preparation for the establishment of a new Child Assessment Centre. HA has also strengthened manpower for multi-disciplinary teams to provide psychiatric services for children and adolescents in need.
 
     In addition, members offered views on the outline of the proposed thematic report on children to be published by the Census and Statistics Department in 2023. To promote public debate on children-related issues and facilitate planning for government and non-governmental organisations' services, the report will present through statistics certain characteristics of local children from the demographic, education, economic, household, housing and geographic perspectives. Statistical analyses are specifically developed to reveal the specific features of issues such as children's family background, adequacy of care, living conditions, access to education, transportation to and from schools, household income and other characteristics of the household to which the children belong.   

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudulent websites, which has been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the websites concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the websites should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of Singapore Limited on fraudulent websites, which has been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the websites concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the websites should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 16) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and strongly urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From August 9 to 15, the CHP recorded eight imported DF cases. The patients had been to Thailand (four cases), Malaysia (two cases), Indonesia (one case) and the Philippines (one case) during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday (August 15), 113 cases had been recorded this year, as compared with 62 cases recorded in the same period last year. All the cases recorded in 2019 were imported, mainly from Thailand (23), Malaysia (20), Cambodia (18) and Indonesia (18).

    The CHP has been closely monitoring the latest DF situation in neighbouring and overseas areas. DF is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. According to the World Health Organization, some Asian countries are experiencing unusually high numbers of DF cases for this time of year. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas this year has been uploaded to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf). Members of the public should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.

     ​"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
• Re-apply 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.

     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.  

     A man was fined $15,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 16) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in December last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), under the Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Tsing Lung Road in Tuen Mun. During the inspection, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.

     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The man responsible for managing the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.

     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and can lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".