Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 27) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (Janaury 27) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tai Po in the afternoon today (January 26) in which a 39-year-old man died.

     At about 3.12pm, a light goods vehicle (LGV) driven by a 63-year-old man, a medium goods vehicle (MGV) driven by a 66-year-old man and a LGV driven by the 39-year-old man were travelling along Tolo Highway towards Tai Po. When approaching near Hong Kong Science Park, the three vehicles reportedly collided.

     The 39-year-old LGV driver and the 46-year-old passenger were trapped inside the compartment and rescued by firemen. Sustaining abdomen and leg injuries, the LGV driver was sent to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 3.57pm. The male LGV passenger sustained abdomen and leg injuries and was sent to Prince of Wales Hospital in conscious state.

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

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.
     

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at a media session at Queen Elizabeth Hospital today (January 26):

Reporter: Professor Chan, did you make any concrete promises in the meeting to solve or at least to ease the manpower workload problem immediately?

Secretary for Food and Health: I would say the meeting was very constructive and all the doctors who have attended the meeting have frankly expressed their comments to us. Of course, manpower is the major issue. I have already asked the Hospital Authority to prepare short-, medium- and long-term manpower plans. In fact, last year in the first and second quarter, we have already started the discussion of the medium to long-term manpower plan. So that we are not only to provide or to plan the manpower for the new services in the Hospital Authority, but also to replenish the existing gaps of doctors and nurses in terms of their current services in the Hospital Authority. Just now, there were a lot of constructive comments given to us as to how we can rectify the current situation. Some of them are very practical and doable. The Hospital Authority is going to quickly look into those comments and suggestions and then to work on those so that the existing situation can be improved. Of course, throughout the process of rectifying the current situation, if there are needs of resources or extra resources, the Bureau would definitely try our best to provide the resources needed so that we can solve the current manpower problems in particular. But I think the medium- and long-term manpower planning is very important because we do not want this to happen year after year. Therefore, I think we would be working on short-, medium- and long-term measures in dealing with the entire situation.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin, Director (Cluster Services) Dr Tony Ko and Head of Human Resources Dr Pang Fei-chau today (January 26) attended the staff forum organised by some doctors unions together with the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan for a direct and open exchange with the frontline doctors.

     HA is fully aware of the tremendous workload faced by frontline colleagues with the sudden increase in service demand during the winter surge, given the current shortfall in manpower.

     HA promised to retain talents with its best efforts to improve the frontline working environment and supporting equipment, enhance training opportunities, facilitate professional development and strengthen protection for professional disciplinary inquiry. Recruitment of full-time and part-time healthcare workers will continue to relieve frontline work pressure.

     Dr Leung expressed heartfelt gratitude to all frontline staff for their commitment and dedication to take care of the patients.  He will continue to listen to the views of frontline staff to address their concerns, and join hands with the frontline in meeting the challenge faced by the public healthcare system.