Tag Archives: China

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Suspected MERS case reported

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 13) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

Sex Female
Age 36
Affected area involved Jordan
High-risk exposure Camel ride
Hospital Kwong Wah Hospital
Condition Stable
MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result Negative
 
     Separately, the CHP reported that the suspected MERS case pending results yesterday (December 12), upon preliminary testing, tested negative for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

     “Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV),” a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     Locally, the CHP’s surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed relevant symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.
 
     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization’s latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP’s health advice on MERS. read more

East Asia

TD invites tenders for operation of “Central-Hung Hom” and “water taxi” licensed ferry services

     The Transport Department (TD) invites tenders for operation of the “Central-Hung Hom” and “Water Taxi” licensed ferry services (Tender Reference: TD 45/2019).

     In response to public views for more in-harbour ferry services and the suggestion of provision of “water taxi” in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry, the Government is preparing for the re-commissioning of the “Central-Hung Hom” ferry route and launching of “water taxi” ferry services plying Kai Tak, Hung Hom, Tsim Sha Tsui East, West Kowloon and Central.
 
     The “Central-Hung Hom” ferry service will ply between the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier and Central Pier No 8 (Western Berth). The Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier adjoins the Hung Hom (Hung Luen Road) Public Transport Interchange and the Whampoa MTR Station. The proposed ferry service will provide commuters with an alternative transport option. Those taking the ferry service and landing in Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier can interchange for various routes of franchised buses, green minibuses or the MTR for access to places in Kowloon and the New Territories.

     For the “water taxi” ferry service, there will be five calling points for its main route, including Kai Tak Runway Park Pier Landing No 1 or 2, Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No 2 or 5, Central Pier No 8 (Western Berth), No 9 or 10, and marine landing facilities at the southern waterfront of West Kowloon Cultural District. Passengers can freely hop on and hop off at any calling points. To allow more flexibility for scheduling of sailings, interested ferry operators may recommend the operation period for “water taxi” ferry service. The potential ferry operator shall operate at least three sailings of the main route daily, one of which must depart from Kai Tak at or after 7pm to allow passengers to enjoy the night view of Victoria Harbour. To cater for the needs of passengers in some areas, the operator may also propose operating short-working routes to observe calling points or other berthing facilities on both sides of Victoria Harbour. The TD will take this into consideration in the tender assessment.

     In addition, in support of the Government’s development of a smart city, interested operators are required to submit proposed measures in the tender documents, including dissemination of real-time arrival/departure information of ferry routes via mobile phone applications, opening up such data in machine-readable format for use by the public under the data.gov.hk portal, as well as provision of free Wi-Fi on board and at designated ferry piers.

     To improve the air quality of Victoria Harbour, interested operators are expected to introduce environmental protection features to the two licensed ferry services. They have to submit a plan on provision of greener ferries after making an assessment of their financial viability. 

     Tenderers must submit their tenders in sealed envelopes. The cover of the tender submission should be clearly marked with the tender reference and the subject of the tender (but should not bear any indication which may relate to the identity of the tenderer). The tender submission should be addressed to the Commissioner for Transport and placed in the TD Tender Box situated next to the reception counter of the TD on the 10th floor of South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, before noon on January 24, 2020 (Friday). Late tenders will not be accepted.

     Interested parties may obtain the tender documents starting from today (December 13) during office hours at the Ferry and Paratransit Division of the TD on 14th floor, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. read more

East Asia