The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (July 24) said that a contractor's construction worker working at the department's Tuen Mun Water Treatment Works has tested positive for COVID-19. There is no effect on drinking water safety. 

     The contractor's worker last went to work yesterday (July 23). He was notified last night that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and has been admitted to hospital for treatment under isolation. He is now in stable condition. 

     The contractor's worker wore a surgical mask at work. He underwent temperature screening at work and his body temperature was normal. The WSD immediately arranged thorough cleaning and disinfection of Tuen Mun Water Treatment Works. The department will maintain close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection. Staff have been reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell. 

     In view of the latest epidemic developments, the deadline for application for the LawTech Fund (the Fund), established by the Government under the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, will be extended for six weeks to September 6 to allow more time for eligible law firms and chambers to prepare for the applications.

     The Fund has been open for applications since April and aims to assist some small and medium-size law firms and barristers' chambers in procuring and upgrading information technology systems and arranging for their staff to attend lawtech training courses. Law firms or chambers which have five or fewer practising lawyers as at April 8, 2020 (the date of announcing the establishment of the Fund), and at the time of granting the subsidy, will be eligible for reimbursement for an amount of up to $50,000. Around 400 applications have been received so far.

     The Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association have established a Joint Committee to process and assess the applications for the Fund, as well as to arrange the disbursement of the funding. The application form and the guidance notes are available at the homepages of the Law Society of Hong Kong (www.hklawsoc.org.hk) and the Hong Kong Bar Association (www.hkba.org/covid-19/lawtech-fund).

     The Government encourages around 700 eligible law firms and chambers in Hong Kong to fully utilise the subsidy under the Fund to enhance their technological capabilities, so as to keep up with the Judiciary's development in remote hearings and make good use of technology to provide legal services to clients amidst social distancing measures.

     The Government today (July 24) announced the re-appointment of Dr Lam Ching-choi as the Chairman and Dr Vivian Lou Wei-qun as a member of the Elderly Commission. The appointments will take effect from July 30, 2020, for a term of two years.
 
     Dr Lam is the Chief Executive Officer of Haven of Hope Christian Service and a Non-official Member of the Executive Council. He has been the Chairman of the Elderly Commission since 2016. Dr Lam is dedicated to enhancing elderly welfare and has been actively involved in improving long-term care services for elderly persons.
 
     Dr Lou is the Director of Sau Po Centre on Ageing at the University of Hong Kong. She is currently a member of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund Committee.
 
     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, welcomed the above appointments. He said, "Dr Lam and Dr Lou are both well experienced in elderly services. I look forward to working closely with them on the promotion of the well-being of elderly persons in Hong Kong."
 
     The Elderly Commission was established in 1997. Its main task is to provide advice to the Government in the formulation of a comprehensive policy in caring for elderly persons.
 
     The membership list of the Elderly Commission with effect from July 30, 2020, is as follows:
 
Chairman
———–
Dr Lam Ching-choi
 
Non-official members
————————
Ms Maggie Chan Mei-kit
Ms Tammy Chan Yee-ching
Mr Cheung Leong
Mr Chua Hoi-wai
Ms Diana Chung Wai-yee
Professor Diana Lee Tze-fan
Ms Grace Li Fai
Ms Alexandra Lo Dak-wai
Dr Vivian Lou Wei-qun
Dr Pang Fei-chau
Mrs Susan So Chan Wai-hang
Dr Doris Tse Man-wah
Mr Wong Kit-loong
Mr Kenneth Wong Tai-lun
Dr Yeung Ka-ching
Miss Yu Chui-yee
 
Official members
——————-
Secretary for Food and Health or representative
Secretary for Labour and Welfare or representative
Secretary for Transport and Housing/Director of Housing or representative
Director of Health or representative
Director of Social Welfare or representative
Chief Executive, Hospital Authority or representative

The following is issued on behalf of the Town Planning Board:

     In line with the extension of special work arrangements for government employees in response to the latest situation of COVID-19, the Town Planning Board (TPB) announced today (July 24) that the Secretariat will maintain provision of essential services for the public until further notice.

     Members of the public can place their submissions made under the Town Planning Ordinance in the drop-in box located at the TPB Secretariat's reception counter on 15/F, North Point Government Offices, during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). Other counter services will continue to be temporarily suspended. Members of the public can make enquiries through the telephone hotline (2231 4810) or email (tpbpd@pland.gov.hk), and can visit the TPB's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb) for statutory planning information.

     Posting of site notices for planning applications will continue to be suspended.

     The meeting of the TPB originally scheduled for July 31 will be rescheduled.

     The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) today (July 24) released the Consultation Report on end-of-life care legislative proposals regarding advance directives and dying in place, which summarises the outcome of the consultation and maps out the way forward.  

     The FHB launched a three-month public consultation on September 6, 2019, and 607 written submissions have been received. The objective of the public consultation was to consult the public on the proposals to codify the current common law position in respect of an advance directive (AD) and to increase the safeguards attached to it; remove legislative impediments to implementation of advance directives by emergency rescue personnel; and amend the relevant provisions to facilitate dying in place in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs).

     A spokesman for the FHB said, "Most respondents reflected solid support for the Government's initial legislative proposals and expressed many constructive views."

     Having considered the views of the public and stakeholders, the Government proposes to refine the specifics of the original proposals, including: 

(a) the role expected of the medical practitioner witness, who should be satisfied that the person making the AD has been informed of the nature and effect of the AD and the consequences of refusing the relevant treatments, would be expressly spelt out;

(b) a second witness would be required for a verbal revocation of an AD reported by a family member or carer;

(c) a statutory prescribed Do-Not-Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation form would be used, instead of a non-statutory model form; and

(d) the proposed exemption to the reporting requirement under the Coroners Ordinance in respect of natural deaths in RCHEs in which the deceased was attended to by a medical practitioner within 14 days of death will only be applicable for persons who have been previously diagnosed as having a terminal illness.

     "We are taking steps to iron out details of the proposed legislative changes in collaboration with various government bureaux, departments and stakeholders, with a view to introducing the relevant bill to the Legislative Council in the next legislative term. In the meantime, we will also sustain our efforts on non-legislative initiatives to improve the quality of life of patients up to the last moments, and the well-being of their families even beyond the patients' departure," the spokesman added.

     The consultation report "End-of-life Care Legislative Proposals on Advance Directives and Dying in Place" can be downloaded from the FHB website (www.fhb.gov.hk/en/press_and_publications/consultation/190900_eolcare/index.html).