The Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, met with a delegation led by Vice Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) Dr Wang Zhiyong today (September 19) to have in-depth discussions and exchanges on promoting Chinese medicine (CM) development.
 
     Dr Lee said, "CM constitutes an integral part of the healthcare system of Hong Kong and also serves as a traditional strength of the city. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is committed to promoting the high-quality development of CM in Hong Kong on all fronts, and has been stepping up efforts and devoting more resources to fully press ahead with various tasks in recent years. Among them are driving the construction of the first Chinese Medicine Hospital (CMH) of Hong Kong and the permanent building of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute for commissioning in phases starting from the end of next year, increasing the quotas for government-subsidised CM outpatient services, expanding the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine services, launching a world-class Digital Herbarium for Chinese Medicines, taking forward scientific research and standard-setting for Chinese medicines testing, injecting additional funds into the Chinese Medicine Development Fund, commencing the formulation of the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint (Blueprint), and boosting the establishment of CM talent pool.

     "The HKSAR Government expresses sincere gratitude to the NATCM for its unwavering support for the development of CM in Hong Kong. Since November last year, the NATCM has been collaborating with the Health Bureau (HHB) in rolling out the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Talent Training Programme, in which two short-term and one medium term training programmes were held in Beijing to date, providing advanced clinical training to nearly 90 Hong Kong Chinese medicine practitioners and Chinese medicines professionals with a view to accelerating the nurturing of Hong Kong's CM talent pool for meeting the future development needs of the CMH and the entire CM sector of Hong Kong." 

     The HKSAR Government is currently collaborating with the CM sector to formulate the Blueprint expected for release next year to map out the vision and strategies for the future development of CM in Hong Kong. The Blueprint involves different stakeholders within and outside the CM sector and covers a number of major areas, including service development, talent training, professional development, industry development, scientific research and innovation, public education as well as cultural inheritance. 

     Dr Lee said, "The HHB attaches great importance to the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization as adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and will strenuously work in line with the objective of deepening medical and healthcare reform as stipulated in the Resolution by pursuing innovation in the healthcare realm, and giving full play to the characteristics of CM in Hong Kong and the city's strengths in areas such as service delivery, standard-setting, international connectivity and clinical research in a bid to play a more active role in the construction of CM highlands in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and better integrate into the overall development of the country, thereby making contributions to the high-quality development of traditional medicine of our nation."

     The NATCM delegation arrived in Hong Kong this morning for a four-day visit. During their visit to Hong Kong, the delegation will participate in the Launch Ceremony of the Clinical Guideline of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Smoking Cessation as well as the National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources (Hong Kong Region) Activity Day organised by the Department of Health. In addition, the delegation will attend the 75th National Day Chinese Medicine Expo Carnival organised by the Federation of the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Chinese Medicines Traders Association with sponsorship from the HHB. The Carnival will be held at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill on September 21 and 22, featuring an array of activities for public participation, including the exhibition of Chinese herbal medicines, health maintenance seminars and free CM consultation sessions. 

     The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; the Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office of the HHB, Dr Cheung Wai-lun; the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan; the Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development of the HHB, Dr Vincent Chung; the Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Dr Edmund Fong; the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Tony Ko; the Director (Strategy and Planning) of the HA, Dr Ching Wai-kuen; and the Chief Manager (Chinese Medicine) of the HA, Ms Rowena Wong, also attended the meeting.

    

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 to a press release issued by Public Finance Limited relating to a fraudulent website and a social media account, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or social media account concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in August slightly rose by 62 cases, remaining more or less the same as that of July, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (September 19).

     The total CSSA caseload at the end of August stood at 197 771 (see attached table), with a total of 268 758 recipients.
 
     Analysed by case nature, single parent cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 0.7 per cent to 19 836 cases. Permanent disability cases decreased by 0.3 per cent to 16 998 cases. Unemployment cases declined by 0.1 per cent to 16 571 cases.

     Ill-health cases registered an increase of 0.5 per cent to 28 050 cases. Old age cases increased by 0.1 per cent to 110 899 cases. Low-earnings cases remained unchanged at 1 467 cases.

     The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (September 19).

     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
———————

Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:
————————–

Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     According to the latest labour force statistics (i.e. provisional figures for June – August 2024) released today (September 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.0% in June – August 2024, same as that in May – July 2024. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.2% in the two periods.
 
     Comparing June – August 2024 with May – July 2024, movements in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) and underemployment rate in different industry sectors varied, but the magnitudes were generally not large.
 
     Total employment in June – August 2024 was 3 708 500, about the same as that in May – July 2024 (3 708 600). Over the same period, the labour force increased by around 4 400 from 3 826 400 to 3 830 800.
 
     The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) increased by around 4 500 from 117 800 in May – July 2024 to 122 300 in June – August 2024. The number of underemployed persons in June – August 2024 was 47 500, the same as that in May – July 2024.
       
Commentary
 
     Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said, "The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.0% in June – August 2024, same as May – July 2024. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.2%. The labour force increased further by 4 400 to 3 830 800. Total employment stayed largely steady at 3 708 500. The number of unemployed persons increased slightly by 4 500 to 122 300."
 
     The unemployment rates of various sectors showed diverse movements in June – August 2024 compared with the preceding three-month period. The unemployment rate of the retail sector stayed unchanged at 4.3%. The unemployment rate of the accommodation services sector went up by 0.4 percentage point to 3.5%, and that of the food and beverage service activities sector edged up by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1%. The unemployment rates of some other sectors also increased, notably the decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings sector and the information and communications sector. On the other hand, the unemployment rates of some sectors declined, notably the insurance sector, the import/export trade and wholesale sector and the transportation sector.
 
     Looking ahead, Mr Sun said, "The overall labour market should remain tight in the near term alongside the continued economic growth, though the employment situation in some sectors may be under pressure as their businesses continue to face challenges."
 
     In June – August 2024, the Labour Department (LD) recorded a monthly average of 68 209 vacancies from the private sector, representing a year-on-year decrease of 35.2% and a decrease of 4.9% over the average figure in May – July 2024.
 
        On large-scale job fairs, the LD will organise the Job Fair for Residential Care Home Service Industry at the MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok on September 26 and 27, 2024. About 30 employers will participate, offering a large number of vacancies. Job seekers may also make use of the LD's online platforms, such as the Interactive Employment Service website, for obtaining more information on available vacancies.
 
Further information
 
     The unemployment and underemployment statistics were compiled from the findings of the continuous General Household Survey.
 
     In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organization. The employed population covers all employers, self-employed persons, employees (including full-time, part-time, casual workers, etc.) and unpaid family workers. Unemployed persons by industry (or occupation) are classified according to their previous industry (or occupation).
 
     The survey for June – August 2024 covered a sample of some 26 000 households or 68 000 persons, selected in accordance with a scientifically designed sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong. Labour force statistics compiled from this sample represented the situation in the moving three-month period of June to August 2024.
 
     Data on labour force characteristics were obtained from the survey by interviewing each member aged 15 or over in the sampled households.
 
     Statistical tables on the latest labour force statistics can be downloaded at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode200.html). More detailed analysis of the labour force characteristics is given in the "Quarterly Report on General Household Survey" which is published four times a year. The latest issue of the report contains statistics for the quarter April – June 2024 while the next issue covering the quarter July – September 2024 will be available by end November 2024. Users can also browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050001&scode=200).
 
     For enquiries about labour force statistics, please contact the General Household Survey Section (3) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5508 or email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk).