Author Archives: hksar gov

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) set up a working group comprising members of the Coordinating Committee (A&E), Information Technology and Health Informatics Department and data security expert, to explore means of enhancing protection of patient data while ensuring the operation efficiency of Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments. The working group met yesterday (June 18) to address concerns recently expressed in the community and by some healthcare staff towards safeguarding patient data privacy.

     The Chiefs of Service of all A&E Departments agreed that the Accident and Emergency Information System (AEIS) is very important to clinical services in the Department. It was confirmed that all computers and the AEIS in A&E Department are for the exclusive use of public hospital staff. Given the different views of the community and healthcare staff towards access arrangement of the systems concerned, the Chiefs of Service of all A&E Department agreed to suspend the “report” and “print” in the “Disaster” module beginning tomorrow. Staff can only access with personal password via the Clinical Management System to view or print the patient list of major incidents of AEIS.

     Regarding recent media reports on a designated page for police in the system, the HA clarified that “For Police” selection in AEIS is just a printing option. There is never a designated page for police access to patient information, as being described wrongly by somebody. The HA reiterated that the AEIS is an independent system of the HA without connection to the computer system of any other organisation. No access right has been given to any government department including the police.

     There were also some recent news reports on possible unintended exposure of computer screens in busy A&E Departments. The HA understands that A&E staff may need to leave their desktop computers at times to help resuscitate patients, hence will install in AEIS of all A&E Departments the automatic log-out function after idling for 15 minutes. Computers are also installed with screensaver programme to prevent the risk of information exposing accidentally.

     As A&E Departments are always crowded with members of public and other rescue department staff, the HA has reminded healthcare staff to ensure that patients’ medical records and conversation are not leaked during triage and consultation. The HA will also remind law enforcement departments to be mindful of the respect for patient data privacy in hospitals.

     The HA will continue to uphold patient confidentiality, which is the cornerstone of patient confidence in seeking consultation. The HA reiterates that public hospital healthcare staff always work in the best interest of the patients and will not be compromised by any non-clinical activities. Patients in need are advised to seek timely consultation. read more

     Police today (June 19) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwai Chung.                Ma Ka-chi, aged 71, went missing afte… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting today (June 19):

Reporter: You made an apology this morning, but why haven’t you bowed now?
 
Secretary for Security: I think I have expressed my apology. And I expressed my apology because as the Chief Executive said, it is because of the inadequacy of our work. So I have expressed my apology already and I hope that we will be working hard so that in future, in pushing or making proposals for the policies that the Government wants to make, there will be a good consultation and there will be a good communication so that views and opinions are taken into (account) for the benefit of the whole of Hong Kong.

Reporter: Secretary, in anticipation of this Friday of the ultimatum set by some netizens, would you promise them clearly that, in this term of Government before 2020, the Government would not carry out the extradition bill, i.e. the bill has been withdrawn in effect? And also another question is, to resolve the Taiwan case, would you consider the private member’s bill being tabled by some lawmakers?   
   
Secretary for Security: The private member’s bill has been proposed and the Government has been consulted on its way forward. This will do after a thorough discussion among our colleagues, but we will of course explain the Government’s position on the proposed bill. What is your first question?  
 
Reporter: Would you withdraw the bill and promise that it will not be re-tabled in this term of Government, in effect?   

Secretary for Security: I think the Chief Executive has indicated that in the coming year we shall have a lot of things that we want to take action into for different areas – to improve livelihood, to create opportunities for development, to do more for the economy. So there will be a long list of things that the Government will take into consideration seriously for the progress of Hong Kong. We accept the reality if it does happen that in this LegCo term, if the bill will not have an opportunity to be considered again, then we will accept that fact.         
 
Reporter: What about this term of Government?  

Secretary for Security: I think the LegCo year expires, or the LegCo term expires differently from the Government’s term. The LegCo term is a period of four years, whereas the Government period is five years.     
 
Reporter: How can people lodge complaints against the Special Tactical Unit if they do not have an ID number on their uniform? How can they do it? 
 
Secretary for Security: CAPO (Complaints Against Police Office) has been investigating complaints of different natures and CAPO will take into consideration all factors, including information available from the Police organisation as to who will be involved in what kind of job, at what time, at what hours. The CAPO system has been used in a lot of similar circumstances, so I will ask every one of you to give CAPO the opportunity to make investigation, so that they can look into all the circumstances of fact including information that they may gather from sources, such as the Internet and any person who may provide information to them. The investigation will be done thoroughly and impartially, and it will be submitted to the Independent Police Complaints Council for scrutiny.            

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     â€‹A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 19) said that the FEHD will continue to step up enforcement actions against the unauthorised display of easy-mount frames and other display fittings for business promotion in public places, and will prosecute the beneficiaries of such commercial publicity materials. Two telecommunications companies were fined for $150,000 and $200,000 respectively at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on June 18 for unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials.

     The spokesman said the FEHD has all along been concerned about the illegal activity of displaying commercial publicity materials on busy streets. FEHD officers stepped up enforcement actions in the vicinity of Fuk Wah Street, Shum Shui Po from December last year to January this year, and removed a total of 94 posters and their stands. Upon further investigations, the department issued 15 and 20 summonses respectively to two beneficiaries, i.e. the two telecommunications companies, for the unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials on Government land. The two companies were convicted yesterday and fined for a total of $150,000 and $200,000 respectively, with the maximum fine of $10,000 imposed for each offence.

     Under Section 104A(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), any person displaying or affixing a bill or poster on Government land without permission commits an offence, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and a daily fine of $300 upon conviction. FEHD officers can also remove the commercial publicity materials and the display fittings and recover the removal costs from the persons concerned pursuant to the relevant legislation.

     The spokesman reminds street promoters and related commercial organisations to refrain from displaying commercial publicity materials illegally. The department will continue to carry out enforcement actions to curb such illegal activities and improve the district environment. read more

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 male Psychiatry ward, the spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Easter… read more