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:    
     

 
     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.

     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.

     The Transport Department today (November 29) reminded members of the public that since the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT) has reopened and traffic has generally returned to normal, the two routes of special free ferry services between Kowloon City and Wan Chai and between Hung Hom and Wan Chai provided for the closure of the CHT will cease operation tonight. The last ferry departure will be at 7pm.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The Hospital Authority today (November 29) published the latest issue of the biannual Medication Safety Bulletin (MSB). This issue highlights the safe application of two drugs, including the risk minimisation measures of valproate to help patients understand the possible harmful effects to the foetus while taking the medication and the proper dosage of methotrexate for different types of patients as well as its global targeted medication safety best practice.  
 
     This issue also describes the experience of Kowloon West Cluster in using the Inpatient Medication Entry to facilitate correct prescribing of insulin infusions.
 
     The publication has already been posted on the web for sharing with healthcare professionals. Members of the public are also welcome to browse it at the following link: www.ha.org.hk/msb. MSB is published every six months, on the last Fridays of May and November. The next issue will be published on May 29, 2020.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (November 29) the results of the 2018 Annual Survey of Economic Activities – Information and Communications, Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors.

     Amongst the industry sectors covered by the survey, the financing (except banking) industry recorded the largest total receipts (comprising business receipts and other income) in 2018, followed by the insurance industry and the banking industry. The other industry sectors in descending order in terms of total receipts were information and communications; professional, scientific and technical activities; and administrative and support service activities.

     In the financing (except banking) industry, total receipts amounted to $633.9 billion in 2018, representing a decrease of 4.8% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 9.1% compared with 2017 to $74.2 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 4.3% year-on-year to $246.1 billion in 2018. Gross surplus, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses, compensation of employees and (where applicable) value of purchases of goods for sale, decreased from $430.0 billion in 2017 to $387.8 billion in 2018, accounting for 61.2% of total receipts in 2018. Value added, which provides a measure of the contribution of this industry to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased by 6.5% compared with 2017 to $100.9 billion in 2018. In 2018, the financing (except banking) industry comprised about 8 500 establishments and engaged about 89 100 persons, or an average of 10.4 persons per establishment.

     In the insurance industry, total receipts decreased by 5.6% over 2017 to $559.5 billion in 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 6.0% compared with 2017 to $208.7 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 9.4% year-on-year to $74.0 billion in 2018. In 2018, the insurance industry comprised about 2 700 establishments and engaged about 88 400 persons, or an average of 33.0 persons per establishment.

     In the banking industry, total receipts amounted to $472.1 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 10.9% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 14.8% compared with 2017 to $2.0 billion in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 5.5% year-on-year to $216.2 billion in 2018. In 2018, the banking industry comprised 231 establishments and engaged about 107 500 persons, or an average of 465.2 persons per establishment.

     In compiling gross surplus and value added of the banking industry and the insurance industry, other data sources are required to supplement the data collected through this survey and these statistics are to be compiled under the framework of GDP. Statistics on value added of these two industries are released by the C&SD separately.

     In the information and communications sector, total receipts increased by 5.5% compared with 2017 to $211.5 billion in 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 3.0% compared with 2017 to $19.5 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 5.5% year-on-year to $141.3 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $47.0 billion in 2017 to $49.5 billion in 2018, accounting for 23.4% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 4.2% compared with 2017 to $89.0 billion in 2018. In 2018, the information and communications sector comprised about 10 800 establishments and engaged about 108 100 persons, or an average of 10.0 persons per establishment.

     In the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, total receipts amounted to $161.6 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 7.6% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 5.3% compared with 2017 to $6.0 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 7.7% year-on-year to $130.3 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $27.9 billion in 2017 to $29.9 billion in 2018, and accounted for 18.5% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 7.0% compared with 2017 to $86.9 billion in 2018. In 2018, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector comprised about 27 100 establishments and engaged about 148 600 persons, or an average of 5.5 persons per establishment.

     In the administrative and support service activities sector, total receipts amounted to $149.5 billion in 2018, representing a slight decrease of 0.5% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 3.1% compared with 2017 to $12.2 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together decreased marginally by 0.6% year-on-year to $137.5 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased slightly from $11.3 billion in 2017 to $11.4 billion in 2018, accounting for 7.6% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 5.4% compared with 2017 to $56.8 billion in 2018. In 2018, the administrative and support service activities sector comprised about 12 200 establishments and engaged about 236 800 persons, or an average of 19.4 persons per establishment.

     Selected statistics for the sectors mentioned above are shown in the attached table. More detailed statistics will be given in the report "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Information and Communications, Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors in 2018". Users can download this report (in PDF format) free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp350.jsp?productCode=B1080013) as from end-December 2019.

     For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the information and communications, financing and insurance, professional and business services sectors, please contact the Business Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7268 or email: business-services@censtatd.gov.hk).