Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, during her visit to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) headquarters today (April 26):

Reporter: Are you worrying that it will be a little bit difficult to impose the new law….?

Secretary for Food and Health: I think the objective of amending the law or this public consultation is to strengthen our existing law in terms of increasing the awareness of animal welfare among the public. On one hand, we want to strengthen the duty of care. On the other hand, we will also review the existing penalty as well as strengthen education. Regarding the details of how to ensure or how to prove the owners of the animals would provide the duty of care, perhaps I can ask Dr Thomas Sit (Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Inspection & Quarantine)) to give more details.  

Reporter: The duty of care is quite a new concept in the city and the public might be confused. For example, fish mongers in wet markets, are they responsible for killing live fishes constituting cruelty? Please explain how to avoid this kind of public confusion. The second question is that some people say that the duty of care only applies to animals who have responsible persons. Is it correct to say this law doesn't provide any protection to abandoned ones? My last question is that the law is expected to become effective in 2021 and some say that it is taking too long. What is the biggest hurdles in expediting the process? 

Secretary for Food and Health: I would first talk about the principles of the duty of care. As Dr Sit has just said, other than the general concept of having the duty of care, we will couple with publicity and education when we issue the law, so that everybody understands what we mean by the duty of care. Secondly, as Dr Sit has already said, we would have a set of criteria in order to make the public understand what the requirements or expectations for the duty of care are. Thirdly, I think having an education campaign coupled with the issue of the law as well as enforcement are very important. I know a number of you actually have questions about enforcement. Of course, at this point of time, even before we start the public consultation, we are only working with the framework of the suggested amendments. After we have completed the public consultation, we would have a chance to analyse all the comments that we have received from the public and finalise the details of the amendment framework. But we still have to go through the Legislative Council, to go through the Bills Committee and get comments from legislators as well as the public. At that point of time, more details will come out. As Dr Sit has just said, there will be a Code of Practice, or a set of guidelines that provides more details, in addition to the law. After we know the details of the amendments we are going to make, I am sure the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will look into whether manpower is enough to carry out enforcement. We will deal with that at a later stage. Regarding the timetable, this consultation would take three months and we need time to look into the comments that we receive during the consultation. It really depends on how many comments we have received and then we can analyse them. After analysing the comments, we will finalise the framework and have to work with the Department of Justice to draft the law. So it would take a bit of time in terms of the process. We don't envisage any big hurdles. I think it is just like any other laws that we are going to amend. It takes time.     

Reporter: Some cases of amendments do not take so long.  

Secretary for Food and Health: It depends on the complexity of the law, the comments that we receive from the public during the consultation and whether there are any conflicting comments, etc. So, we really cannot predict in a fine manner at this stage.

Reporter: The heaviest sentence handed down by the court for imprisonment so far is 16 months. That is during a period of 13 years, from 2006 to 2019. How can we ensure that the increase in penalty would be effective, given that the heaviest penalty handed down so far is only 16 months? Can you tell us how many people have gone to jail so far?   

Secretary for Food and Health: Perhaps Dr Sit can supplement the numbers. The objectives of this public consultation and also the amendments to the law are to try our best, not only to enhance animal welfare in Hong Kong, but also to see whether there are any loopholes or whether there are any gaps in the existing law we need to fill. So, those are also the things that we will look into.  

Reporter: Does it mean that you are quite happy with the "18 months" proposal put forward by the Hong Kong Medical Association ? 

Secretary for Food and Health: I think we need to look into the details first. As I have said although the "18 months" proposal seems to be equal for all employers and organisations listed for limited registration, namely the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health, the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the devil is in the details. I think we need to look into the details as to how to define the wording prescribing for the experience because that may pose an obstacle as well. I think it is important to know more details about the proposal first.

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

      

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, April 26, 2019 is 103.9 (same as yesterday's index).

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (April 28) to facilitate two public order events to be held on Hong Kong Island.

(1)

A. Road closure

     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 12 noon until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Kam Hong Street;
– Westbound King’s Road;
– Westbound Causeway Road;
– Westbound Irving Street;
– Northbound Pennington Street;
– Westbound Yee Wo Street;
– Westbound Jardine’s Bazaar;
– Westbound Hennessy Road;
– Westbound Queensway;
– Westbound Queen’s Road Central; and
– Southbound Bank Street.

B. Traffic diversions
     
     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from about 1pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Traffic from northbound Justice Drive cannot enter westbound Queensway intermittently and must go straight to eastbound Queensway; and
– Traffic from eastbound Queensway cannot turn right to southbound Cotton Tree Drive intermittently.
     
     Vehicles may not be permitted to access or leave car parks along the route during the road closure period.

(2)

     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented in phases until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

A. Road closure

From about 2.30pm

– If necessary, Great George Street;
– If necessary, Paterson Street between Gloucester Road and Great George Street;
– If necessary, Kingston Street;
– If necessary, Cleveland Street;
– If necessary, Cannon Street;
– If necessary, Lockhart Road east of Percival Street, except for green minibuses (GMBs);and
– If necessary, Jaffe Road east of Percival Street, except for GMBs.

From about 3pm

– The leftmost lane of westbound Yee Wo Street;
– The leftmost lane of westbound Hennessy Road;
– Jardine’s Bazaar;
– Tang Lung Street;
– Canal Road East between Russell Street and Hennessy Road;
– Canal Road West between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road;
– Wan Chai Road between Canal Road West and Morrison Hill Road;
– Bowrington Road between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road;
– Lee Garden Road between Kai Chiu Road and Hennessy Road;
– Kai Chiu Road; and
– Yun Ping Road between Lan Fong Road and Kai Chiu Road.

From about 4pm

– Southbound Rodney Street;
– Westbound Harcourt Road between the exit of Harcourt Garden car park and Cotton Tree Drive;

– All lay-bys along Tim Mei Avenue and Lung Wui Road;
– The unnamed road outside ex-Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters; and
– If necessary, southbound Tim Wa Avenue between Lung Wo Road and Harcourt Road.

B. Traffic diversions

From about 2.30pm

– If necessary, traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road flyover cannot turn left to westbound Kingston Street;
– If necessary, traffic along southbound Paterson Street must turn left to eastbound Kingston Street;
– If necessary, traffic along southbound Cleveland Street cannot turn right to westbound Kingston Street;
– If necessary, traffic along westbound Gloucester Road service road cannot turn left to southbound Cleveland Street;
– If necessary, traffic along westbound Gloucester Road service road cannot turn left to southbound Paterson Street;
– If necessary, traffic along slip road leading from westbound Victoria Park Road cannot enter Cleveland Street;
– If necessary, traffic along eastbound Lockhart Road must turn right to Percival Street, except for GMBs; and
– If necessary, traffic along northbound Cannon Street cannot turn left to westbound Jaffe Road, except for GMBs.

From about 3pm

– Traffic along northbound Pennington Street cannot turn left to Jardine’s Bazaar;
– Traffic along westbound Hennessy Road cannot turn left to southbound Canal Road East;
– Traffic along westbound Russell Street must turn left to southbound Canal Road East;
– Traffic along northbound Canal Road West near Sharp Street West will be diverted to the up-ramp leading to northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic along eastbound Sharp Street West will be diverted to the up-ramp leading to northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic along eastbound Sharp Street West cannot turn left to northbound Bowrington Road;
– Traffic along northbound Bowrington Road must turn right to eastbound Sharp Street West; and
– Traffic along eastbound Wan Chai Road must turn right to southbound Morrison Hill Road.

From about 4pm

– Traffic along westbound Harcourt Road near the exit of Harcourt Garden car park will be diverted to westbound Harcourt Road flyover;
– Traffic from United Centre Bus Terminus must turn left to westbound Drake Street;
– If necessary, traffic along eastbound Harcourt Road cannot turn left to northbound Tim Mei Avenue;
– If necessary, traffic along Lung Wo Road cannot enter Tim Wa Avenue, except for vehicles accessing Chief Executive’s Office and Central Government Offices car park; and
– If necessary, traffic along Lung Wo Road cannot enter southbound Edinburgh Place.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

     All on-street parking spaces, motorcycle parking spaces and disabled parking spaces on eastbound Lung Wui Road opposite to CITIC Tower will be suspended from about 3pm to 11.59pm.

     Vehicles will not be permitted to leave or enter car parks at the affected areas during the road closure period.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning or subject to multiple ticketing.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 26) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From April 12 to 25, the CHP recorded one imported DF case. The patient had been to Thailand during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday (April 25), 40 cases had been confirmed this year, all of which were imported. The cases were mainly imported from Indonesia (eight), Malaysia (eight) and Thailand (seven). 

     DF remains endemic in some areas of Asia and beyond. In Guangdong, there were 63 cases in the first three months of this year. The latest figures for 2019 reveal that 16 635 cases had been recorded in Thailand, 55 976 in the Philippines (which was 1.8 times the number of cases reported in the same period in 2018), 36 285 in Malaysia (which was 2.5 times the number of cases reported in the same period in 2018), 2 699 in Singapore (since December 30, 2018), 48 647 in Vietnam (which was 3.5 times the number of cases reported in the same period in 2018) and 86 in Japan. In the Americas, the latest figures indicate that 439 432 and 10 581 cases were filed in Brazil and Mexico respectively in 2019.

     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 loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or exposed parts of the body when doing outdoor activities.

    
     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF and Zika virus infection should apply insect repellent for 14 days or at least 21 days respectively upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor. 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 two months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public may refer to the CHP's tips for using insect repellents for details. 
 

     Police today (April 26) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Wong Hok-kwan, aged 85, went missing after he was last seen at a minibus stop on Kwun Tong Road yesterday (April 25) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.68 metres tall, 54 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, dark trousers and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or 9886 0060 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.