The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 5) that a sample of Hainanese chicken rice was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the case.
 
     "Following up on a food complaint, the CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a restaurant in Wong Tai Sin for testing. The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the criterion of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25 grams of a ready-to-eat food sample," a CFS spokesman said.
     
     The spokesman said that the CFS had notified the restaurant concerned of the unsatisfactory test result and instructed it to stop selling the food item concerned immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the restaurant, and requested it to review and improve the food production process and carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection.
 
     "Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and patients with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death," the spokesman said.
 
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 5) investigating a case of measles infection.

     The case involves a 33-year-old man with good past health, who has developed fever since May 31 and rash since June 2. He sought medical advice from a general practitioner on May 31 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department at United Christian Hospital on June 3 and was admitted today for treatment.

     A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition all along. The patient's measles vaccination history is unknown. He travelled to Shenzhen during the incubation period but had no travel history during the communicable period.

     According to the patient, he did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. His 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.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 5) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Deep Water Bay Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, as Grade 4, which means the beaches are not suitable for swimming. The red flags have been hoisted. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beaches until further notice.

     The red flag was hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach earlier because the sandy area of the beach was uneven.

     Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Wan and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, in the Legislative Council today (June 5):
     
Question:
 
     Regarding the planning standards for car parking spaces, public markets and social welfare facilities in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG), will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as it is learnt that there is a shortage of car parking spaces in some newly completed public housing estates (e.g. On Tai Estate and Hung Fuk Estate) immediately after the intake of residents, whether the Government will amend HKPSG to raise the planning standard for the provision of car parking spaces (especially those parking spaces for commercial vehicles in public housing developments);
 
(2) as it has been reported that due to a shortage of public markets in new towns such as Tin Shui Wai and Tung Chung, the residents in such districts have to travel to other districts in order to buy food at more affordable prices, whether the Government will amend HKPSG to reinstate a population-based quantitative planning standard for public markets; and
 
(3) as one of the causes for the current shortage of social welfare facilities in quite a number of districts is that social welfare organisations cannot identify suitable premises for providing such facilities, whether the Government will consider adding to HKPSG the following planning standard: a floor area of not smaller than 0.5 time of the site area of a new development area or a new residential development must be set aside for social welfare facilities?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Relevant policy bureaux would stipulate general planning standards for determining the scale, location and site requirements of various community facilities and infrastructures under their respective purview according to population and other factors. Whilst some facilities adopt quantitative planning standard based on population, some involve a host of consideration factors. The Planning Department (PlanD) would incorporate into the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) the various planning standards covering policy areas led by different policy bureaux. The HKPSG aims to serve as a general reference for the PlanD to reserve land for providing relevant facilities during the planning process. Relevant policy bureaux will formulate, review and amend the respective standards in the HKPSG as appropriate, taking into account society’s development needs and policy consideration.

     In consultation with relevant bureaux including the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) and the Food and Health Bureau (FHB), my reply to various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) According to the THB, in respect of the planning standard for parking spaces, the Transport Department (TD) is conducting a consultancy study on parking for commercial vehicles and will review the respective standards on parking spaces and loading/unloading bays for commercial vehicles in HKPSG.  The TD will also review as part of the consultancy study the existing guidelines on parking of private cars, with a view to updating the respective requirements in HKPSG for the provision of private car parking spaces in housing developments (including public housing developments). In the process, the TD will take into consideration the latest parking policy, utilisation of parking spaces, social and economic factors affecting the growth of private cars, etc., so as to increase the number of private car parking spaces in future housing developments. The aforementioned review is expected to complete in 2019. The TD targets to promulgate the revised guidelines in 2020 after consulting relevant stakeholders.

(2) According to the FHB, the Government will consider development of new public markets on a case-by-case basis, taking into account relevant factors including the demographic mix, community needs, provision of public and private market facilities nearby, and number of fresh provision retail outlets in the vicinity. In the process, the actual situation of individual districts and the views of stakeholders would also be taken into account. The basket of factors, which includes but not limited to population, could allow the Government to assess the local circumstances and the need to improve public market facilities more flexibly. Based on the above considerations, the Government has decided to develop new public markets in areas including Tin Shui Wai and Tung Chung Town Centre. The FHB will assess the need to review the planning guidelines for public markets as and when appropriate in the light of social development and actual situation in the districts.

(3) The proposal to reserve exclusive and uniform floor area for the provision of social welfare facilities in development lots at new development areas and new residential developments is not practicable, as whether individual development could accommodate social welfare facilities and, if so, the types and scale of facilities to be provided cannot be generalised; it would depend on, for example, the planned use, site size, geographical location, development intensity of the site for development.  

     For the planned sites for private development, we will identify suitable sites and require developers to provide Government, Institution or Community (GIC) facilities within the private development through land sale conditions. As for the planned sites for public housing, taking into account the requests by various government departments including Social Welfare Department for reserving land for different GIC facilities, the Housing Department will co-ordinate with the PlanD and relevant departments during the formulation of planning brief of the public housing development and designate the plot ratio (PR) for the provision of relevant facilities where feasible from the planning and technical perspective.
      
     Besides, when planning new residential development in the past, the maximum permissible PR or gross floor area (GFA) are usually stipulated on statutory town plans, which also specify the maximum permissible PR or GFA for both domestic and non-domestic uses (the latter include social welfare and other GIC facilities or commercial and retail uses). Upon review, the Government decided in August 2018 to adopt a new arrangement, whereby for sites to be rezoned for housing purpose (both public and private), the floor space for GIC facilities known at the plan-making stage will be exempted from GFA calculation for the sites concerned on statutory town plans, subject to positive technical feasibility assessment. This arrangement can provide the required social welfare facilities to meet local demand for community facilities without compromising the housing production. We believe these measures will help increase the floor space for the provision of social welfare facilities.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 5) investigating an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in a kindergarten-cum-child care centre (KG/CCC) in Kwai Chung, and again urged the public, schools and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.
 
     The 20 affected children, 14 boys and six girls aged 3 to 5, as well as one staff member, have developed oral ulcers, rash over hands or feet and fever since May 9. All of them sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. All patients are in a stable condition.
 
     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit to the school and advised the management on necessary infection control and preventive measures. The school has been put under medical surveillance. Investigations are ongoing.
 
     "HFMD is common in children while adult cases may also appear. It is usually caused by enteroviruses (EVs) such as Coxsackie virus and EV71. It is clinically characterised by maculopapular rashes or vesicular lesions occurring on the palms, soles and other parts of the body such as the buttocks and thighs. Vesicular lesions and ulcers may also be found in the oral cavity. Sometimes patients present mainly with painful ulcers at the back of the mouth, namely herpangina, without rash on the hands or feet," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "HFMD occurs throughout the year with the usual peak occurring from May to July. A smaller peak may also occur from October to December. According to the CHP's latest surveillance data, the local activity of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is at high level. As young children are more susceptible, parents should stay alert to their health. Institutional outbreaks may occur where HFMD can easily spread among young children with close contact," the spokesman added.

     To prevent HFMD, members of the public, and especially the management of institutions, should take heed of the following preventive measures:
 

• Maintain good air circulation;
• Wash hands before meals and after going to the toilet or handling diapers or other stool-soiled materials;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly, especially 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 oral discharges properly;
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as furniture, toys and commonly shared items with 1:99 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 99 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes, and then rinse with water and keep dry. For metallic surfaces, disinfect with 70 per cent alcohol;
• Use absorbent disposable towels to wipe away obvious contaminants such as respiratory secretions, vomitus or excreta, and then disinfect the surface and neighbouring areas with 1:49 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 49 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes and then rinse with water and keep dry. For metallic surfaces, disinfect with 70 per cent alcohol;
• Children who are ill should be kept out of school until their fever and rash have subsided and all the vesicles have dried and crusted;
• Avoid going to overcrowded places; and
• Parents should maintain close communication with schools to let them know the latest situation of the sick children.

 
     The public may visit the CHP's page on HFMD and EV71 infection and Public Health Advice for Play Facilities for more information.