The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited a Community Carer's Cafe co-organised by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres (HKFWC) this morning (November 26) to take a closer look at its support services for carers. The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, also joined the visit.

     Since October 2018, the SWD has been collaborating with the HKFWC in setting up such Cafes in four Integrated Family Service Centres (IFSCs) in Tai Po and North District to provide carers with activities and refreshments to help them relax mentally and physically, exchange experience and gain support.

     Dr Law toured the Cafe situated in the Sheung Shui IFSC, where he was briefed on a carer training programme of the HKFWC. Apart from training on basic personal care for young children and the elderly, the programme also encourages participants to talk about their experience in order to relieve their own stress.

     The Cafe has also arranged for volunteers to look after the carers' children, elderly persons or persons with disabilities temporarily. Carers identified with counselling and welfare needs by volunteers will be referred to professional social workers for follow-up. The four Cafes have been giving support to some 440 carers so far.

     In view of carers' positive feedback to the operation mode of the Cafes, six other service units targeting different users in Tai Po and North District have also set up such Cafe services.

     Dr Law pointed out that the Government will continue to enhance support for carers. A study on carer policy has already been launched.

      

     Hongkong Post announced today (November 26) the release of a set of eight stamps, two stamp sheetlets and associated philatelic products on the theme of the classic comic "Old Master Q" on December 5 (Thursday). This is the first set of stamps themed on "Old Master Q" together with motifs imprinted on the gummed back of each stamp sheet as a special feature. 

     Immensely popular with the Chinese community since the 1960s, the comic has entertained generations in Hong Kong and won the hearts of young and old alike. Each of the $2 stamps features the comic's characters, namely Old Master Q, Big Potato, Mr Chin, Mr Chao and Miss Chen, with iconic spots and landmarks in the background that retain a local sense of humour. The set of eight stamps portrays a local colloquial expression that conveys the meaning of "enjoying shopping, movies and cuisines".

     Hongkong Post wishes to express its gratitude to the author of the "Old Master Q" comic, Mr Wong Chak; Museum Expert Advisor of the Hong Kong Museum of History, Mr Cheng Po-hung; and Hong Kong swimming athlete, Ms Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, who share in short videos their interesting encounters with "Old Master Q". The videos are available at the Hongkong Post website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) and other social media platforms.   

    This set of special stamps and associated philatelic products, including a set of eight $2 stamps, an official first day cover, a $10 stamp sheetlet, a $20 stamp sheetlet with special printing effects, self-adhesive reel stamps, a presentation pack, postage prepaid picture cards and serviced first day covers will be placed on sale at post offices on December 5.  

     For the convenience of customers who wish to place additional orders for this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products without visiting a post office, a new round of online advance order services is now available until December 4 through the ShopThruPost platform (www.shopthrupost.hk). Customers will be notified before January 22, 2020 of collecting their additional orders. 

     Information about this special stamp issue is available on the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk or via the Hongkong Post mobile app.

                  

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (November 26):
 
Reporter: Chief Executive, some pro-government parties have blamed you and the extradition saga for their defeat. Do you agree with their interpretation of the election results and do you feel apologetic about the loss? And some analysts also said the election is a de-facto referendum and it shows a majority of the citizens support the current social movement and the demands of the protesters despite the violence. What do you think about that and will you reconsider some of the demands of the protesters in view of the election results?
 
Chief Executive: First of all, the nature of these elections is simply to elect District Council members to serve on the 18 District Councils. It is not for the Government and for myself to give it another interpretation because by law we are electing members to serve on the District Councils. But I do confess that this particular District Council election, unlike previous District Council elections, has a more political dimension to it. I said in my statement yesterday that we were aware of the large number of voters coming out to cast their vote, perhaps not only to select a preferred candidate to sit on the District Council, but also to express a view on many issues in society, including, I would readily accept that, including deficiencies in governance, and including unhappiness with the time taken to deal with the current unstable environment and to end violence. I said that we will seriously reflect on these views expressed to us and improve governance in the future of our work.
 
     As far as the pro-establishment members are concerned – of course fundamentally, we do not take sides in the sense that we will side with particular political affiliation in elections because elections have to be conducted in a fair, honest manner – when the general mood in society is they have a lot of unhappiness about the way we govern, about the ways we roll out policies, then perhaps they will be affected by that sort of mood. I am pleased to say that from what our pro-establishment political parties said yesterday, they will continue to serve the people and we will continue to work with them.
 
Reporter: Chief Executive, clearly the public support the protesters. Should you not have some concessions, perhaps an enquiry into what’s happened here? Because they are saying to all of us who are on the streets that they will go back and it will be even more violent if you don’t engage. Is it not time now, six months in, to properly engage rather than just saying there is a silent majority which clearly doesn’t exist?
 
Chief Executive: No, I did not refer to a silent majority. I did confess that this particular election has clearly reflected that many voters wanted to express their opinions and views to the Government, to myself. And the views and opinions expressed, I hope you agree, are quite diverse. There are people who want to express the view that they could no longer tolerate the violence on the streets, there are people who felt that the Government has not handled competently the legislative exercise and its aftermath. As I have said very clearly on September 4, we have officially and formally withdrawn the Bill, which was the cause of all these social unrest. The next step to go forward is really, as you have put it, to engage the people, and we have started public dialogue with the community. Unfortunately, with the unstable and violent environment and chaotic situation, I could not do more of that sort of engagement. I hope that the environment will allow me to do it now. And, like in the other places’ experience, particularly in the United Kingdom after the 2011 Tottenham riots, we are now modeling on that arrangement to set up an independent review committee to look at the causes of the social unrest which has lasted for so long in Hong Kong, to identify the underlying problems, social, economic, or even political, and to recommend measures that the Government should take. I sincerely hope that these will provide us with the way forward.

     Let me just stress that after these five or six months, Hong Kong people have realised very clearly that Hong Kong could no longer tolerate this chaotic situation. Everybody wants to go back to their normal life and this requires the concerted efforts of every one of us. As I have said repeatedly, resorting to violence will not give us that way forward. Please help us to maintain the relative calm and peace that we have seen in the last week or so and provide a good basis for Hong Kong to move forward.
     
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tsing Yi in the small hours today (November 26) in which a 21-year-old woman died.

     At about 4.34am, a private car driven by a 30-year-old man was travelling along Cheung Tsing Tunnel towards Tuen Mun. When approaching near the tunnel entrance, it reportedly lost control and rammed into kerb and railings.

     Two female passengers were trapped inside the compartment and rescued by firemen. Sustaining multiple injuries, a 21-year-old female passenger was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 5.45am. A 28-year-old male passenger and a 22-year-old female passenger also sustained injuries and were sent to Princess Margaret Hospital in conscious state.

     The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and driving without a license, he is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1346 or 3661 1300.

     A total of 152 additional cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the third quarter of 2019, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 10 150 since 1984.
 
     Reviewing the latest HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (November 26), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP, Dr Kenny Chan, said that sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission and stressed the importance of consistent and proper use of condoms in reducing the risk of contracting HIV.
 
     "Members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. They can call the DH's AIDS Hotline (2780 2211) for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test. HIV-positive people should seek specialist care as soon as possible," he continued.
 
     Of the 152 HIV cases, involving 126 males and 26 females, reported in the third quarter, 71 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact and 38 via heterosexual contact. The routes of transmission of the remaining 43 cases have yet to be determined due to incomplete information upon notification.
 
     The new cases were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals, clinics and laboratories (68 cases); the DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (29 cases); and private hospitals, clinics and laboratories (21 cases). Also, 102 of the HIV-infected people (68 per cent) have already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority.
 
     In addition, 24 new cases of AIDS were reported in this quarter, of which 16 cases (67 per cent) were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact, and six cases (25 per cent) were related to heterosexual contact. The route of transmission of two cases (8 per cent) has yet to be determined due to incomplete information upon notification. In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis pneumonia, a kind of chest infection.
 
     Since 1985, a cumulative total of 2 075 confirmed AIDS cases have been reported in Hong Kong.
 
     "HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, about half of HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years. On the contrary, early HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs helps prevent AIDS and its complications. It also makes a significant contribution towards improving the quality of life and prolongs survival of those infected. Notably, people with HIV who achieve sustained viral suppression through antiretroviral drugs have a negligible chance of passing on the virus through sex," Dr Chan said.
 
     The DH will launch a new set of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest on antiretroviral treatment on this year's World AIDS Day (December 1) to enhance public awareness of HIV/AIDS.
         
     The public may visit the following pages for more information on HIV/AIDS: the DH's Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com) and the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.gov.hk).