The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Civil Aid Service (CAS) Headquarters in Yau Ma Tei this afternoon (March 11) to thank members of the CAS for assisting in the setting up and management of the quarantine centres to protect people's health. She also visited a Chinese medicine clinic of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) in the same district to distribute face masks and other anti-epidemic supplies to members of the public including the elderly.
 
     Accompanied by the Commissioner of the CAS, Mr Lo Yan-lai, Mrs Lam visited the CAS Headquarters and met with about 50 CAS members who have participated in setting up and managing the quarantine centres. Mrs Lam said that with the increase in the number of people in quarantine centres, the workload of the CAS in managing the quarantine centres is also growing. She expressed her gratitude to the CAS members for their hard work to provide necessary support for people under quarantine, adding that CAS members have been standing steadfast at posts in the front-line of anti-epidemic work, fulfilling their pledge of "Provide Emergency Relief, Serve the Community" and making significant contributions to public health.
 
     The CAS is an auxiliary emergency force financed by the Government to augment the regular front-line emergency forces in the event of natural disasters and other emergencies as well as provide various community services. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the CAS has assisted in the setting up and management of the quarantine centres and has performed round-the-clock duties at the quarantine centres to assist in collecting, arranging and delivering meals and daily necessities for people under quarantine, and has conducted patrols in the quarantine centres to maintain order. Together with the support personnel at the headquarters, there are currently more than 280 CAS personnel on duty every day to support the three quarantine centres at Chun Yeung Estate, Heritage Lodge of the Jao Tsung-I Academy and Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village. Mrs Lam visited the quarantine centres at Heritage Lodge of the Jao Tsung-I Academy and Chun Yeung Estate earlier to encourage the CAS personnel.
 
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the TWGHs Board of Directors 2019-20, Dr Ken Tsoi, Mrs Lam visited Kwong Wah Hospital – The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Research and Services Centre. Extending her warmest regards to the elderly people and other members of the public in the centre, Mrs Lam distributed anti-epidemic kits with face masks to them. She thanked the TWGHs for its commitment to serving the community, providing the public with quality and affordable Chinese medicine services and promoting the modernisation and scientific advancement of Chinese medicine.
 
     The Chief Executive earlier decided to pass all face masks donated by the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and other organisations and persons to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) so that they can distribute them to underprivileged groups. The move is aimed at sharing the relatively scarce resources with the community to fight the disease together. The TWGHs is one of the NGOs assisting the Government to distribute the face masks.

          

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (March 11) acknowledged the Rule of Law Index 2020 released by the World Justice Project, in which Hong Kong maintains its ranking as No. 5 in the East Asia and Pacific region and No. 16 globally.

     In the "Absence of Corruption" category, Hong Kong improved one rank to eighth globally. The effort by Hong Kong in the anti-graft strategy combining law enforcement, corruption prevention and public education would have been futile without our strong adherence to the rule of law and a formidable system of checks and balances including an independent judiciary.

     Hong Kong also improved one rank in the global rankings of "Civil Justice" and "Criminal Justice", scoring well in "No corruption" and "Impartial and effective ADRs (alternative dispute resolutions)". Hong Kong is always considered a prime venue for international dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. We will continue to make best use of our experience and advantages in these areas to consolidate Hong Kong's position as a leading international deal-making and dispute resolution hub.

     Hong Kong moved up two ranks, standing at second regionally and globally in the "Order and Security" category. It is worth noting that the overall crime situation in Hong Kong had been on a downward trend for 12 consecutive years. Though the trend reversed in the second half of 2019, with violent protests, the Police are as determined as ever to maintain law and order in Hong Kong.

     We acknowledged that sentiments in the society might have affected the perceptions of the public and certain parts of the international community on the rule of law in Hong Kong. However, we have to reiterate that our solid foundation of rule of law remains intact and the fundamental rights are well protected by the Basic Law. The turmoil over the past few months has not affected Hong Kong's core competitiveness. Our fundamentals in the rule of law remains strong.

     To further enhance and strengthen the rule of law, the Department of Justice will launch a 10-year initiative "Vision 2030 for Rule of Law" which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals under the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular, Goal 16, which seeks to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all.

     The initiative will not only enhance and strengthen the rule of law in Hong Kong, but also promote the rule of law in the region and beyond, so as to enhance development of the rule of law internationally and safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity, stability and sustainable development.

     The rule of law is a core value of our community. The Government will remain steadfast to uphold the rule of law. We acknowledged that the Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project has clearly and once again reaffirmed Hong Kong's commitment to this core value.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) has established a policy to ensure blood safety. The BTS regularly reviews blood donation arrangements for prospective donors who return from areas with potential risks of infectious diseases. In response to the latest development of COVID-19, the spokesperson for the BTS today (March 11) announced the following precautionary measures to be implemented with immediate effect:
 

• Members of the public who have recently visited a place with active community transmissions of COVID-19 should be deferred from blood donations for 28 days from their date of departure.

     Currently, areas with active community transmissions include:
 

• Mainland China
• Korea
• Italy
• Iran
• France (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Grand Est)
• Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
• Spain (Madrid, La Rioja and País Vasco)
• Japan (Hokkaido)

 
     The list of places with active community transmissions is available from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) webpage, and will be updated from time to time:
www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/statistics_of_the_cases_novel_coronavirus_infection_en.pdf.
 
     Meanwhile, the measures stated below continue to remain in effect:

• Members of the public who have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 while that patient was symptomatic should be deferred from blood donation for 28 days; and
• Members of the public with confirmed COVID-19 should be deferred for 180 days after complete recovery.

 
     The above arrangements are made after careful assessments and a thorough consideration of associated risks of blood safety by the Hospital Authority (BTS) Expert Panel on Blood and Blood Products Safety. The Expert Panel shall remain vigilant and will work closely with relevant departments to monitor the latest developments, and to review in a timely manner related measures. Meanwhile, all blood donors are reminded that if they develop symptoms of fever, respiratory tract infection or pneumonia after a blood donation, they should seek medical advice and inform the healthcare staff of BTS as soon as possible at the following telephone numbers during office hours: 2710 1201, 2710 1243 and 2710 1298, or outside office hours at 2710 1210 or 2710 1234.

     In response to commentaries and concerns on the Government's support for students from grassroots families to facilitate e-learning, a Government spokesman today (March 11) said that great importance has been attached in this regard with the implementation of a range of ongoing initiatives.

     Among various initiatives, the Community Care Fund (CCF) has implemented an assistance programme on Provision of Subsidy to Needy Primary and Secondary Students for Purchasing Mobile Computer Devices to Facilitate the Practice of e-Learning from the 2018/19 school year for three years to relieve the financial burden on students from low-income families under the development of the Bring Your Own Device policy on campus. The spokesman stressed that every eligible child in these families can benefit from this CCF programme and there is no limit on the number of beneficiaries. In other words, "one computer per student" can be provided.

     In addition, the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency and the Social Welfare Department have been disbursing subsidies under the Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA) to eligible families since the 2010/11 school year. The rate of the SIA is adjusted regularly with reference to prevailing market fees of Internet access services. The current full rate at $1,500 per year should provide adequate support for students from grass-roots families to subscribe to basic Internet plans provided by operators of fixed or mobile telecoms services.

     Furthermore, the Government has all along been promoting tripartite collaboration among the community, the Government and the business sector to create beneficial synergy in society. The Government welcomes the Bandwidth Support for E-learning at Home Scheme launched by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, covering students living in subdivided units, old buildings and remote areas who may not have access to high-speed Internet services. More non-governmental organisations, charities or enterprises fulfilling their corporate social responsibility are encouraged to join hands to provide support to students from grassroots families on e-learning.

     A correctional officer stopped a 48-year-old male person in custody attempting suicide in Tong Fuk Correctional Institution today (March 11).

     At 1.51pm today, a correctional officer escorted the person in custody from the institution hospital to the garment workshop. On the walkway of the first floor, the person in custody suddenly dashed towards the railing and tried to climb over it. The correctional officer immediately stopped the act. However, the person in custody struggled vigorously, broke away from the officer and jumped over the railing. The person in custody sustained injuries to his feet but was found conscious. Medical staff immediately arrived at the scene to provide treatment and summoned the Government Flying Service to send the person in custody to a public hospital for further treatment. 

     On March 9, a correctional officer was aware that the person in custody was distressed by a family problem and thus referred him to the institution medical officer and clinical psychologist for follow-up and treatment at the institution hospital. At the juncture of the incident, the person in custody was being escorted from the institution hospital back to the garment workshop.

     A clinical psychologist of the department will follow up on the case.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in its custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, the improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first aid services."

     The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence in August 2019.