A large group of protestors are currently gathering inside the Kwai Fong MTR station. They have sprayed paint and caused damages to the facilities therein. Such acts disturb the public peace and threaten the safety of the citizens, including reporters and MTR staff members, at the scene.
      
     In response to a report made by the MTRC (MTR Corporation) , Police officers will soon enter the station to assist MTRC to handle the case.

     The Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) gave a concert at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Korea, today (August 23) as part of its concert tour across Asia.
 
     Speaking at a reception before the concert, the Principal Representative of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Ms Shirley Yung, said that Hong Kong and Korea had for many years enjoyed very close bilateral relations, not only in business and trade but also in cultural exchanges. 
 
     "Tonight's concert is part of the annual world tour of the AYO performed by 100 young and talented musicians from various parts of Asia, including 10 from Korea. It has been nine years since the AYO last performed in Korea in 2010, and I look forward to more exchanges and collaboration in arts and culture between Hong Kong and Korea in future," Ms Yung said.

     Based in Hong Kong, the AYO attracts many bright young musicians from all over Asia to Hong Kong every year, and takes them to different parts of the world for performances and cultural exchanges.

     The concert is supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

    

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) has noted that fire service installations and equipment (FSIs), including fire hose reels and fire extinguishers, in some buildings or premises had been removed and used for non-firefighting purposes in mass gathering events recently. A spokesman for the FSD today (August 23) stressed that the FSIs installed in buildings or premises should be used for preventing, extinguishing and limiting fires. He added that removal, improper use or even damage of FSIs may increase the fire safety risks of the buildings or premises in cases of fire, while directing water jets from hose reels or carbon dioxide from fire extinguishers straight towards others may also cause danger.

     The FSD urges members of the public not to remove or use FSIs unless there is a fire, in order to keep the FSIs in efficient working order at all times and protect the safety of all persons in buildings or premises.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 23) announced that from next Monday (August 26) to November 15, eligible foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) working in Hong Kong can visit designated private clinics and group/outreach vaccination venues to receive free measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination under the Measles Vaccination Mop-up Programme 2019.
 
     The CHP earlier announced that as a public health strategy to prevent and control measles, a one-off mop-up programme has been launched to provide free MMR vaccination to specific target groups including FDHs with the aim of boosting the community's herd immunity against measles.
 
     Persons with laboratory evidence of immunity (i.e. tested positive for measles immunoglobulin G) do not require MMR vaccination. Foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong who do not have laboratory evidence of immunity and fulfil the following criteria are eligible for free MMR vaccination:
(1) Born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination before, and did not have laboratory confirmed measles infection; or
(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing non-immune to measles (i.e. tested negative/indeterminate for measles immunoglobulin G).
 
     Measles vaccination for FDHs will be provided at designated clinics and group/outreach vaccination venues by private medical organisations engaged by the DH. Eligible FDHs are required to make prior booking for the vaccination and bring their employment contract/working visa and Hong Kong identity card/passport to their vaccination appointment. Details of the clinics and group/outreach vaccination venues can be found on the programme webpage at www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102004.html.
 
     Vaccination will be carried out in phases for receiving the first and second doses of the MMR vaccines. Details of the arrangements will be announced on the programme webpage.
 
     Under the mop-up programme, measles vaccination has also been given to other target groups including airport workers, healthcare workers and tour escorts or tourist guides. The CHP will continue to communicate and work closely with relevant parties on the arrangements.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital made the following announcement today (August 23):
 
     Three baby girls (aged 6 months to 9 months) in the Special Care Baby Unit presented with rash or fever since August 10. Laboratory testing has confirmed detection of Enterovirus. The three babies are still hospitalised under treatment and isolation with stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up. All other babies in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.