The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) commissioned the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (JCSPHPC) to launch a Patient Experience Survey at its 26 Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOPCs) with an aim of gaining a better understanding of patients' experiences, feelings and feedback on receiving SOPC services for the purpose of continuous service improvement from the patients' perspective.
 
     The spokesperson for the HA said, "Patients attending the selected SOPCs have been randomly recruited for a telephone interview and the Survey covers important aspects including (1) Efficiency, (2) Environment and Facilities, (3) Doctor-patient Relations, and (4) Feedback Handling. The Survey was planned to be completed by December last year. Having enhanced the patient consent-seeking process and reviewed the Survey progress, the survey period has been extended to April 2019.
 
     "Patients who have attended any of the selected 26 SOPCs will be randomly selected and invited by the HA before April 2019 to take part in the Survey. Patients' consent will be sought before transfer of any personal data to the JCSPHPC. Staff of the JCSPHPC will contact the patients who agreed to participate at a later time for a detailed telephone interview. Personal data provided will be handled in strict confidence and patients are free to withdraw at any time from the Survey if they change their mind."
 
     The HA appeals to patients to actively participate in the Survey and the spokesperson stressed that healthcare staff have to understand patients' needs and their perspectives on service quality for continuous service improvement. The views expressed by patients will help the HA shape service directions and plan improvement measures to continuously enhance healthcare quality in public hospitals.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 3) reported a suspected case 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 case is detailed below:
 

     "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.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (January 3) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Most Reverend Michael Yeung, the Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong. 

     Mr Lau said, "The Most Reverend Michael Yeung was profoundly dedicated in spreading the gospel and actively promoted unity and harmony within the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. He also made tremendous contributions by leading charity work of the diocese and served the community with care. He will always be remembered."

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (January 3) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Most Reverend Michael Yeung, the Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong. 

     Mr Lau said, "The Most Reverend Michael Yeung was profoundly dedicated in spreading the gospel and actively promoted unity and harmony within the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. He also made tremendous contributions by leading charity work of the diocese and served the community with care. He will always be remembered."

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (January 3) that 16 non-official members have been appointed to the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) for a term of two years from January 1, 2019.
 
     The new non-official members are Professor Leslie Chen Hung-chi and Dr Wang Xiaoming. The re-appointed non-official members are Dr Paul Barber, Mr Chan Yun-cheung, Professor Chau Kwai-cheong, Ms Cecilia Cheung So-mui, Mr Kingsley Choi Lim-cho, Mr Mark Duntemann, Mr Kevin Eckert, Dr Billy Hau Chi-hang, Mr Evans Iu Po-lung, Mr Patrick Lau Hing-tat, Dr David Lau Tai-wai, Mr Frank Rinn, Mr Ian Shears and Dr Wong Fook-yee.
 
     A spokesman for the DEVB said, "The UFAP comprises both local and overseas experts from different fields including urban forestry managers, horticulturalists, arborists, landscape architects and botanists, and will provide advice on urban forestry polices and initiatives from multiple perspectives."
 
     The spokesman also expressed gratitude to Dr Philip Cannon, Professor Cecil Konijnedijk, Professor Xing Fuwu and Professor Zhang Qixiang, the four outgoing non-official members of the UFAP.
 
     Appointed by the Secretary for Development, members of the UFAP advise the DEVB on urban forest management strategies, an applied research and development regime, and positive capacity building initiatives for the arboriculture and horticulture industry.
 
     The membership of the new term of the UFAP is set out below:
 
Chairman
———–
Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, DEVB
 
Non-official members
———————–                      
Dr Paul Barber 
Mr Chan Yun-cheung 
Professor Chau Kwai-cheong
* Professor Leslie Chen Hung-chi 
Ms Cecilia Cheung So-mui 
Mr Kingsley Choi Lim-cho  
Mr Mark Duntemann  
Mr Kevin Eckert  
Dr Billy Hau Chi-hang  
Mr Evans Iu Po-lung   
Mr Patrick Lau Hing-tat   
Dr David Lau Tai-wai              
Mr Frank Rinn
Mr Ian Shears
* Dr Wang Xiaoming
Dr Wong Fook-yee
 
Official members
——————
Head of Tree Management Office, DEVB
Representative of Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Representative of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Representative of Highways Department
* Representative of Housing Department
 
(* New non-official and official members)