Tag Archives: China

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said today (December 15) that in face of the ageing population, the number of people with dementia will be on the rise. The Government, in addition to providing proper care and support to demented people, will enhance public understanding of dementia through public education activities.

     Speaking at the “Dementia Friends” Information Session organised by the Social Welfare Department (SWD), Dr Law said the department has launched the Dementia Friendly Community Campaign, a three-year public education programme, since September this year. The campaign aims to encourage members of the public to take action to learn more about dementia and show care to demented people and their families, with a view to building a dementia friendly community.

     Among the activities under the campaign, the SWD has commissioned the Hong Kong Alzheimer’s Disease Association (HKADA) to assist in organising a number of “Dementia Friends” Information Sessions territory-wide and at district level. Through talks under public education and discussions, the information session allows participants to learn more about dementia and encourages them to register as internationally recognised “Dementia Friends”, so that they will be able to share with others their knowledge on dementia and motivate more people to register as “Dementia Friends” in the community.

     The Director of Social Welfare, Ms Carol Yip, said that the SWD has set a target to train 10 000 Dementia Friends within 3 years. She encouraged the public to register as “Dementia Friends” and wear the tailor-made orange wristband to show their acceptance and support for people with dementia and their families.

     The Chairman of the HKADA, Dr David Dai, and the Executive Director of the association, Ms Maggie Lee, shared with professionals and representatives of social welfare organisations the philosophy and key messages of “Dementia Friends” at the information session today. The key messages include:
 

• dementia is not a natural part of ageing;
• dementia is caused by diseases of the brain leading to gradual loss of intellectual function;
• dementia is not just about loss of memory;
• it is possible to live well with dementia; and
• it is important to understand dementia from the perspective of people with dementia.

     In addition to the information sessions, the three-year public education programme also features a set of television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, a thematic webpage, and a television docudrama series jointly produced by the SWD and Radio Television Hong Kong to be broadcast in January. For more information of the campaign, please visit www.swd.gov.hk/dementiacampaign.

     More than 200 guests attended the information session today. They included representatives of the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the SWD, members of welfare-related advisory or steering committees, and representatives of elderly service organisations and property management companies. They also registered as “Dementia Friends” at the information session today to show their support. read more

     Hong Kong Customs mounted an operation in Sheung Shui to combat the sale of counterfeit medicines on December 13. A total of about 51 000 pills and 22 litres of suspected counterfeit medicines as well as 68 000 pills of suspected controlled medicines with an estimated market value of about $1 million were seized.

     Customs officers earlier conducted patrols and found suspected counterfeit medicines being sold at a dispensary in Sheung Shui. After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action on December 13 and raided the dispensary and its two storage premises, seizing the batch of suspected counterfeit medicines and suspected controlled medicines. 

     During the operation, two salesmen of the dispensary, aged 22 and 49, were arrested. 

     Investigation is ongoing. The arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs will continue to take stringent law enforcement and maintain close contact with relevant trademark owners, government departments and organisations, as well as keep track of the market closely, so as to combat counterfeit medicine activities. 

     Customs reminds traders that selling counterfeit medicine is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal liability. 

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. 

     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years. 

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

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     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the 25th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony cum “Heritage Connect” Launching Ceremony of the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust today (December 15):

     Good afternoon.  It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the Heritage Walk Day cum “Heritage Connect” Launching Ceremony, which is a signature event to commemorate the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all incumbent and previous members of the Board of Trustees and the Council of the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust for their dedicated efforts in promoting the conservation of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage by funding various heritage projects and organising public education activities throughout the past 25 years.

     Heritage conservation has been one of the priorities of the current-term Government.  This year, the Government has allocated additional resources for strengthening the protection, promotion and transmission of intangible cultural heritage, exploring the expansion of the Hong Kong Museum of History, making sustained efforts in renovating the permanent exhibition of the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, as well as taking forward the advance work for the construction of the Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre, which will serve to enhance the functions and status of our museums in such areas as the collection, conservation, study and display of cultural heritage.

     Furthermore, the Government will work closely with selected non-profit-making organisations through the Built Heritage Conservation Fund to implement the first five batches of projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme. We will also continue to process applications in relation to graded historic buildings which are privately owned or leased, with a view to helping prevent deterioration of these historic buildings owing to lack of maintenance.
 
     The success in conservation and inheritance of culture depends on the co-operation between the public, the Government and all sectors of the community. It is essential for keeping our culture alive for future generations. I would like to congratulate the Trust on its 25th anniversary once again, and wish the Trust many more anniversaries ahead. May I also wish the “Heritage Connect” overwhelming viewership and today’s Heritage Walk Day a huge success.  Thank you.

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     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (December 16).      The arrangements will come into effect two ho… read more

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 (December 15) that due to bi… read more