Author Archives: hksar gov

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) House Committee will hold a special meeting this Friday (August 28) at 2.30pm in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will discuss the update on the Government’s overall efforts and the relevant measures to combat COVID-19. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, August 24, 2020 is 105.6 (down 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).

     â€‹The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, August 22, 2020 was 105.7 (up 0.3 against last Friday’s index). read more

     WSS Engineering Systems Limited and United Construction & Manpower Service Limited were each fined $30,000 at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (August 24) for violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
 
     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on March 29, 2017, at a construction site of the Hong Kong Link Road of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project. A temporary working platform erected underneath a bridge under construction on the site was suspended by a lifting system erected on the bridge deck of the bridge. While three workers were dismantling the working platform, a lifting beam of the lifting system suddenly collapsed and two slings suspending the platform snapped. The platform plunged into the sea together with the three workers. At the same time, the collapsed lifting beam hit two other workers on the bridge deck. As a result, two workers died and the other three sustained injuries. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 24) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.
 
     From August 16 to 22, two community-acquired LD cases were reported:
 

1. A male patient, aged 86 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Fu Men Mansion, Kowloon City; and
2. A male patient, aged 59 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Tower 6, Phase 2, Metro Town, Sai Kung.

 
     “Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     As of August 22 this year, 74 LD cases had been reported. In 2019 and 2018, there were 105 cases each year.
 
     “Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection including poor maintenance of water systems leading to stagnant water; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels,” the spokesman said.
 
     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus which support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
 
     Immunocompromised persons should:
 
• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers’ instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

     The public should observe the health advice below:
 
• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors’ professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     
     The public may visit the CHP’s LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP’s risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.

  read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name https://trustfundalliance.com. The website is operated by an alleged Trust Fund Alliance Hong Kong.
 
     The public should be aware that Trust Fund Alliance Hong Kong is not authorised by the Monetary Authority (MA) under the Banking Ordinance to carry on banking business or the business of taking deposits in Hong Kong, nor does it have the MA’s approval to establish a local representative office.
 
     The HKMA has referred the case to the Hong Kong Police Force for further investigation. Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact any local Police Station or the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 
     Given the global nature of the Internet, members of the public are reminded to verify the status of any organisation making use of the Internet to solicit deposits from the public. A list of authorised institutions is available on the HKMA’s website (www.hkma.gov.hk). Members of the public may also check the status of any entity in Hong Kong which solicits deposits from the public with the HKMA by emailing its public enquiry service (publicenquiry@hkma.gov.hk). read more