The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public ho… read more
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, attended Hong Kong Night in Davos, Switzerland yesterday (January 23, Davos time) and addressed a panel session themed on “Hong Kong, Trade Capital – Connecting Asia, Connecting the World”.
He highlighted Hong Kong’s edge as a trade capital to about 200 international political, business and media leaders who attended the event staged by Hong Kong in Davos.
He said Hong Kong is a highly connected, free and open economy with a level playing field, a world-class workforce and a place with huge potential. Hong Kong is the best place for business as evidenced by the presence of more than 9 000 overseas and Mainland companies in the city in 2019, of which over 1 500 serve as regional headquarters.
He said that with its unique status under the “One Country, Two Systems” and the international connectivity brought about by its Free Trade Agreement network, Hong Kong can continue to attract foreign investment and serve as a platform to connect business opportunities within the region and overseas.
Prior to Hong Kong Night, Mr Yau signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) with the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade of Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, Dr Luz María de la Mora Sánchez. As the fourth similar agreement that this term of Government has signed since taking office in July 2017, the IPPA with Mexico enables investors of the two places to enjoy corresponding protection of their investments in the host economies, thus enhancing investors’ confidence in making investments.
In the morning, Mr Yau met with the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs of Denmark, Mr Simon Kollerup, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, respectively. He updated them on the latest developments in Hong Kong and exchanged views with them on issues of mutual concern.
In the afternoon, Mr Yau attended the “Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders: Finding Resilience in a Global Economy with New Rules” under the World Economic Forum, where participating ministers and policy makers exchanged views on matters related to global economic prospects, in particular the coordination of fiscal and monetary policies as well as possible financial stability risks during the economic slowdown. Prior to the informal gathering, he attended a lunch hosted by the Washington Post and Foreign Policy.
Apart from meeting the ministers, Mr Yau met with business leaders from around the world, including the Senior Vice President of Global Government Engagement of Visa, Mr Demetrios Marantis, and the Global Head of the Public Sector Group, Corporate and Investment Banking Division, Citi’s Institutional Clients Group, Ms Julie Monaco.
He also joined the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, in meeting the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab; the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte; and the Group Chairman of Standard Chartered, Mr José Viñals.
Mr Yau will attend the World Trade Organization Information Ministerial Gathering today (January 24, Davos time).
Hong Kong and Mexico signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday (January 23, Davos time) to strengthen mutual investment protection. The agreement is set to enhance the confidence of investors, expand investment flows and further strengthen the economic and trade ties between the two places.
​ The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, signed the IPPA on the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos with the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade at Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, Dr Luz María de la Mora Sánchez.
​ “An IPPA enables investors of the two parties to enjoy corresponding protection of their investments in the host economies, and thus enhance investors’ confidence in making investments abroad. Hong Kong has been making dedicated efforts to expand its network of IPPAs in order to enhance two-way investment flows and boost our economy,” Mr Yau said.
​ Under the Agreement, the two governments undertake to provide investors of the other side with fair, equitable and non-discriminatory treatment of their investments, compensation in the event of expropriation of investments, and the right to free transfers abroad of investments and returns. The Agreement also provides for settlement of investment disputes under internationally accepted rules. The Agreement will enter into force after the fulfilment of relevant internal requirements by both sides.
​ The IPPA with Mexico is the fourth such agreement that this term of Government has signed since taking office in July 2017. The other three are the investment agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. It is also the 22nd investment agreement that Hong Kong has signed with a foreign economy.
​ The other foreign economies with which Hong Kong has signed an IPPA are Austria, the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, yesterday (January 23, Davos time) led the TeamHK delegation to attend the Hong Kong Night in Davos, Switzerland, to promote Hong Kong’s strengths and advantages to high-powe… read more
In light of two confirmed imported cases of novel coronavirus infection in Hong Kong, the Steering Committee formed under the Serious Response Level of the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance (the Preparedness and Response Plan) convened for the third time today. The Committee discussed latest developments and announced new measures to ensure prompt response during the Lunar New Year.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, “We are gravely concerned about the two confirmed imported cases of novel coronavirus infection. The Government will continue to remain highly vigilant and will adjust the response strategy and relevant measures in a timely manner. The aim of today’s meeting is to see to it that departments would rise to the challenges and act according to the Preparedness and Response Plan under different scenarios. I have requested all departments to respond quickly to changes, attend to their duties steadfastly and do a good job in prevention and surveillance. Any relaxation is not affordable. Meanwhile, the Government will increase transparency and information dissemination.”
Following the discussion of today’s meeting, various departments have decided to implement the following enhanced measures:
(1) Health declaration form system will be extended to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station starting from tomorrow (January 24). All inbound travellers by Express Rail Link (XRL) train will be required to complete and submit a health declaration form.
(2) The MTR Corporation Limited has kindly agreed to enhance the cleansing of XRL train compartments operated by the Mainland after the arrival at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.
(3) The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has enhanced surveillance of suspected cases and revised the reporting criteria of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent.
(4) CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for the suspected and confirmed cases. The hotline operates daily from 8am to 9pm including public holidays. Persons who are regarded as close contacts and other contacts of the cases concerned should call the hotline.
(5) Among two quarantine camps, Lady MacLehose Holiday Village has been officially activated today to receive persons who are required to be quarantined. As for Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, preparation is now at the final stage.
(6) In view of the latest situation, the Education Bureau (EDB) has appealed to schools to consider postponing exchange activities with other Mainland cities that are organised by the EDB and other organisations.
(7) In respect of the supply of masks, the current stockpile of personal protection equipment in the DH and the Hospital Authority (HA) is adequate for three months’ consumption. The Food and Health Bureau and DH are liaising with the suppliers at the wholesale level to ascertain scope for expediting the delivery of and stepping up local supplies.
(8) As for travel health advice, members of the public are urged to avoid visiting Wuhan. If it is unavoidable to travel to Wuhan, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong; Generally speaking, members of the public visiting crowded areas should wear masks to protect oneself and other people. The relevant departments will enhance the publicity of the above messages.
The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said: “At present, confirmed cases were detected in neighbouring regions and the number of cases increases rapidly. In order to reduce the risk of being infected, members of the public should always maintain personal and environmental hygiene, adopt prevention measures properly in order to cope with this public health challenge. In particular, I urge the public to avoid going to Wuhan, Hubei Province for the time being, if not necessary.
“The Centre for Health Protection will continue to conduct epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing of the two cases confirmed today. The HA has transferred the patients to the Infectious Disease Centre in Princess Margaret Hospital for continuous isolation and management.”
The HA had enhanced laboratory surveillance for pneumonia cases to have early identification of severe community-acquired pneumonia associated with novel coronavirus. At present, the occupancy of the some 500 isolation beds in public hospitals is around 50 to 60 per cent. Some 200 beds are immediately available for infectious patients. When necessary, the HA can use remaining several hundreds of isolation beds by phases. Depending on the latest development, the HA is prepared to activate designated clinics any time to meet the anticipated increased clinical demand. DH and HA will further discuss the specified arrangement of designated clinics.
The preparation of the two holiday camps of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to isolate the close contact of patients is ready.
Policy bureaux, government departments and organisations attending the Steering Committee meeting included the Transport and Housing Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Environment Bureau, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Education Bureau (EDB), the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Administration Wing of the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office, the DH, the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), LCSD, the Information Services Department (ISD), the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the Tourism Commission, the Water Supplies Department, the Housing Department, the Transport Department (TD), the Highways Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Architectural Services Department, the Drainage Services Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Lands Department, the Hong Kong Observatory, the Government Property Agency, the Government Logistics Department, the University Grants Committee Secretariat and the Hospital Authority (HA).
Various departments have enhanced prevention and control measures according to the Preparedness and Response Plan and their own contingency plan, which include:
Stepping up surveillance and risk communication
• DH and HA will report the latest situation on a daily basis.
• DH has sent letters to all private hospitals, doctors and Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong, reminding them to pay special attention and refer suspected cases that fall within the widened scope of surveillance.
• HA has reminded frontline healthcare staff including those working in the 18 Chinese Medicine Centres for Training and Research to pay special attention to clinical information of suspected pneumonia patients, including those who had visited Wuhan within 14 days prior to the onset of the illness. More stringent infection control measures are enforced in public hospitals in accordance with the Serious Response Level.
Strengthening port health measures and cleansing
• The MTR Corporation Limited, the Airport Authority, and the relevant airlines have enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures of the incoming express trains and planes from Wuhan as well as the cleaning of West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong XRL and Airport Terminal Building.
• Further strengthen port health measures. Additional thermal imaging systems were put in place in the Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the XRL for checking body temperature of travellers with increased frequency of random checking.
• Enhance dissemination of health messages through broadcast to travellers arriving by flight/XRL, distribution of leaflets, promulgating travel health news on website and using posters.
• FEHD will step up the cleaning of public facilities under the department’s management including public markets, cooked food centres, hawker bazaars, public toilets and refuse collection points. FEHD also disseminates information to the trade associations of the food industry, and reminds operators of food premises to keep their premises and equipment clean as well as to maintain hygiene practices in handling food. Holders of hawker stalls are also urged to clean up their stalls thoroughly. To maintain hygiene of public places, FEHD will also strengthen enforcement by taking enforcement action against people committing offences in relation to public cleanliness.
Publicity and public education
• CHP has set up a dedicated webpage (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html) to provide relevant information and health advice.
• EDB has disseminated information to schools on preventing the spread of the infectious disease in the premises.
• SWD has disseminated information to child care centres, residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities, drug treatment and rehabilitation centres as well as service units subsidised by the SWD on preventing the spread of the infectious disease in the centres.
• The Housing Department has conducted regular cleaning of public areas of public rental housing blocks and its retail facilities, encouraged residents to maintain good hygiene practices and taken enforcement action against hygiene offences.
• The Labour Department has disseminated information to employers, employees and associations on preventing the spread of the infectious disease in the workplace.
• TD has disseminated information to the transport sector on preventing the spread of the infectious disease on public transport.
• HAD has disseminated information to hotels, guesthouses, property management companies, owners’ corporations and mutual aid committees through District Offices and the relevant network on the infectious disease prevention measures.
• FEHD has carried out regular inspection to ensure that operators of licensed food premises keep their premises and equipment clean, and maintain hygiene practices in handling food. FEHD will also take enforcement action against people who cause environmental hygiene problems in public places by littering, spitting and other unhygienic practices. The Centre for Food Safety has also stepped up publicity through various channels to remind the public not to bring raw game, meat, poultry or eggs (except fully cooked eggs) without health certificates into Hong Kong.
• LCSD has disseminated information to its staff on preventing the spread of novel infectious disease in LCSD facilities as well as stepped up relevant cleansing operations and enforcement action against littering in LCSD venues.
• ISD and DH produced a new set of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest and two posters to remind members of the public of the travel and health advice on the prevention of the spread of novel infectious disease.
Designated webpage
A dedicated webpage (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html) has been set up by the CHP to provide relevant information and health advice on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent. Information on the affected countries/areas is available from the following webpage:
www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/statistics_of_the_cases_novel_coronavirus_infection_en.pdf
Health advice
• 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;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.
Travel health advice
• Avoid unnecessary travel to Wuhan of Hubei Province. If it is unavoidable to travel to Wuhan, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong;
• Avoid close contact with persons with fever or respiratory symptoms in countries/areas with possible community transmission of novel coronavirus infection. If it is unavoidable to come into contact with them, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to 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 having 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 having a fever or other symptoms, take the initiative to inform the doctor of recent travel history and any exposure to animals, and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease.
