Tag Archives: China

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     To dovetail with the Government’s initiative to develop Chinese Medicine (CM) in Hong Kong, the 18 Chinese Medicine Centres for Training and Research operated under tripartite collaboration model involving the Hospital Authority (HA), non-governmental organisations and local universities will provide new Government subsidised chinese medicine services starting from March 2 (Monday). The CMCTRs will also be renamed as Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centre (CM Clinics).

     Under the new service model, CM Clinics will provide quota-based Government susidised services to eligible person. Provision of subsidised services will include general consultation, and also treatment-related acupuncture and bone setting/Tui-na.  $120 will be charged per item during each attendance.  Maximum number of doses of Chinese Medicine products prescribed will also be increased from two to five for general consultation patients based on clinical judgement.  Fees will be waived for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients and the Higher Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above.

     In addition to Government susidised services, CM Clinics will continue to provide their existing non-Government subsidised services for patients.
 
     “Chinese medicine has been incorporated into the healthcare system in Hong Kong, the new service model allowed eligible persons to have more choices in subsidised CM services. The CM Clinics will continue to provide training opportunities for Chinese Medicine practitioners and facilitate the development of scientific research for nurturing more Chinese medicine professionals,” the spokesperson added.

     Please contact the 18 CM Clinics (see attached table) for appointment booking and visit cmk.ha.org.hk/en/services/govtsubsidisedcmservices for more details.
 
Addresses and Telephone numbers of 18 CM Clinics
 

District	Address	Tel. No.
Hong Kong Island
Central & Western	G/F and 1/F, Yeo Wing, Tung Wah Hospital, Sheung Wan	2589 4700
Eastern	Lower 4/F, West Wing, Specialist Out-Patient Block, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan	3197 2000
Southern	2/F, 10 Aberdeen Reservoir Road	2580 8158
Wan Chai	2/F, Tang Shiu Kin Hospital Community Ambulatory Care Centre	3553 3238
Kowloon
Kowloon City	Unit 401-412, Po Man House, Oi Man Estate, Ho Man Tin	2193 7000
Yau Tsim Mong	9/F, Block R, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Jordan	2618 7200
Sham Shui Po	1/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices	2194 9911
Wong Tai Sin	G/F, Block C, Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital	2338 3103
Kwun Tong	4/F, Ngau Tau Kok Jockey Club Clinic	3583 4114
New Territories
Tai Po	G/F, Block J, Staff Centre, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital	2663 0004
Yuen Long	3/F, Yuen Long Madam Yung Fung Shee Health Centre	2478 5769
Tuen Mun	5/F, Yan Oi Polyclinic	2430 1309
North	7/F, Fanling Health Centre	2670 2130
Sha Tin	G/F, Shatin (Taiwai) Clinic	2479 2126
Sai Kung	6/F, Ambulatory Care Block, Tseung Kwan O Hospital	2701 1020
Tsuen Wan	4/F, Block C, Yan Chai Hospital	2416 0303
Kwai Tsing	G/F, Ha Kwai Chung Polyclinic & Special Education Services Centre	2370 2216
Islands	1/F, Tung Chung Health Centre	3188 5383

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     Following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s announcement today (February 28) on the Red Outbound Travel Alert issued on Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy which cover Bologna, Milan, Venice and Verona in response to the latest situations of COVID-19 and that the HKSAR Government alerted the public about the outbreak of COVID-19 cases and associated public health risk in Iran under the Red Outbound Travel Alert currently in force, the Department of Health (DH) will also strengthen health quarantine arrangements on inbound travellers arriving from these regions.
 
     Starting from 0.00am on March 1, the DH’s Port Health Division will issue quarantine orders under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) to people (regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents) arriving Hong Kong who have been to Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy or Veneto regions in Italy or Iran in the past 14 days and arrange them to stay in quarantine centre for quarantine.
 
     In view of the latest situations of COVID-19 overseas, the DH’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) will further update relevant reporting criteria to enhance surveillance of suspected cases. Medical practitioners are requested to report to the CHP any individual fulfilling the following for further investigation:

– Presented with fever or acute respiratory illness or pneumonia; and
– Either one of the following conditions within 14 days before onset of symptom:
1. With travel history to a place with active community transmission of COVID-19; or
2. Had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
 
     The CHP has issued letters to doctors and private hospitals to inform them of the updated reporting criteria.
 
     Meanwhile, the CHP reminded members of the public that the HKSAR Government draws up corresponding port health and quarantine measures in response to the health risk of individual countries/areas. Before travelling outside Hong Kong, members of the public should beware of the potential health risk and applicable quarantine arrangements upon returning to Hong Kong.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said that the Government will conduct a thorough risk assessment before formulating the port health measures in response to the occurrence of outbreak in other countries or areas. The assessment will take into account factors such as the number, distribution and rate of increase of infected persons, measures put in place for surveillance and control of the outbreak, and the frequency of visit by Hong Kong residents. The Government will review and adjust the measures in accordance with the development of the outbreak.
 
     Since the end of December last year, the accumulated number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the globe has kept on rising, with significant figures recorded in neighbouring countries and regions. As at 6pm today, the number of confirmed cases on the Mainland was 78 824, among which the number of cases recorded in Hubei Province was the highest with 65 914 cases. Countries frequently visited by Hong Kong people including Korea, Italy, Japan and Singapore recorded 2 337, 650, 210 (together with at least 705 cases related to the Diamond Princess cruise) and 93 cases. Iran has also recorded 245 cases.
 
     The CHP strongly urged travellers and members of the public to stay alert and maintain strict hand, personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times as well as to keep appropriate social distance both locally and during travel to protect themselves from infectious diseases.
 
     The public should also take heed of the health advice below when travelling outside Hong Kong:
 
• Avoid visiting hospitals. If it is necessary to visit a hospital, put on a surgical mask and observe strict personal and hand hygiene;
• Avoid touching animals (including game), poultry/birds or their droppings;
• Avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms;
• Avoid making close contact with patients, especially those with symptoms of acute respiratory infections;
• Do not consume game meat and do not patronise food premises where game meat is served;
• Adhere to food safety and hygiene rules such as avoiding consuming raw or undercooked animal products, including milk, eggs and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or contaminated products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled;
• If feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if experiencing a fever or cough, wear a surgical mask, inform the hotel staff or tour escort and seek medical advice at once; and
• After returning to Hong Kong, consult a doctor promptly if experiencing a fever or other symptoms, take the initiative to inform the doctor of any recent travel history and any exposure to animals, and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease.
 
     For more information on COVID-19, the public may visit the Government’s “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html). They can also visit the Travel Health Service’s website (www.travelhealth.gov.hk/eindex.html) for the latest travel health advice. read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (February 28) that some outdoor leisure venues will be reopened on March 3 (Tuesday).

     Outdoor leisure venues to be re-opened include tennis courts; bowling greens; running tracks in sports grounds (for jogging only); Ngau Chi Wan Park Archery Range; Shek O Obstacle Golf Course; and the archery range, golf driving range and practice greens at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre. The Internet Booking Service of Leisure Link will resume on March 2 for the public to book facilities in advance within three days. Counter booking at most outdoor leisure venues will resume operation on March 3 but refunds will be arranged later.

     To avoid people gathering and to foster social distancing, the LCSD will adopt special measures at sports facilities to be reopened. Measures include limiting the number of users at venues and the number of joggers in sports grounds, closing spectator stands, cancelling organisation bookings for competitions, and opening alternate rinks/bays for outdoor bowling greens and a golf driving range. Furthermore, disinfectant carpets and alcohol-based handrub will be in place and cleansing measures will be stepped up at the venues. Changing rooms and showering facilities at leisure venues will be temporarily closed to reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

     Please refer to the LCSD’s website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/facilities/facilitieslist/landsports.html) for details of the facilities to be reopened.

     Non-fee charging land-based leisure facilities that are open currently including parks, playgrounds, outdoor hard-surface pitches, skateboard grounds, skateparks, roller skating rinks and cycling grounds will maintain services.

     In addition, the self-service library stations at Island East Sports Centre Sitting-out Area, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Tsuen Nam Road, Tai Wai, will resume services on March 3. The book drop service of the Hong Kong Public Libraries (except for Peng Chau Public Library) resumed on February 26, while the book drop service at MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong Stations will resume on February 29. Public libraries will continue to provide online services such as e-Books and e-Databases.

     Various LCSD cultural and leisure facilities will continue to be temporarily closed and recreational, sports and cultural programmes to be held will also be cancelled until further notice. The facilities include all sports centres, sports grounds (except for running tracks), grass pitches, artificial turf soccer pitches, squash courts, golf facilities (except for Shek O Obstacle Golf Course and Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre), public swimming pools, beaches, the Adventure Park at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre, water sports centres and holiday camps.

     Cultural facilities temporarily closed include all performance venues, museums, public libraries and their study rooms, mobile libraries, and music centres of the Music Office. Major facilities of performance venues will not be re-opened before the end of March.

     During the temporary closure period, URBTIX will maintain Internet and mobile app ticketing and hotline services. URBTIX outlets and ticket dispensing machines at LCSD performance venues will resume operation on March 3. Special opening hours from noon to 6.30pm daily will be implemented. Refund arrangements for cancelled events at the relevant performance venues will be announced in due course.

     Meanwhile, processing and acceptance of individual and block booking applications for the department’s non-fee charging land recreation and sports facilities as well as block booking applications for the fee charging land recreation and sports facilities are suspended until further notice.

     Application for use of wedding venues, amphitheatres and non-fee charging leisure venues for non-designated use/sales activities is suspended until further notice.

     The LCSD will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the arrangements in a timely manner. read more

     To tie in with the Government’s announcement that the Government will implement targeted measures to reduce social contact and infection control measures and gradually resume more public services from March 2 in an orderly manner, a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (February 28) that the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) will resume normal services starting from March 2. Its receipt counter and general enquiry counter at 8/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon will be reopened to provide services including inspection and copying services for Housing Authority building records, receipt of building control applications and documents and handling of public enquiries. 
 
     The ICU will limit the number of service users at any one time in order to achieve social distancing. As infection control measures, all members of the public entering the office of ICU are required to wear masks and have to undergo body temperature checks.
 
     Furthermore, the Appeal Panel (Housing) will resume hearings on terminations of tenancy agreements from March 2. read more

     In view of the health risks arising from the COVID-19 outbreak in the Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (February 28) issued a Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) on the three regions.  Besides, the Government alerted the public about the outbreak of COVID-19 cases and associated health risk in Iran under the Red OTA currently in force.
 
Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions)
 
     A Government spokesman said, “In view of the persistent and rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy which cover Bologna, Milan, Venice and Verona, the Government has decided to issue the Red OTA on the three regions based on public health considerations.  Red OTA urges the public planning to travel to Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy to adjust travel plans and avoid non-essential travel.”
 
Iran
 
     The Government had issued a Red OTA on Iran on January 10, 2020 due to safety concerns.  In view of the persistent and rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the past few days, the Government alerted the public about the outbreak of COVID-19 cases and associated public health risk in Iran under the existing Red OTA.  The existing Red OTA remains in force.  The Government urges the public who intend to visit the country should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel.  For those who are already in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy and in Iran, they should:
 

• pay attention to announcements by local authorities;
• put on a surgical mask all the time;
• avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities and crowded places;
• avoid close contact with persons with fever or respiratory symptoms;
• wear a surgical mask and inform the hotel staff or tour escort and seek medical advice at once if experiencing a fever or cough; and
• perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing.

 
     If it is unavoidable to travel to Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy or Iran, the public should pay close attention to the latest situation of COVID-19 and the corresponding travel health advice issued by the Department of Health (DH).  After returning to Hong Kong, consult a doctor promptly if experiencing a fever or other symptoms, take the initiative to inform the doctor of any recent travel history and any exposure to animals, and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong.
 
     Hong Kong residents in Italy who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department (ImmD) at (852) 1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in Italy at consular protection hotline: (39) 3939110852. 
 
     Hong Kong residents in Iran who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the AHU of the ImmD at (852)1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in Iran at consular protection hotline: (98) 912-2176035.
 
     The Food and Health Bureau will closely monitor the situation.  Any updates will be issued through the media, the Government’s “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html), the DH’s webpage (www.gov.hk/ncv) and the Security Bureau’s OTA webpage (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota). Any enquiries on health information on COVID-19 may be addressed to the DH’s hotline at (852) 2125 1122 (operating daily from 8am to midnight).
 
     In addition, Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service (www.gov.hk/roti) to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the DH and AHU of the ImmD to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means, including SMS on mobile phones, on a timely basis when necessary.

     Apart from Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy and Iran, the Government also issued Red OTA on Korea on February 24 in light of the persistent and rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.  read more