The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (July 17) met post-secondary students with disabilities participating in a government summer internship scheme to learn about their internship experience at a tea gathering at the Central Government Offices. He said that the scheme aims to strengthen the students' competitiveness before entering the workforce, and encouraged them to work hard to equip themselves to contribute to the community.
 
     Mr Law said, "The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) launched an internship scheme for students with disabilities in 2016 and about 250 students have taken part in this learning journey so far. I am pleased to note that some alumni of the scheme have been offered employment by private enterprises or government departments of their choice upon graduation. The scheme also enables civil service colleagues to appreciate the talents and potential of these students.
 
     "The prominent feature of this internship scheme is that appropriate training and briefings are provided for the interns to enhance their understanding of the operation and work of their respective departments. Also, each intern has a mentor. The mentor, who is an experienced colleague, assists students to adapt to the work environment and cope with work challenges."
 
     Miss Jennifer Shum, an alumna of the internship scheme in 2017 with visual disability, has become an Executive officer II, and she talked about her experience at the tea gathering.
 
     Miss Shum said that apart from gaining practical work experience, the internship had also allowed her to personally experience the well-established work procedures and harmonious working atmosphere of the Government. She decided to join the challenging Executive Officer grade upon graduation. She said that the CSB had provided her with the necessary facilitating measures in the written test, such as provision of examination papers printed in a larger font size, which had given her an opportunity to compete in the recruitment exercise with other candidates on an equal footing. She added that her current department had also taken the initiative to provide her with a larger computer monitor and documents printed in a larger font size, allowing her to unleash her potential in the job alongside her colleagues.

     Two of the interns, Miss Maggie Cheng and Miss Apple Fan, are providing administrative support at the Official Languages Division of the CSB and the Housing Department respectively. Miss Cheng expressed her appreciation for the placement, which has provided her with a valuable learning experience and made her understand that despite her disability, she could display her capability at work. She added that she would encourage her peers with disabilities to join the scheme. Miss Fan said that the internship experience ignited her interest in administrative work and she believed that the experience acquired from the internship would strengthen her competitiveness when applying for relevant government jobs.
 
     Another intern, Miss Priscilla Pang, has been tasked to assist in the work relating to barrier-free facilities and provide executive support to consultative committees in the Labour and Welfare Bureau. She thanked her supervisors for providing guidance and arranging assignments progressively according to her ability, which helped her better adapt.
 
     Applauding the interns' proactive working attitude, mentors took the view that persons with disabilities are equally competent to work in different positions. One of the mentors, Mr Kelvin Cheng, said he hoped that, apart from accomplishing the duties assigned, the interns would be able to discover their own talent, gain job satisfaction and build self-confidence through the internship.
 
     The CSB has doubled the number of internship places for students with disabilities from an average of 50 a year to 100 in 2018. This summer, more than 60 post-secondary students with disabilities were assigned to about 40 government bureaux and departments for an internship of about eight weeks to take up various duties including making preparations for setting up and updating databases and technical systems, editing departmental publications, event management, graphic design and production, developing teaching aids and providing support for enquiry counter services, so as to enable them to gain practical work experience.

    

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has recorded a gradual increase in pollution levels since this morning (July 17). According to the EPD's forecast, it is expected that the AQHI at some general and roadside air monitoring stations may reach the "Serious" level later today.

     Under the influence of the outer subsiding air of tropical cyclone Danas, the weather in Hong Kong today is hazy with sunny periods and light wind. Hong Kong is being affected by an air mass with higher background pollutant concentrations. Higher than normal levels of ozone and particulates have been recorded in the territory since noon. The sunshine enhances photochemical smog activity and the rapid formation of ozone and fine particulates in the Pearl River Delta region. The high level of ozone has promoted the formation of nitrogen dioxide, particularly in parts of the urban areas and at the roadside.

     According to the Hong Kong Observatory, a southwesterly airstream will bring a few showers and thunderstorms to the south China coast in the latter part of this week. It is expected that pollution levels will be improved by then.

     With a health risk category in the "Very High" range or above, children, the elderly and persons with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities to a minimum or avoid such activities. The general public is advised to reduce, or reduce to a minimum, outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce time staying outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. As health effects of air pollutants may vary for individuals, persons who are in doubt or are experiencing discomfort should seek advice from health-care professionals. The public may visit the Centre for Health Protection's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/3557.html) for more information on the health effects of air pollution and related health advice.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) urges all schools to visit the EDB's website for appropriate measures to safeguard students' health and take note of changes in the index. The relevant hyperlink is as follows:
www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/admin/about-activities/sch-activities-guidelines/index.html.

     When the AQHI is at the "Very High" level, employers of outdoor workers performing heavy manual work are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees, such as reducing outdoor physical exertion and the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. At the "Serious" level, employers of all outdoor workers are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees.

     Members of the public can check the current AQHI readings at the EPD's website (www.aqhi.gov.hk/en.html) or call the hotline at 2827 8541.

     The Music Office Youth Choir of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has won three Gold Awards at the 11th International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition, held in Germany from July 3 to 7. The choir won Gold Awards in the Youth Mixed Voices, Equal Voices (Female Choirs) and Equal Voices (Male Choirs) and was also named champion in the Youth Mixed Voices and Equal Voices (Female Choirs) categories. The conductor of the Choir, Dr Angelina Au, was awarded the Conductor Prize. The Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Music Office, participating in the 30th Australian International Music Festival held in Australia from July 4 to 10, took home the Gold Award in the Instrumental Category and was named Command Ensemble by the adjudication panel, which enabled the Orchestra to perform at the Festival Closing Concert.
 
     Both activities are part of the Music Office's International Youth Music Exchange Programme. The 68-member Youth Choir, led by conductor and Senior Music Officer Dr Angelina Au, joined a tour to Wernigerode and Hannover, Germany, to take part in the reputable international music event. The competition drew the participation of 45 choirs from 17 countries and regions. The choir was invited to perform at the Festival Opening Concert, the Friendship Concert and the Closing Concert. Repertoire highlights included Haydn's "Gloria"; Faure's "Les Djinns" (The Genies); Mendelssohn's "Denn Er hat seinen Engeln befohlen über dir" (For he shall give his angels charge over thee); "Tundra" by Gjeilo; "Unclouded Day" arranged by Kirchner; and "Xiu He Bao" (Purse Embroidering) arranged by Liu Zhuang.
 
     The 69-member Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, led and conducted by Chief Music Officer Mr James Leung, Senior Music Officer Mr Lee Sing-wan and Music Officer Ms Tsang Yin-yu, visited Sydney, Australia to meet around 30 participating groups from all over the world. Not only was the Orchestra invited to perform at the Festival Opening Concert, but it also performed at four other festival concerts at prestigious venues such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Town Hall. Various Chinese and Western classics were performed, including Brahms' "Symphony No. 2"; Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances"; Bizet’s "Carmen Suite No. 2"; Tchaikovsky's "Slavonic March"; "Jasmine" arranged by Li Wen-ping; and "Good News from Beijing Reaches the Frontier" by Zhenglu and Ma Hong-ye. Besides performing for the Festival, the Orchestra also joined a music workshop and exchange with the Cincinnati Junior String Orchestra from the US at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

        

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 17) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, the lifesaving services at Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District are suspended until further notice.

     First aid services will be maintained at the beach.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 17) announced that the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) and the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) 2019/20 will be launched on October 9 and 23 respectively, providing subsidised or free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) to eligible persons in phases.
     
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. The DH launched the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme in 2018/19 to provide SIV to students of primary schools through outreach teams where schools' responses and outcome have been positive. To further enhance the vaccination rate of schoolchildren, the DH will regularise the Pilot Programme in 2019/20 in order to cover more primary schools, and will also extend the coverage to kindergartens and child care centres as a pilot programme.
 
     "Under the '2019/20 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach (Free of Charge) – Primary Schools' (Primary School Outreach) and the '2019/20 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach (Free of Charge) – Kindergartens / Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres / Child Care Centres (Pilot)' (KG/CCC Outreach (Pilot)), the DH will reach out to schools to provide schoolchildren with SIV through a Government Outreach Team or a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Team. All schoolchildren in participating schools, irrespective of Hong Kong resident status, can receive free vaccination. The two programmes will start on October 23 and 9 respectively. So far, over 430 primary schools and 700 KG/CCC have signed up for the programmes."
 
     At present, 65 doctors have been recruited to participate in the PPP for Primary School Outreach where a subsidy of $100 per dose will be given (vaccines will be provided by DH). Meanwhile, 63 doctors have been recruited to participate in the PPP for KG/CCC Outreach (Pilot) where a subsidy of $260 per dose will be given (vaccines will be provided by participating doctors). The DH informed doctors early in February this year about the new arrangements for various school outreach programmes in 2019/20 and invited them to join the programmes. The DH also reminded and assisted them in June to make preparations and place vaccine orders in a timely manner.
 
     Regarding the application of vaccines, two types of seasonal influenza vaccines are currently registered in Hong Kong, namely inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) (i.e. nasal vaccine). Both IIV and LAIV are recommended for use in Hong Kong in 2019/20 by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the CHP. Subject to the supply of nasal vaccine, the DH will conduct a trial to provide this vaccine in schools with outreach service provided by the DH where suitable. The trial aims to test the feasibility and logistical arrangements in applying the LAIV in vaccination programmes.
 
     Primary schools, KGs and CCCs not participating in the two programmes above are encouraged to arrange as early as possible outreach vaccination for their students through the "Vaccination Subsidy Scheme School Outreach (Extra Charge Allowed)". Schools can invite doctors  providing outreach vaccination under the VSS from the list published on the CHP's website to arrange outreach SIV service at their campus. The Government will provide a subsidy of $210 per dose to participating doctors.

    The eligible groups and arrangements for free SIV in the public sector under the GVP and subsidised SIV in the private sector under the VSS in 2019/20 will remain unchanged (see Annex 1 and 2). Regarding VSS, the Government will provide a subsidy of $210 per dose to participating doctors. The DH has informed the participating doctors about the arrangements in 2019/20, and reminded them to make preparations and place vaccine orders in a timely manner.
 
    In addition, under the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme (RVP), the subsidy for visiting medical officers will be increased from $70 to $100 per dose. Moreover, the DH will expand SIV to cover residents and healthcare workers in residential child care centres under the RVP.
   
     The Government is now procuring a total of 567 000 doses of IIV for the GVP, and 245 000 doses of IIV and 2 000 doses of LAIV for School Outreach (Free of Charge) in 2019/20. Meanwhile, as of July 7, 2019, about 583 000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered via the VSS, 491 000 doses had been administered to eligible groups under the GVP and 121 000 doses administered under School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme in 2018/19. The total number of doses administered amounts to 1 195 000 doses, which represents an increase of 46 per cent compared to that in 2017/18.
 
    The SCVPD advised that the composition of the recommended vaccines for the 2019/20 influenza season should be in line with the World Health Organization's latest recommendations. The quadrivalent influenza vaccines to be used in the 2019/20 Northern Hemisphere influenza season contain:
 
* A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
* A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus
* B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus
* B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
 
     If trivalent influenza vaccine is being used, the influenza B component shall contain a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus.
 
     For IIVs, quadrivalent IIV is preferred to trivalent IIV due to the additional protection against one more lineage of influenza B offered by quadrivalent IIV. Locally registered IIVs are recommended for use among people six months of age or older, including those who are healthy, pregnant women and those with chronic medical problems. For LAIV, which is a quadrivalent vaccine, it can be used for people 2 to 49 years of age except those who are pregnant, immunocompromised or have other contraindications, details of which can be referred to in the SCVPD recommendations.
 
     The spokesman said, "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. Given that influenza vaccines are safe and effective, all persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive SIV for personal protection. Based on past epidemiological patterns, the winter influenza season usually occurs from January to March/April each year. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public are advised to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza."
      
     The CHP has been holding meetings and briefings with relevant stakeholders including health care providers, community partners and the educator sector to inform them of the arrangements and encourage their participation in the vaccination programmes. Publicity will also be stepped up to promote vaccination among eligible and other groups.
 
     For more details of the vaccination programmes, the public may enquire through the CHP's telephone number (2125 2125) or visit the CHP's Vaccination Schemes page.