Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at a media session about the Kai Tak Sports Park grand opening ceremony and arrangements for purchasing tickets to the ceremony today (February 20):
 
Reporter: Would the Government do real-name registration to counter ticket scalping? For people from overseas, how could they tune in to the ceremony? Will there be live signal on Youtube, or any other kind of platforms?
 
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism: For overseas viewers, they can also view through the apps or through the channels of our different free TV channels, through their apps, through the arrangements. They can watch it together with Hong Kong audience at 9.30pm at home in their countries or in their areas. There is no problem.
 
     For scalping, first of all, we are selling the tickets through URBTIX. We have, of course, a series of different arrangements to ensure that fair arrangements for ticketing will be introduced and implemented. Secondly, it is also important to remind everybody that scalping is actually illegal in respect of shows staged in Kai Tak Sports Park. I invite and I urge all viewers and supporters of the event to get their tickets through the normal channel, through the proper official channel. And if you fail to do so, it doesn’t really matter because we have arranged free TV broadcast that particular night at 9.30pm, so there is no need really for any scalping, or to support these ticketing arrangements.
 
Reporter: What considerations have been made regarding the Government’s deficit for the budget of the ceremony? Second question is, in terms of tickets, where would the proceeds go to?
 
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism: Without excluding costs, all the proceeds will go to the Community Chest of Hong Kong for charitable use. For the budget, of course, given the size of the Main Stadium of Kai Tak Sports Park and given also the involvement of quite a number of crews, staff members, given the involvement of a series of different settings, and also multi-visual and multimedia channels, we of course have included or reserved sufficient production budget for the event.
      
     But we will also be very mindful of ensuring that we will do it very, very efficiently and effectively. And I have to give special thanks to all the participating artists, actors and performers. Most of them actually do not require us to provide special remuneration aside from the minimum (cost), for example, the make-up or hair-do, the minimum for the performance. We are really, truly grateful for their participation, for their support and for their generosity.
      
     Let me assure everybody that we will be very, very careful to make sure that the opening ceremony would be staged with a reasonable budget. The cost is capped to a minimum, but still (the event is) spectacular and enjoyable. 
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) read more

     The Lands Department (LandsD) today (February 20) posted resumption notices and acquisition notices in accordance with relevant ordinances to resume about 56 hectares of private land and acquire about 14.54 square metres o… read more

     Police today (February 20) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Ma On Shan.      Lee Man-keung, aged 24, went missing after he left his residence in Yiu On Estate on Februar… read more

     The Department of Health (DH) said today (February 20) that it is investigating and following up on an incident in which pneumococcal vaccine was mistakenly administered to two children who were originally scheduled to receive hepatitis B vaccine at the Tin Shui Wai Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC). The DH has explained and apologised to the parents of the affected children. So far, there has been no adverse reaction in the affected children, and pediatricians have assessed that the incident would not pose a health risk to the children concerned.
      
     In accordance with the regular monitoring mechanism, the Tin Shui Wai MCHC reviewed the vaccination records after the end of the service session on February 17 and found that the number of vaccines administered during the session between 4pm and 5.30pm on that day did not correspond to the number of vaccines that should have been administered. Thus, the incident was discovered.
      
     Seven children should have received the hepatitis B vaccine during the said period. Upon review of the number of vaccines administered, it was found that there were two doses of hepatitis B vaccine left unused and two extra doses of 15-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV15) were used. After double-checking with the vaccine stock, it was found that two children had been incorrectly immunised with PCV15 during that period.
      
     A preliminary investigation revealed that the children vaccinated during that period were between 1 month and 7 months old. Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP), children receive the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, followed by the second and third doses at 1 month and 6 months of age respectively; for PCV15, the first two doses should be administered at 2 months and 4 months of age, and a booster dose should be given at 12 months of age.
      
     The DH’s healthcare staff have contacted the parents of the seven children to apologise and explain the follow-up actions that the DH would take. Arrangements have also been made for paediatricians to conduct detailed examinations of the children as soon as possible, to provide them with an additional dose of hepatitis B vaccine at an appropriate time, and to complete three doses of PCV15 vaccinations in accordance with the HKCIP.
      
     The healthcare staff of the DH have consulted pediatricians and made reference to relevant information. After careful assessment, it was believed that the incident would not pose a health risk to the children concerned.
      
     The investigation is ongoing. A preliminary investigation indicated that the incident was caused by human error. The DH has instructed all MCHCs to strengthen the training of frontline staff to ensure that they strictly follow the internal guidelines on checking vaccine and patient information before administering vaccines, and verifying the information with the person accompanying the child for vaccination to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.
      
     The DH would like to reiterate its sincere apology to those affected. The nursing staff involved in the incident have been suspended from vaccination duties. If it is confirmed that any staff involved has committed misconduct, the case will be dealt with in accordance with the established procedures. Subject to the outcome of further investigation, the DH will not rule out the possibility of referring the case to the Nursing Council of Hong Kong for appropriate follow-up action. read more

     The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, visited Guangzhou today (February 20) and met with local government officials to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

     Upon arrival, Ms Chan met with the Director of the Department of Transport of Guangdong Province, Mr Lin Feiming, and Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department Mr Guo Xiangyang respectively, as well as representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission. They exchanged views on various matters, including the operation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and promoting and driving the flow of people and goods between Hong Kong and Guangdong. She also visited local transportation facilities to learn about their operations.

     Ms Chan said, “Hong Kong has always been maintaining close ties with Guangdong Province, and strives to pursue innovation in cross-boundary transport policies and promote the development of a ‘one-hour living circle’ in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the scheme) launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in July 2023 has been well received by its citizens. As at mid-February this year, around 80 000 Hong Kong private cars have obtained valid permits for travelling to Guangdong, which means one in every six eligible private cars has joined the scheme.”

     Ms Chan expressed her gratitude for the ongoing and strong support from various units of Guangdong Province to the continuous enhancements of the scheme, providing citizens with a better and more convenient travel experience. The HKSAR Government will continue to explore with different units of the Mainland the implementation arrangements for allowing Guangdong private cars to travel to Hong Kong. The details are expected to be announced in due course.

     Ms Chan concluded her duty visit and returned to Hong Kong tonight.