The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     The Government expressed utmost regret over the extremely disorderly and uncontrollable condition resulting in bodily injuries caused by serious disruptions in Bills Committee meeting procedures in the Legislative Council (LegCo) during the meeting on the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 which the Hon Abraham Shek convened with the authorisation of the LegCo House Committee this morning (May 11). The Government calls on LegCo members to resume rational discussions and peaceful exchanges with a view to fulfilling their responsibilities.

     The spokesman said, "The LegCo forms an important part of the political system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and has the constitutional responsibilities for, among others, enacting, amending or repealing laws in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and legal procedures."

     "LegCo has failed after so many meetings to elect a Chairman for the Bills Committee on the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019, ever since it decided to set up a Bills Committee. This has even led to the above unpleasant event today which is unprecedented in LegCo's history. The Government expresses deep regret over this. We are also gravely concerned that if this situation continued, it would have an adverse impact on the scrutiny of the Bill in LegCo."

     The spokesman said, "We sincerely wish that LegCo members could resume rational discussion with mutual respect for each other so as to enable LegCo to restore its normal operation and scrutinise legislative proposals in a pragmatic manner."

     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health said today (May 11) that no additional case of measles infection had been recorded as at 4pm today.

     Regarding measles control measures implemented at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), a total of three persons had received measles vaccination at the airport vaccination station as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8 396.

     From May 14 to 17, measles vaccination will be provided to airport staff who:

(1) Were born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before; or
(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).

     The vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 600 doses daily. The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:
 

     The Department of Health (DH) and the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (the HKCFP) today (May 11) jointly held a symposium to celebrate World Family Doctor Day 2019 and to discuss the role of family doctors in providing lifelong care and primary care in Hong Kong. 

     World Family Doctor Day has been celebrated on May 19 every year since 2010 by the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) to give recognition to the role and contribution of family doctors in healthcare systems around the world. The theme this year is "Family doctors – caring for you for the whole of your life", highlighting the crucial role of family doctors in providing lifelong care to patients from cradle to grave. 

     In her opening remarks at the symposium, the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, said, "Family doctors are the key to well-delivered primary care, which is the foundation of a sustainable healthcare system. This is particularly true and important when our society is facing the challenges brought about by our ageing population and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)."

     "One of the major initiatives in 'Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control NCDs in Hong Kong' published last year is strengthening the health system at all levels, in particular comprehensive primary care for prevention, early detection and management of NCDs based on the family doctor model. By building up the capacity of family doctors in Hong Kong, we are definitely taking the right steps towards achieving the 2025 targets," Dr Chan said. 

     The President of the HKCFP, Dr David Chao, also highlighted in his opening remarks that family doctors have a key role in the management and care of patients in various stages in life, as well as a central role in the delivery of personal, comprehensive and continuing healthcare. 

     The speakers at the symposium today shared their insights on various perspectives in the development of primary care in Hong Kong. In a keynote address, the President of WONCA, Dr Donald Li, made a statement regarding the role of family doctors. He said, "We can make, and it's our duty to make, a huge humanitarian contribution and difference to the local and global community, because we are uniquely at the frontline of continuous and lifelong patient-facing health services."

     The Deputy Head of the Primary Healthcare Office under the Food and Health Bureau, Dr Wanmie Leung, spoke with participants on the latest progress in the setting up of district health centres, which aims to raise public awareness on personal health management, enhance disease prevention and strengthen medical and rehabilitation services in the community through district-based medical-social collaboration and public-private partnership. The Convenor of the Advisory Group on Hong Kong Reference Framework for Care of Diabetes and Hypertension in Primary Care Settings, Professor Martin Wong, updated participants on the latest scientific evidence and best practices on hypertension in primary care settings.

     To assist the public to search for primary care providers, the DH in 2011 set up the Primary Care Directory (www.pcdirectory.gov.hk) under which sub-directories of family doctors, dentists and Chinese medicine practitioners are currently available. For more information on the concept of family doctor and primary care, please visit the website of the Primary Care Office of the DH (www.pco.gov.hk).

      

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 11) that Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 8.10pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.