Tag Archives: China

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Serv… read more

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:        Some violent protestors have occupied Wai Yip Street and Hoi Bun… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 24) reported two suspected cases 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 cases are detailed below:
 

Sex	Female	Female
Age	38	45
Affected area involved	Saudi Arabia	Saudi Arabia
High-risk exposure	Nil	Nil
Hospital	Tuen Mun Hospital	Princess Margaret Hospital
Condition	Stable	Stable
MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result	Negative	Pending

   
     Separately, the CHP reported that the suspected MERS case pending results yesterday (August 23), 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 fever or lower respiratory 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

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 23) stepped up enforcement action against illicit cigarette activities across the territory. Apart from the detection of three incoming cargo and passenger cases at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Hong Kong International Airport, a mobile distribution den in Yau Tong was also smashed. 

     During the operation, about 690 000 suspected illicit cigarettes and 38 000 suspected illicit heat-not-burn products with a total estimated market value of about $2 million and a duty potential of about $1.4 million were seized.

     Six men aged from 30 to 64 were arrested, including two buyers who were caught in Kowloon City and Kwun Tong.

     A cross-boundary truck has also been detained.

     Investigation is on-going.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public are particularly reminded that both the selling and buying of illicit cigarettes are illegal. Hong Kong Customs will continue to step up enforcement efforts against illicit cigarette activities at the control points and within the in-town area.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

read more

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said today (August 24) at the “CareNin” movie screening and sharing session of the Dementia Friendly Community Campaign organised by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) that the Government is highly concerned about elderly persons with dementia and their carers’ needs. He called on different sectors in society to work together with the Government to build a dementia friendly community.
 
     Dr Law added that in 2018-19, the Government has allocated about $264 million as recurrent resources to strengthen community care and support services for elderly persons with dementia and their carers. Measures include additional recurrent provision to elderly community care and support services units for strengthening manpower and staff training, as well as regularisation of the Dementia Community Support Scheme.
 
     The SWD also launched the three-year Campaign in September last year. The Campaign comprises a set of television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, a thematic webpage, a television docudrama jointly produced by the SWD and Radio Television Hong Kong, a number of district-level talks and activities organised by district social welfare offices, and commissioning the Hong Kong Alzheimer’s Disease Association (HKADA) to assist in organising Dementia Friends information sessions, to enhance public understanding of dementia and to show care and take action to support people with dementia and their carers.
 
     At present, more than 11 000 people have attended the information sessions and registered as internationally recognised Dementia Friends, far exceeding the original three-year target of 10 000, which reflects the public’s concern and support. Speaking at the event as Dementia Friends, the Director of Social Welfare, Ms Carol Yip, appealed to all for continuous support to elderly persons with dementia and their carers. The Chairman of the Executive Committee of the HKADA, Dr David Dai, deepened people’s understanding about the needs of people with dementia in his discussion.
 
     “CareNin”, the Japanese movie shown in today’s event, was adapted from a true story and vividly depicts a 21-year-old care worker’s reflections gained from looking after an elderly lady with dementia in a small residential care facility. Through trial and error, the young care worker gradually developed insight about dementia.
 
     Mr Matthew Shum, the founder of the Illuminant, a social enterprise that co-organised today’s event, spoke on his experience in taking care of elderly persons with dementia. Mr Shum studied a masters degree in elderly welfare in Japan and worked at a residential care home for the elderly there. Through training and public education, he hoped to cultivate a new culture on elderly care and to promote autonomy as well as dignity for the elderly.
 
     One of the audience members today was Mr Liu Man-him, who became a health worker in a residential care home after he completed the training offered by the Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services of the SWD. He noted that he met many elderly people with dementia there and was therefore eager to gain more relevant knowledge. He also encouraged young people to join care services of the welfare sector.
 
     Ms Tsang Yuk-sau, a service recipient of the Dementia Community Support Scheme provided at a District Elderly Community Centre, also discussed her experience in taking care of her husband and pointed out that elderly persons with dementia and their carers face numerous challenges. She expressed the hope that the public would have more understanding of their needs and provide support.

read more