Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (November 29) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and strongly urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From November 22 to 28, the CHP recorded two imported DF cases. The patients had respectively been to Guangdong in Mainland China (one case) and Vietnam (one case) during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday (November 28), 193 cases had been recorded this year (including 192 imported cases and one local case), as compared with 157 cases recorded in the same period last year. The imported cases were mainly from Thailand (32), Malaysia (27) and the Philippines (24). 

     The CHP has been closely monitoring the latest DF situation in neighbouring and overseas areas. DF is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. According to the World Health Organization, some Asian countries are experiencing unusually high numbers of DF cases this year. The numbers of cases in some countries were significantly higher than the numbers for the same period in 2018, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
   
     Separately, according to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, as of October 31, 5 315 cases had been recorded in Guangdong this year, which was significantly higher than that in the same period last year (2 752 cases). The numbers of cases recorded in August, September and October were 1 209, 1 430 and 1 880 respectively. In Taiwan, as of yesterday, 598 cases (including 100 local cases) had been recorded in 2019.

     Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas this year has been uploaded to the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf). Members of the public should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.

     ​”Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. read more

     â€‹The third phase of the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS) will be fully implemented on Sunday (December 1) to include televisions, storage type electric water heaters and induction cookers. The scope of two existing prescribed products has also been extended, such that room air-conditioners will also include those with heating functions, and washing machines will also include those with a rated washing capacity of more than 7 kilograms but not exceeding 10kg.
 
     “The energy label classifies energy performance into five grades. Products with a Grade 1 energy label are the most energy efficient. With this information, consumers can make informed decisions in purchasing more energy efficient products,” a spokesman for the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) said today (November 29).
      
     “Any person who supplies a prescribed product that does not properly bear an energy label or is not a ‘listed model’ under the Ordinance will commit an offence and is liable to a fine of $100,000. The EMSD will conduct inspections at retail shops to ensure compliance with the Ordinance,” the spokesman said.
      
     The MEELS was introduced in May 2008 through the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Cap. 598), which requires energy labels to be shown on all prescribed products for supply in Hong Kong. The first and second phases of the scheme cover five types of products, namely room air-conditioners, refrigerating appliances, compact fluorescent lamps, washing machines with a rated washing capacity at or under 7kg and dehumidifiers. The third phase of the scheme covers three more prescribed products, namely televisions, storage type electric water heaters and induction cookers, and extends the scope of two existing prescribed products. It came into effect on June 1, 2018, with a grace period of 18 months.
      
     The eight products currently covered under MEELS altogether account for about 70 per cent of the annual electricity consumption in the residential sector. When the third phase is fully implemented, MEELS is expected to help consumers save about 625 million kilowatt hours a year, equivalent to a reduction of annual carbon dioxide emissions of about 440 000 tonnes.
      
     For more details of MEELS and information on listed models, please visit the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/energylabel/). read more

     After major expansion and renovation, the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) will be ready for public visits tomorrow (November 30) with 11 exhibitions.

     The 11 exhibitions will comprise a series of collection exhibitions representing the cultural legacy in the museum’s holdings, namely “Ordinary to Extraordinary: Stories of the Museum”, “From Dung Basket to Dining Cart: 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Wu Guanzhong”, “A Pleasure Shared: Selected Works from the Chih Lo Lou Collection”, “The Wisdom of Emptiness: Selected Works from the Xubaizhai Collection”, “Lost and Found: Guardians of the Chater Collection” and “The Best of Both Worlds: Acquisitions and Donations of Chinese Antiquities”; a series of exhibitions and displays on Hong Kong’s art lineage in “Classics Remix: The Hong Kong Viewpoint”, “Hong Kong Experience‧Hong Kong Experiment”, “The Breath of Landscape” and “Rediscovering Landscape”; and an international blockbuster exhibition, “A Sense of Place: from Turner to Hockney”.

     “Ordinary to Extraordinary: Stories of the Museum”, an exhibition of gems from the museum’s collection, will showcase exceptional works curated from the four core collections of the museum – Chinese Antiquities, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, China Trade Art, and Modern and Hong Kong Art. By sharing the fascinating stories behind these works, the exhibition will help visitors learn about little-known anecdotes of the museum throughout the 57 years since its founding.

     To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Wu Guanzhong, the exhibition “From Dung Basket to Dining Cart: 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Wu Guanzhong” will showcase more than 100 representative paintings by Wu in two phases. The exhibition will not only honour Wu’s contributions to Chinese art, but also pay tribute to his artistic pursuits spanning over half a century.

     The exhibition “A Pleasure Shared: Selected Works from the Chih Lo Lou Collection” will display around 70 selected works dating from the Ming dynasty to the 20th century in two phases to feature the uniqueness of the Chih Lo Lou Collection of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, a private collection established by the late philanthropist and collector Mr Ho Iu-kwong which was donated to the museum last year.

     The renowned Xubaizhai Collection, also one of Hong Kong’s three key collections of Chinese painting, was compiled by the late connoisseur of Chinese painting and calligraphy Mr Low Chuck-tiew, who spent nearly 50 years acquiring the invaluable treasures it contains. Showcasing more than 30 representative works dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties and up to the 20th century, “The Wisdom of Emptiness: Selected Works from the Xubaizhai Collection” will allow visitors to gain an insight into a selection of major works from the collection.

     The Chater Collection is one of the most legendary collections of the museum. The artworks were scattered and lost during World War II. Thanks to the selfless acts of Hong Kong citizens, some of the works were rescued and several of these will be on display in the exhibition “Lost and Found: Guardians of the Chater Collection”. The narrative of the exhibition will be told through stories of how the artworks were kept hidden, scattered and eventually recovered during the war, shedding further light on a period of history filled with human spirit.

     “The Best of Both Worlds: Acquisitions and Donations of Chinese Antiquities” will feature more than 300 items of art and antiques from different periods to illustrate how museum purchases and generous private donations form and shape the museum’s comprehensive Chinese Antiquities collection.

     Featuring a dialogue of 14 local artists and 14 highlight collections of the museum, the exhibition “Classics Remix: The Hong Kong Viewpoint” will incorporate new elements into the four major collections showcased in the exhibition “Ordinary to Extraordinary: Stories of the Museum”. It will track the people and stories behind the collections, allowing the artists to display their unlimited imagination inspired by the classics to explore new creative possibilities, along with an artistic representation of contemporary Hong Kong.

     The development of Hong Kong art has been a unique local experience. With innovation triggered by different ways of life, local artists have exerted the spirit of experimentation in their works over the past decades. The “Hong Kong Experience‧Hong Kong Experiment” exhibition aims to make use of the museum’s collection accumulated over half a century to capture all these different experiences and experiments, portraying the development of Hong Kong art.

     The exhibitions “The Breath of Landscape” and “Rediscovering Landscape” will feature interactive artworks by nine local artists, with Billy Tam as the leader. Based on a theme of nature and landscape, the exhibitions will offer a unique art experience by bringing the sky, flowing water, mountains and breezes from nature into the museum’s extended area, the Wing, as well as making use of its surroundings and the Art Square at Salisbury Garden, thereby dissolving the concept of museum walls and letting the museum extend and expand its interaction with audiences outside.

     The thematic exhibition “A Sense of Place: from Turner to Hockney” is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Tate, the United Kingdom, and is jointly organised by the HKMoA and Tate. This first-ever collaboration between the HKMoA and Tate represents an unprecedented opportunity to display works by Turner, Constable and Hockney in Hong Kong in the same exhibition. Drawn from Tate’s world-famous collection, this exhibition will feature 76 works that illustrate the remarkable development of British landscape painting and its influence on European art from the 17th century to the present day. To complement the exhibition, the museum has invited Hong Kong artists to respond to the British artworks on display and the museum’s own collection of landscape paintings. These local artists’ multimedia creations will invite visitors to explore the exhibition with a unique Hong Kong experience. The displays of “The Breath of Landscape” and “Rediscovering Landscape” will also echo the exhibition.

     For a better visiting experience, those wishing to visit the museum are advised to make online reservations for admission time slots via the museum’s website at hk.art.museum. Members of the public can find more details on the museum’s website to plan their visits in advance. read more

     To help members of the public to take ferries to attend workshops and activities organised by the Countryside Conservation Office of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in Lai Chi Wo, Ap Chau and Kat O during the temporary… read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 29) released the findings of its food safety report for the last month. The results of about 16 400 food samples tested were sati… read more