Tag Archives: China

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Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (November 29) released the latest grading of water quality for eight gazetted beaches that are open for swimming. Other beaches have been closed to swimmers since November 1 for the winter season.   
   
     Eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:    
     

Big Wave Bay Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach Stanley Main Beach
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more

East Asia

CHP closely monitors plague cases in Mainland

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 29) closely monitoring an additional plague case affecting a herder in Inner Mongolia.
 
     According to the Health Commission of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the patient was diagnosed to have bubonic plague on November 27 and had been to a place where plague was known to occur. The patient has been admitted to hospital for treatment under isolation and is in stable condition. Four close contacts have remained asymptomatic so far, and are under medical surveillance.
 
     So far, four cases of plague have been confirmed in the Mainland since November 2019. The other three cases include two cases of pneumonic plague in Beijing, involving a couple from Inner Mongolia; and a case of bubonic plague, involving a man in Inner Mongolia. The CHP issued press releases on these cases on November 14 and 18 respectively to urge the community to heighten their vigilance against plague. According to the latest information from the National Health Commission, all close contacts of the three patients have remained asymptomatic and were released from medical surveillance. As of yesterday (November 28), apart from the above four plague cases, no additional cases have been reported in the Mainland thereafter.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said, “Regarding the recent plague cases that occurred in the Mainland, the CHP has communicated with the National Health Commission to understand the latest situation for risk assessment.”

     The spokesman said, “Plague is transmitted from an infected animal (mainly rodents) to humans through the bite of its fleas. Plague can also be contracted when cuts or other breaks in the skin come into contact with the body fluid or tissue of infected animals.”
     
     The spokesman reminded travellers to avoid visiting plague-endemic areas. They should also heighten vigilance on rodents and prevent flea bites. Insect repellents against mosquitoes may equally prevent bites from fleas and other blood-sucking insects. Formulations in lotions or sprays should contain DEET, IR3535 or icaridin (also known as picaridin) as active ingredients. The public should refer to the CHP’s tips for using insect repellents.

     “Travellers returning from affected areas with a sudden onset of fever, chills, body pains or chest discomfort should seek medical advice as soon as possible and reveal their travel history for prompt investigation and management. Plague is a statutorily notifiable disease and doctors should report suspected or confirmed cases to the CHP for investigations and control,” the spokesman added.

     Travellers should take heed of the health advice below during travel:
 

  • Prevent flea bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and applying insect repellent/insecticide. DEET-containing insect repellent can be applied to exposed skin and clothing, while insecticide containing permethrin can be applied to clothing, not the skin;
  • Avoid going to rural areas, camping or hunting;
  • Never touch rodents, dead animals and their tissues or contaminated materials;
  • Avoid close contact with patients, especially those with cough or chest infection;
  • Avoid going to crowded areas;
  • Seek medical care immediately in case of a sudden onset of fever, chills, painful lymph nodes, difficulty in breathing with coughing and/or blood-tainted sputum; and
  • Consult a doctor immediately after contact or exposure to pneumonic plague patients or high-risk exposures, such as bites from fleas or direct contact with body fluids or tissues of potentially infected animals, for prompt assessment of the need for preventive medication.

     Travellers may visit the CHP’s plague page, Travel Health News and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s advice on rodent control for details. read more

East Asia

Monetary Statistics for October 2019

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     According to statistics published today (November 29) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorised institutions grew by 1.0% in October 2019 as compared to September. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits and overall foreign-currency deposits increased by 0.4%, and 1.6% respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong increased by 2.1% to RMB636.4 billion at the end of October. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB429.4 billion in October, compared with RMB458.2 billion in September.
 
     Total loans and advances increased by 0.4% in October. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) increased by 0.1% and loans for use outside Hong Kong went up by 1.0% from a month ago. (Note) The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio edged up to 90.7% at the end of October from 90.6% at the end of September, as Hong Kong dollar loans increased at a faster pace than Hong Kong dollar deposits.
 
     Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both increased by 0.4% on a month-on-month basis, and rose by 2.8% and 2.7% respectively compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 increased by 0.4% in October from September; on year-on-year terms the decline narrowed to 2.2% from 3.4% a month ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and M3 both increased by 1.1% in October, and expanded by 4.1% and 4.0% respectively from a year earlier.
 
     As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal and IPO-related funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.
 
Note: The December 2018 figures for loans for use in/outside Hong Kong have been restated to reflect authorised institutions’ reclassification of working capital loans. The reported month-on-month and quarter-on-quarter growth rates are calculated based on the reclassified loan data. As reclassified loan data before December 2018 are not available, year-on-year growth rates of loans for use in/outside Hong Kong (including their sub-components) as shown in Table 1H of the Annex are calculated based on the data without such reclassification. read more

East Asia