Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the translation of the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam today (June 12):
 
Fellow citizens,
 
     Throughout the day, you could all see the distressing scenes in the Admiralty area. These acts of rioting, which damage social peace and disregard the law, are intolerable in any civilised society that respects the rule of law.
 
     Clearly, this is no longer a peaceful assembly but a blatant, organised riot, and in no way an act of loving Hong Kong.
 
     This morning, some people in total disregard to public safety occupied and blocked carriageways, paralysed traffic and gravely disrupted order in society.
 
     Starting in the afternoon, some people repeatedly charged toward the police cordon line and carried out dangerous and even life-threatening acts, including setting fire, using sharpened iron poles and bricks to attack the Police and damaging nearby public facilities, thereby posing serious threats to the safety of the general public, the young people who intended to express their views peacefully, the reporters, police officers and civil servants. We must strongly condemn them.
 
     I understand that the amendment to the ordinance by the Government this time has drawn strong positive and negative opinions in society and the Government has actively responded and explained many times. The fact is that since the return to the Motherland, issues involving the Central Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Mainland and Hong Kong, will be used by some people to stir up controversies and disputes. Intense confrontation is surely not the solution to ease disputes and resolve controversies.
 
     I hope you can all calm down to consider that this is not the first time in recent years that we have seen such riotous scenes. Hong Kong is a free, open and pluralistic society that values different opinions on everything. However, there is a bottom line in regard to the means of expressing an opinion, be it a supporting or opposing view. If a goal can be reached by radical and violent means, such scenes will become more severe, which will definitely put Hong Kong in harm’s way.
 
     I hope that society will return to order as soon as possible and I don’t want any more people to get injured in the riot. I appeal to all citizens who love this place to stay away from violence. I believe that any problem can still be resolved in Hong Kong, a civilised society, in a peaceful, rational and law-abiding manner for the overall interests of Hong Kong. read more

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (June 12) expressed its strong opposition to the class boycott and teachers’ strike initiated by an educational body. The bureau reiterated that schools should not be used for expressing political aspirations as that would not only affect normal school operations but also unfairly drag under-aged students into political turbulence at the expense of their learning opportunities.

     The EDB also thanked school heads and teachers for their commitment to work, calling on them to continue to protect their students and to serve them with professionalism.

     Meanwhile, the EDB is concerned that traffic in the Wan Chai and Central and Western Districts has been seriously disrupted, which may affect students going to school tomorrow. The bureau urges schools to continue to adopt contingency measures under school-based mechanisms and exercise flexibility in handling individual students’ lateness or absence. The bureau also calls on schools to make suitable arrangements, take proper care of students on campus, maintain communication with parents and, when class is dismissed, allow students to return home only under safe conditions.

     The EDB respects the right of members of the public including teachers and students to express their views on social issues in a peaceful and lawful manner. It calls on students to put their personal safety above everything else at all times, stay away from dangerous places, particularly in the vicinity of the Central Government Offices and the Legislative Council Complex in Admiralty, and not take part in riots or any unlawful activities.

     The bureau is closely monitoring the situation and will make special announcements when necessary. read more

     The second Annual Meeting of the Tourism Federation of Cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was held in Hong Kong today (June 12). Around 40 representatives from the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, the Macao Government Tourism Office and the tourism departments of the nine Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing, attended the meeting to exchange views on tourism development within the region.
 
     The Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Joe Wong, is the rotating Chairman of the Federation’s second Annual Meeting. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Wong said, “With the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area announced in February 2019, I hope Hong Kong can leverage the opportunities brought about by the development of the Greater Bay Area to deepen co-operation with other cities in the region for mutual benefits.”
 
     He added, “The Outline Development Plan expressly supports Hong Kong in developing into an international tourism hub, a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism, as well as a diverse tourism platform. Leveraging on Hong Kong’s rich tourism resources and well-established transport infrastructure, we can take up the role as the international tourism hub in the Greater Bay Area, attracting more overseas tourists to visit Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area via Hong Kong, thereby promoting the overall tourism development in the region.”
 
     Mr Wong said that the meeting was fruitful with representatives from different places reaching a consensus to continue strengthening co-operation amongst each other. Collaboration measures include pursuing more facilitating measures for tourists travelling within the Greater Bay Area, strengthening co-operation in market regulation and publicity and promotion, and supporting the trade in developing more multi-destination products.
 
     The Federation was jointly established by the tourism departments of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions as well as the nine Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area in December 2017, with a view to promoting tourism co-operation and development within the region. The Federation’s advisory unit and secretariat are the national Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province respectively.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 12) investigating a case of measles infection.

     The case involves a 25-year-old woman with good past health, who has developed fever since June 7 and rash since June 10. She sought medical advice from general practitioners on June 10 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department at United Christian Hospital (UCH) on the same day. She was admitted to UCH today.

     A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She is in a stable condition and reported to have received measles vaccination. She had no travel history during the incubation period and the communicable period.

     According to the patient, she did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. Her home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.
 
     Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patient visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.

     A spokesman for the DH said, “Those who might have had contact with the patient during the period of communicability are urged to observe if they have developed measles-related symptoms, and to seek medical treatment immediately if such symptoms appear. If they need to visit any health care facilities during the period of medical surveillance, they should also report whether they have symptoms and prior measles exposure history to the healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities concerned to prevent any potential spread.”

     The spokesman explained that measles is a highly infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It can be transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons, and, less commonly, by articles soiled with nose and throat secretions. A patient can pass the disease to other persons from four days before to four days after the appearance of skin rash.

     “The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals,” the spokesman advised. 

     “Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Members of the public who are planning to travel to places with high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received measles vaccination during childhood. The history of measles vaccination in Hong Kong is available in the CHP’s measles thematic page. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles are urged to consult their doctor for advice on vaccination at least two weeks before departure,” the spokesman said.
  
     Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
 

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of rash to prevent spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

     For more information on measles, the public may call the 24-hour health education hotline 2833 0111 or visit the CHP’s measles thematic page. For outbreak news of measles outside Hong Kong or the latest travel health advice, please visit the website of DH’s Travel Health Service. read more

At about 8am today (June 12), a large number of protestors gathering around Legislative Council Complex suddenly dashed to Lung Wo Road and Harcourt Road, obstructing traffic and occupying the roads. They even surrounded and damaged cars and police veh… read more