The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, visited the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) today (May 28) to understand the operation of the department and public services it provides.
 
     Accompanied by the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation, Mr Choi Lap-yiu, Mr Hui toured the Enquiry Counter, Computer Division and Rating Division to chat with frontline staff to know more about their work. He was also briefed on the Property Information Online system and other computer systems.
 
     Mr Hui said, “In the face of the economic downturn and rising unemployment rate, the Government has put in place a wide range of measures to support enterprises, safeguard jobs and relieve people’s burden. Among them, the rates concessions have taken effect, which can certainly help ease the burden of domestic households and provide financial relief to businesses.”
 
     The Financial Secretary announced an one-off rates concessions that benefit about 3.35 million properties in the 2020-21 Budget .
 
     Each domestic tenement is entitled up to $1,500 concession per quarter for four quarters while the ceiling for non-domestic tenements is $5,000 per tenement per quarter for the first and second quarters, and $1,500 per tenement per quarter for the third and fourth quarters. 
 
     During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 60% of the bills for rates and government rent were settled by electronic means. Mr Hui was pleased to note that the department’s services were well received by the public and he appealed to the colleagues to keep up their good work for implementation of more services for public convenience.

        

    The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 28) provided an update on its investigation into the suspected food poisoning cases involving sandwiches announced since May 21, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.
      
     The CHP has today identified seven more clusters of suspected food poisoning related to those sandwiches. Epidemiological investigations show that all of the additional clusters purchased the sandwiches concerned before investigation and preventive and control measures instituted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the CHP has alerted the FEHD to the additional clusters. The newly reported clusters involved four males and 10 females aged 8 to 49. They developed gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about five to 50 hours after consuming the sandwiches. Among them, 11 sought medical consultation and one required hospitalisation. 
 
     As of 4pm today, the CHP has identified a total of 96 clusters of suspected food poisonings affecting 229 persons. Among them, stool specimens of 12 affected persons and one food remnant sample tested positive for Group D Salmonella.

     All affected persons are now in stable condition. Investigations are proceeding.
     
    "Prolonged storage of food at room temperature may allow pathogens to grow and produce toxins. Members of the public should avoid consuming cooked or ready-to-eat food that has been kept at room temperature for several hours," the spokesman said.

    To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.  

     A man who went missing in Mong Kok has been located.

     Wu Wai-man, aged 36, went missing after he left his residence on Kwong Wa Street on May 25 noon. His family made a report to Police on May 26.

     The man returned to his residence this morning (May 28). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee (FC) originally scheduled for 8.45am and 3pm tomorrow (May 29) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex will be held at 9am and 3.45pm respectively.
 
     Meanwhile, the meeting of the LegCo Bills Committee on Franchised Taxi Services Bill originally scheduled for 10.45am tomorrow has been rescheduled.
 

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

     Following is the remarks by the President of the Legislative Council (LegCo), Mr Andrew Leung, on the passage of the Decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security by the National People's Congress (NPC) at the LegCo Complex today (May 28):

     The NPC adopted a Decision today to authorise the NPC Standing Committee to formulate relevant laws on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security.

     I am supportive of the NPC's Decision to safeguard national security and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, in the light of Hong Kong's current specific situation.

     The relevant laws target those acts of secession, subverting state power, organising and carrying out terrorist activities, as well as activities of foreign and external forces to interfere in the affairs of the HKSAR.

     I am glad to see the explanations by both the Central Government and the HKSAR Government that the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong remains unchanged.  The rights and freedom enjoyed by Hong Kong people and international investors in accordance with the law, including freedom of procession, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of publication and of the press, and our daily life will not be affected.

     I believe the Decision will benefit Hong Kong's economic development, better safeguard people's livelihood and properties, and ensure the well-being of the community.  I hope the Executive Authorities will work hard in explaining the relevant issues to address the concerns of Hong Kong citizens and the international community.  We should also keep an open mind and adopt a pragmatic attitude towards this legislative work.