The Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Safety and Survey) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2019 come into effect today (December 23). The new regulations strengthen the existing requirements for provision of lifejackets on local vessels and enhance marine safety during major events at sea.
 
     A spokesman for the Marine Department (MD) said, "According to the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Safety and Survey) (Amendment) Regulation 2019, all local vessels are required to carry on board suitable lifejackets, the quantity of which must be not less than the total number of persons which the vessel is licensed to carry. Furthermore, all commercial passenger-carrying local vessels which are licensed to carry more than 12 passengers must carry on board infant lifejackets, the quantity of which must not be less than 2.5 per cent of the number of passengers the vessel is licensed to carry."
 
     As the number of children and adults on board each journey may be different, to ensure the practicability of the amendment regulation, the Government has successfully developed a life jacket suitable for use by both adults and children (the Common Lifejacket) with the assistance of a local tertiary institution. The Common Lifejacket has commenced production and is now available in the market.
 
     As well, to enhance marine safety during major events at sea, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2019 requires children on board to wear lifejackets at all times during the events. A list of passengers and crew must also be kept by the coxswain of the vessel for emergency purposes.
 
     The MD will launch publicity work to enhance public awareness of the new regulations.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (December 23) announced that a new arrangement for measles vaccination under the DH's Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) will be implemented from January 2, 2020.

     Children in Hong Kong are given the first dose of a combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine when they are 1 year old at the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs). Under the new arrangement, this will be followed by a second dose of a measles-containing vaccine (i.e. combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine) when they are 18 months old at MCHCs instead of receiving the vaccination at Primary One at school under the current practice.

     The new arrangement is applicable to children born on or after July 1, 2018. Those who were born before this date will continue to receive the vaccination concerned at Primary One via the School Immunisation Teams (SITs) of the DH through outreach visits to schools.

     After the implementation of the new measure, the DH will arrange for second doses of a measles-containing vaccine to children according to their date of birth. Detailed arrangements are as follows:

Children born on or after July 1, 2018
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     Those with scheduled appointments at 18 months old for receiving the diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (booster dose) at MCHCs on or after January 2, 2020, will receive the MMRV vaccine on the same day.

Children born between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2018
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     As in previous years, these children will receive the MMRV vaccine at Primary One via the SITs through outreach visits to schools.

     According to the recommendation of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH, the second dose of measles-containing vaccination could be advanced to 18 months of age. The SCVPD reviewed the local and global epidemiology of measles, overseas experience and relevant scientific evidence, and made the recommendation, which was adopted by the DH.

     The public may visit the HKCIP page of the DH's Family Health Service (www.fhs.gov.hk/english/main_ser/child_health/child_health_recommend.html), the CHP's measles page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/31.html) or the SCVPD's Recommendation on the Schedule of the Second Dose of Measles-containing Vaccine in Hong Kong (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/recommendation_on_the_schedule_of_the_second_dose_of_measles_containing_vaccine_in_hong_kong.pdf) for more information.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 23) that the Leisure Link counter booking and self-service kiosks will be temporarily suspended from 9am to 1pm on December 30 (Monday) for system enhancement works. During the service suspension, the Leisure Link Internet booking service will operate as usual.

     Leisure Link counter booking and self-service kiosks will resume services at 1pm on the same day.

     Hongkong Post announced today (December 23) that there will be no mail delivery on the coming public holiday on January 1 (Wednesday). All post offices will be closed on that day except for the General Post Office and the Airport Post Office. The business hours of the two offices will be from noon to 5pm and 8am to 5pm respectively. General postal services will be provided. Details of services available will be advertised at the respective post offices. One mail collection will be made for the posting boxes of the General Post Office and the Airport Post Office.

     For more information, customers may visit Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk or call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222. 

     The third quarter 2019 issue of "Quarterly Supplement to Statistical Digest of the Services Sector" is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 23). This issue is now available for download free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp70.jsp?productCode=B1080008).

     The services sector is the heart of Hong Kong's economy. Accurate and detailed statistics play an important role in support of the Government's initiatives on promoting the services sector. This issue of the Quarterly Supplement provides up-to-date quarterly statistics (from the second quarter of 2018 to the third quarter of 2019) for the more important statistical series on 14 major service industries/domains of Hong Kong.

     Enquiries about this publication can be directed to the Logistics and Producer Prices Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7257 or email: services@censtatd.gov.hk).