The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 9) investigating an additional case of measles infection.
 
     As at 4pm today, one case, which involves a 23-year-old woman, was recorded. The woman with good past health developed fever and rash since April 5. She sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on April 6 and was discharged with home isolation advised. A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She has been in a stable condition. She has reported to have measles vaccination and had no travel history during the incubation period or communicable period.
 
     According to the patient, she did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. The home contacts of the patient 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.

     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Members of the general public who have visited the public places listed in the appendix during the period should observe if they develop relevant symptoms, such as fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes in seven to 21 days (the medical surveillance period). If symptoms arise, they 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," a spokesman for the DH said.

     Upon confirmation of the measles outbreak at Hong Kong International Airport, the DH has implemented control measures at the airport including vaccination and blood testing services. A total of 28 persons received measles vaccination at the vaccination stations as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8 005. Ninety-nine blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results. A hotline (2125 1122) has been set up for public enquiries and operates from 9am to 5.45pm daily. As of 5pm today, the hotline had received a total of 3 006 enquiries.

     From today to Friday (April 9 to 12), the vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 500 doses daily. Vaccination for eligible airport staff will be provided to the following target groups:

(1) Born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before, and with evidence of living with infants under 1 year old or living with pregnant women; or

(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).

     Details of evidence are as follows:

(a) Supporting documents for living with infants under 1 year old: for example birth certificate, discharge summary or vaccination card of the infant

(b) Supporting documents for living with pregnant women: for example, positive pregnancy tests or antenatal follow-up cards of the pregnant women

(c) Supporting documents for laboratory evidence: for example blood results from the DH's measles serology test or any laboratory within the past 12 months

     The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:
 

     As for the blood test service, the DH will continue with the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff to identify those who need the measles vaccination. From today to Friday (April 9 to 12), the DH will provide blood test service daily to around 100 airport staff who were born in or after 1967, with priority to be given to staff belonging to target group (1).

     The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station are as follows: 
 

     Following is the opening remarks (English translation) by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, at the special meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (April 9):
 
Chairman,

     The Financial Secretary's Budget Speech highlighted two new initiatives on our side, namely allocating another $1 billion for departments to install renewable energy (RE) facilities, and providing more charging facilities for electric vehicles. $120 million will be allocated to provide over 1 000 additional public chargers at government car parks. I would like to brief Members on other work priorities of the Environment Bureau in the coming financial year.

     On mitigating climate change, the Government has earlier earmarked $900 million to implement energy saving projects in government buildings and made good progress. We are confident that the target to reduce electricity consumption of government buildings by 5 per cent within five years could be reached in this year. Moreover, $1 billion earmarked for installing RE facilities at government venues in the last two financial years is already benefitting leisure and cultural services facilities, government offices, government schools and sewerage treatment works. The additional $1 billion this year will allow us to do more green projects.

     Pursuant to the requirement of the Paris Agreement, we need to draw up, by 2020, a long-term decarbonisation strategy for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region up to 2050. We have invited the Council for Sustainable Development to conduct a public engagement exercise shortly for this purpose and to engage the public on how to transition towards a low-carbon society.

     On improvement of air quality, we are making preparations for phasing out Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles, and planning the trial of retrofitting Euro IV and V franchised buses with enhanced selective catalytic reduction devices to reduce emissions. Having completed the review of Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) last December, we will launch a three-month public consultation this year. If it is decided to tighten the AQOs, we will submit an Amendment Bill to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for implementing the new AQOs as soon as possible.

     Implementation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) charging is at the centre of our waste reduction strategy. The relevant Bill is being scrutinised at LegCo. This year, we are providing additional funding of around $300 million to $400 million to enhance support for the work related to waste reduction and recycling. Upon implementation of MSW charging in the future, annual funding will increase to about $800 million to $1 billion, which is commensurate with the amount of the estimated gross revenue to be generated from MSW charging, thereby achieving the effect of "dedicated fund for dedicated use". We are preparing to roll out a pilot scheme in three districts this year to provide free collection service for non-commercial and non-industrial waste plastic. We also plan to introduce a pilot scheme later this year to collect food waste.

     On the producer responsibility schemes (PRS), the one for waste electrical and electronic equipment is being implemented progressively. Moreover, we will submit the draft subsidiary legislation regarding the PRS for glass beverage containers to LegCo this year for scrutiny, in order to pursue its full implementation. Our next step is to take forward the PRS for plastic beverage containers. The relevant pilot scheme for reverse vending machines will be implemented in the second half of this year.

     On marine refuse, apart from our continuous effort in co-ordinating and stepping up cleaning, monitoring and patrolling work through our inter-departmental working group, we will also strengthen collaboration with our counterparts in Guangdong Province on marine environmental management. We will also enhance communication with the public and provide support to shoreline cleanup actions organised by different organisations.

     Regarding water quality, to continually strengthen our sewerage infrastructural facilities and tackle near-shore pollution problems, we plan to seek funding approval from LegCo this year for 15 sewerage projects of some $29 billion in total for upgrading or constructing sewage treatment works, sewers, village sewerage systems and dry weather flow interceptors.

     On countryside and nature conservation, since the establishment of the Countryside Conservation Office (CCO) in July last year, we have been actively co-ordinating relevant government departments and stakeholders. The CCO will launch a Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme in the second half of this year to support interactions and collaboration between non-government organisations and villagers for implementing conservation and revitalisation projects. In addition, we will consult the soon-to-be-established Advisory Committee on Countryside Conservation on the proposed minor improvement works in Lai Chi Wo and Sha Lo Tung.

     All in all, I look forward to strengthening both our interaction and collaboration with LegCo Members and all sectors of the community, as well as our joint efforts in innovation, so that together we can continue to contribute to the sustainable development of Hong Kong and the world. Thank you, Chairman.

     The Education Bureau held the Forty Years of Reform and Opening-up Project Learning Award Scheme to enhance primary and secondary school students' understanding of the development of our country's reform and opening up through project learning, and to let them explore Hong Kong's role in the process of reform and opening up and the ways for Hong Kong to grasp the opportunities ahead.
 
     Speaking at the award presentation ceremony and project exhibition of the award scheme today (April 9), the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that the award scheme received an overwhelming response with the participation of more than 230 teams, including students from sister schools and non-Chinese speaking students, from a total of 115 primary and secondary schools.

     He commended the outstanding performance of the students in their projects, which covered various aspects, from the economy, people's livelihood, education, diplomacy and cultural heritage conservation to innovation and technology, demonstrating comprehensively the extraordinary achievements of the Mainland and Hong Kong in the past 40 years during the country's reform and opening up. While the topics were diverse, the approaches and presentations of the projects were also ingenious.
 
     He said he believed that through their participation in the award scheme, the students have enriched their knowledge of the country's reform in recent years. He expressed the hope that young people can grasp the new opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, not only to participate in fostering the further development of the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region but also to share the benefits of the country's achievements.

     There were three entry levels for the award scheme, namely primary, junior secondary and senior secondary, and each participating team set its own topic according to the theme of the respective level. Each team collected information through various means and then produced a study report after conducting compilation and analysis.
 
     In addition to a commemorative trophy and book vouchers given to each winning team, the champion, first runner-up and merit award teams from 14 schools with around 80 students and teachers are also invited by the Education Bureau to visit Beijing and Shanghai to participate in the Mainland exchange programme related to the theme of the award scheme with a view to further enhancing their understanding of the country's development.
 
     The list of winners has been uploaded to the Education Bureau's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/kla/pshe/reform_and_opening-up_40years/index.html).

        

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened at a warehouse in Yuen Long this morning (April 9), in which a male worker was crushed to death inside a container by machine components being stowed in the container by a forklift truck. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker in the accident and expresses its deepest sympathy to the victim's family.
 
     The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the proprietor of the premises and the employer involved to suspend the related loading and unloading work. The LD will only revoke the suspension notices when we are satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken."
 
     The spokesman added, "We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
 
     The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
 
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
 
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following announcement today (April 9):
 
     Four patients (aged 20 to 55) and a staff member in a male ward for severe intellectual disability presented with respiratory symptoms since April 7. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition. The staff member is currently on leave.
 
     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.