Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Mayor of Shanghai, Mr Ying Yong, at Government House this evening (August 22).

     Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Ying’s visit to Hong Kong with his delegation to attend the 4th Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference to be held on August 24. She said Hong Kong and Shanghai have been enjoying a close relationship which has much room for further development, and for this reason she visited Shanghai soon after her assumption of office last year, meeting with the then Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Mr Han Zheng, and Mr Ying. Mrs Lam said she was very pleased that the two sides agreed to hold the Fourth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference in Hong Kong at the meeting.

     Mrs Lam said that the governments of the two sides have done a lot of work for the conference in the past months. She expressed the belief that the two sides would reach consensus to strengthen co-operation in various areas at the meeting and sign a number of agreements covering areas including legal services, education, commerce and trade, innovation and technology (I&T), culture and finance after the meeting.  On I&T, as the leading group for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area led by the Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, confirmed the support by the Central Government for the establishment of an international I&T hub in the Bay Area, Mrs Lam expressed the hope to strengthen collaboration with Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, which are advancing rapidly on I&T development, from the perspective of regional development to contribute together to the building of an innovation-oriented country.

     Noting that Mr Ying would also attend a youth forum and visit waste treatment and elderly care facilities during his stay in Hong Kong, she said she hopes that Mr Ying would better understand Hong Kong’s latest developments in various aspects, so that more room would be explored for co-operation and exchanges between Hong Kong and Shanghai in the future.

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     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session at Central Government Offices, Tamar, after the Fight Crime Committee meeting this afternoon (August 22):   Repor… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating today (August 22) one additional local case 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.
 
     The case is detailed below:
 

Sex	Male
Age	53
Any underlying illness	Yes
Onset date	August 15
Symptoms	Fever, headache, myalgia and skin rash
Residence	Jade Villa, Chuk Yeung Road, Sai Kung
Local movement during incubation period	Lion Rock Park
Recollection of mosquito bite history	No
Travel history during incubation period	Nil
Medical attendance	Attended Out-patient clinic at Tseung Kwan O Hospital on August 21.
Condition	Stable
Condition of home contact(s)	Asymptomatic
Dengue virus laboratory result	Positive

     “We are working closely with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) to assess and prevent possible spread of infection. The FEHD’s vector investigations, surveillance and control are ongoing. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     “The CHP, together with the FEHD, will conduct a health talk at 1/F of Cheung Chau Municipal Services Building at 11am tomorrow (August 23) and another health talk at Chuk Yuen Estate Community Centre at 8pm this Friday (August 24) to deliver health advice. The CHP has also provided information and details of geographical distribution on the local DF cases on the CHP’s designated webpage for DF to facilitate handy access of information for the public,” the spokesman said.
 
     The CHP appeals to members of the public not to visit Lion Rock Park during the closure period in order to prevent contracting DF. Scientific studies have shown that infected persons can transmit the virus to mosquitoes through mosquito bites even if they remain asymptomatic or before their onset of symptoms, leading to further spread of the disease. Hence, people who had visited Lion Rock Park are advised to apply insect repellent for 14 days upon their last visit, and those with DF symptoms should seek medical advice as early as possible.
 
     Persons who have been to the vicinity of Wong Tai Sin (particularly Lion Rock Park), Kwai Shing West Estate, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Cheung Chau (Hillside Road, Tsan Tuen Road and Fa Peng Road), Highland Park, Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground, Wing Yiu Street, Tak Long Estate, Portland Street, Shanghai Street, Greenfield Garden and Jade Villa with DF symptoms should call the CHP’s hotline (2125 1122) for laboratory investigation or referral as appropriate. The hotline operates from 9am to 5.45pm daily.

     “We have informed the Guangdong and Macao health authorities to alert them to the latest situation,” the spokesman added.

     This is the 19th local case recorded this year. Excluding the local cases, as of noon today, 61 imported cases had been recorded in 2018. The cases were mainly imported from Thailand (26), the Philippines (12) and Cambodia (7).

     In the rainy season, 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 light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days (DF) or at least 21 days (Zika Virus Infection) 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 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the DF pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the FEHD’s Guidebook on Control and Prevention of Mosquito Breeding for more information. read more

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Sham Shui Po District this afternoon (August 22). He toured a community service organisation and a creative arts centre in the district, and also met with members of the Sham Shui Po District Council (SSPDC).
 
     Mr Nip first paid a visit to a community service organisation dedicated to helping the underprivileged. He met with some new arrivals to learn about their life and needs after coming to live in Hong Kong, and outlined the Government’s services and assistance rendered to them to facilitate their integration into society.
 
     Mr Nip then visited the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, where he toured two studios specialising in fabric flower creation and photography. Meeting the studio artists, Mr Nip listened to them speak on their creative careers in Hong Kong and on their experiences in organising different kinds of creative arts activities. They also exchanged views on promoting creativity at the community level. The centre supports over 140 artists and art organisations through providing venues for creative work and performances. It also organises a wide array of activities, such as interest classes, exhibitions and performances, to nurture creative talents and promote arts and culture in the community.
 
     Mr Nip said he was impressed by the artists’ passion towards art creation and encouraged them to continue unleashing their creativity. “Hong Kong is Asia’s world city and embraces both Eastern and Western cultures. This provides the fertile soil for the development of our cultural and creative industries. The Government has all along been generous in devoting resources for supporting the growth of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries. With the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, creative talents in Hong Kong will surely have bigger room to fulfil their potential,” he said.
 
     Mr Nip also met with the Chairman of the SSPDC, Mr Ambrose Cheung, and members of the SSPDC to exchange views on district and community affairs.

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     The Labour Department (LD) today (August 22) reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for staff in times of rainstorms as soon as possible.
 
     “To avoid disputes and confusion, employers should make prior work arrangements for staff and contingency measures in times of rainstorms,” an LD spokesman said.
 
     “In working out and enforcing the arrangements, employers should give prime consideration to employees’ safety both in the workplace and during their journeys to and from work, and adopt a flexible approach. Whenever possible, they should consult their staff.”
 
     The work arrangements should cover the following matters:
 
* Whether employees are required to report for duty when different rainstorm warnings are issued;
* After a rainstorm warning is cancelled, the time for staff who have not reported for duty to resume work and the arrangements;
* How wages and allowances (if any) will be calculated for staff who are required to report for duty and those who are late for work or absent from work during rainstorms; and
* For employees who are required to travel to and from workplaces during rainstorms, whether transport facilities will be provided to them and, if so, the arrangements.
 
     “Employers should make realistic assessments of the requirements for essential staff and require only absolutely essential staff to report for duty in adverse weather conditions. If an Amber, Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is issued during working hours, employees working indoors should remain on duty as usual and stay where they are unless it is dangerous to do so. Supervisors of employees working outdoors in exposed areas should suspend outdoor duties as soon as practicable. They should arrange for their employees to take shelter temporarily and resume duty when weather conditions permit. When the Black Rainstorm Warning is issued, those employees should not resume duty until the warning is lowered and weather conditions permit. If the Black Rainstorm Warning remains in force at the end of working hours, for safety reasons, employers should provide employees with an area in the workplace as temporary shelter for them to stay if they want to.
 
     “If possible, employers should provide transport services for employees who are still required to travel to and from workplaces when the Black Rainstorm Warning is in force, or give them a special travelling allowance as encouragement.
 
     “For staff who have practical difficulties in resuming work promptly upon cancellation of a rainstorm warning, employers should give due consideration to the circumstances of individual employees and handle each case flexibly.
 
     “As rainstorms are natural occurrences that cannot be avoided, employers should not deduct wages of employees who are absent from or late for work because of inclement weather. Neither should employers dismiss an employee summarily based on these grounds,” he said.
 
     The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance.
 
     Employers should not deduct the annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days employees are entitled to under the Employment Ordinance so as to compensate for the loss of working hours resulting from employees’ failure to report for duty upon the announcement of a Black Rainstorm Warning. An employer who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with relevant provisions under the Employment Ordinance is liable to prosecution.
 
     Employers should also note that they have an obligation to maintain a safe workplace for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.
 
     “If employees are required to work in times of rainstorms, employers should ensure that the risks at work are properly controlled and reduced to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable,” the spokesman said.
 
     Under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for deaths or injuries incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residences to workplaces, or from workplaces back to residences after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is in force.
 
     To provide practical guidelines and samples of work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees, the LD has issued the booklet “Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms”. The code can be obtained from the branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department’s webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf). read more