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Author Archives: hksar gov

DH Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities (Licensing Division) staff member preliminarily tests positive for COVID-19

     The Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 12) that a staff member of the DH’s Licensing Division of the Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities (ORPHF) has tested preliminarily positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In consideration of public health and hygiene, the offices at Room 1008, 10/F, Guardian House, Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai and at Room 402, 4/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, where the staff member had stayed, were closed immediately for a thorough cleaning and disinfection until further notice.
 
     The staff member concerned is a nurse who is responsible for processing licence applications for private healthcare facilities. She was notified of the preliminary positive result yesterday (August 11) evening by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH.  
 
     The staff member concerned had no recent travel history and had worked yesterday. Her body temperature was normal during temperature screening before commencing duty. She wore a mask and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. In the past 14 days of her duty, she mainly performed duties in the office and made no contact with members of the public at work and did not take part in the inspections of private healthcare facilities.
 
     The CHP’s epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing are ongoing to identify and trace close contacts of the staff member. So far, one staff member has been listed as a close contact and would be arranged to be quarantined. The CHP has also arranged COVID-19 testing for other colleagues working with the staff member concerned in the offices.
 
     During the closure of the offices of the ORPHF’s Licensing Division, members of the public may submit licence applications via the e-Licensing system at www.orphf.gov.hk and by mail. For enquiries, urgent document submissions or other services, please contact the ORPHF’s Licensing Division through the following means:
 
Phone: 3107 8451
Fax: 2117 0436
E-mail: orphf@dh.gov.hk
 
     The DH is highly concerned about the COVID-19 situation and has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures during the epidemic, which include providing employees with masks and other protective equipment, and stepping up the cleaning and sanitising measures of the working environment. The DH has reminded all staff again to maintain personal hygiene and be vigilant at all times. read more

East Asia

Implementation of agreement on surrender of fugitive offenders between HKSAR and Germany suspended and commencement of agreement on surrender of fugitive offenders between HKSAR and France shelved

     In accordance with the instruction of the Central People’s Government (CPG), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has issued notices to the German Consulate General Hong Kong and the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau respectively today (August 12) to suspend the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the HKSAR of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (SFO) and to shelve the Agreement between the Government of the HKSAR of the PRC and the Government of the French Republic Concerning Surrender of Accused or Convicted Persons which is pending entry into force.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “It is an international practice to safeguard national security through enactment of laws. Germany and France have put in place relevant legislation, but have suspended the implementation of the SFO agreement with the HKSAR and halted the ratification of the relevant agreement with the HKSAR respectively on a unilateral basis, citing the enactment of the Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR among the excuses. Such moves are open interference in China’s internal affairs and a violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The HKSAR Government firmly objects to the moves of Germany and France. The two countries have politicised juridical co-operation, thereby damaging the basis of juridical co-operation between the HKSAR and Germany and France. For this reason, in accordance with the instruction of the CPG, the HKSAR Government has suspended the implementation of the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and Germany and shelved the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and France.”
 
     The HKSAR signed the SFO agreement with Germany in May 2006, and that with France in May 2017. The SFO agreement between the HKSAR and Germany entered into force in April 2009, while the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and France has not yet entered into force. read more

East Asia