The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, chaired the Summit on Disability Inclusion today (November 24). Stakeholders of the rehabilitation sector and employer representatives shared their views and experiences in promoting the employment of persons with disabilities and their participation in arts in a panel discussion on building a disability inclusive society.

     About 500 guests attended the summit, including members of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC) and its Sub-committees, Working Groups and Task Forces as well as various stakeholders from self-help organisations of persons with disabilities, parent/carer groups, schools council, arts groups, the business sector and non-governmental organisations. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, as well as Principal Officials, Under Secretaries and Heads of Departments of relevant policy areas also participated in the summit.

     Following the opening remarks by the Chief Executive on building a disability inclusive society was a panel discussion presided by the Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Programme Plan Review Working Group, Mr Fung Pak-yan, and Hong Kong wheelchair fencing athlete, Miss Yu Chui-yee. Speakers included the Chairperson of the Direction Association for the Handicapped, Ms Rabi Yim; the Director of Corporate Affairs and Philanthropies of Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, Ms Ada Ng; the Chairperson of the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Ms Ida Lam; an Executive Officer of the Government, Miss Agatha Ng; and two artists with disabilities, Ms Lo Pui-yung and Mr Wong Wing-hong. They exchanged views and shared their experience from different perspectives on promoting the employment of persons with disabilities and their participation in arts.

     In the second half of the summit, Mrs Lam; Mr Cheung; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; and the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, exchanged ideas with participating guests on policies and measures to promote the well-beings of persons with disabilities. Views on a variety of issues related to persons with disabilities were expressed enthusiastically.

     The Chief Executive proposed in 2017 to hold Chief Executive Summits on important policy areas. The Summit on Disability Inclusion today is the fourth summit she chaired since assuming office, during which she directly listened to views of the sector and stakeholders, enhancing liaison and communication between policy bureaux/departments concerned on disability affairs within the Government and relevant stakeholders.

     The summit also marked the start of the second stage of a public engagement exercise on "Formulation of Recommendations" for the formulation of a new Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP). The public consultation period of the "Formulation of Recommendations" Stage will commence on December 5, 2018, and last until April 4, 2019. The RAC will hold four public consultation sessions in early December 2018 and a number of seminars in the first quarter of 2019 to collect views from stakeholders, with a view to mapping out the strategic directions and recommendations of the new RPP.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Rhinovirus in a male ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following update today (November 24):

     One more 20-year-old patient in the ward presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patient and the test results were positive for Rhinovirus. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     At the invitation of the Minister of Health of Singapore, the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, will lead a delegation to Singapore tomorrow afternoon (November 25) to attend the Ministerial Conference on Diabetes to be held on November 26 and 27.

     The conference, organised by the Singapore Ministry of Health, will seek to place the importance and benefits of proper prevention and management of diabetes high on the global agenda. It will also share international best practices, experience and innovation aimed at addressing the common modifiable risk factors for diabetes, as well as building capacity in the populations to make healthier choices and follow lifestyle patterns that foster good health.

     Professor Chan said, "Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major cause of death in Hong Kong. Cardiovascular diseases including heart diseases and stroke, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases accounted for about 58 per cent of all registered deaths in 2017.

     "To combat the threat posed by NCDs and in line with World Health Organization's Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020, the Government earlier this year launched Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control NCDs in Hong Kong, which sets out nine local targets to be achieved by 2025, including halting the rise in diabetes and obesity.

     "I believe that the Ministerial Conference on Diabetes will give us useful and valuable insights, and provide a platform for us to exchange views with other health officials regarding effective ways to combat diabetes."

     The delegation, comprising representatives from the Food and Health Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, will also meet with members of the Health Promotion Board and visit a polyclinic before returning to Hong Kong on November 27.

     During Professor Chan's absence from Hong Kong, the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health.

     The Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency by-election will be held tomorrow (November 25). The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) reminds electors to carry the original of their Hong Kong identity card to the designated polling station to vote.

     A total of 73 ordinary polling stations in the Kowloon West geographical constituency and a maximum of 22 dedicated polling stations will open tomorrow for about 490 000 electors of the Kowloon West geographical constituency listed on the 2018 Final Register to cast their votes.

     The polling hours for the ordinary polling stations and the dedicated polling station set up at Cheung Sha Wan Police Station will be from 7.30am to 10.30pm. For the dedicated polling stations set up at penal institutions, for security reasons, the polling hours will be from 9am to 4pm.

     "Electors must carry the original of their Hong Kong identity card or other specified alternative documents to the designated polling station to collect their ballot papers to cast votes," a spokesman for the REO said.

     "Voting is very simple. Electors must use the chop provided by the polling stations to stamp the ballot paper with a tick in the circle opposite the name of the chosen candidate. Electors should then fold the ballot paper once according to the pre-folding by polling staff to conceal the mark before putting the ballot paper into the ballot box."

     Electors may only cast their votes at the designated polling station as specified on their poll card. Electors can log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (OVIES) (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) if they have not yet received their poll card to check whether they are registered electors of the Kowloon West geographical constituency and their designated polling station. They can also call the election hotline 2891 1001 for enquiries.

     The spokesman reminded the public that according to the law, polling stations are restricted areas accessible only by electors and authorised persons.

     "Unauthorised persons are strictly prohibited from using mobile phones, taking photographs, filming, and making video or audio recordings in the polling stations," he said.

     Once the poll closes, all ordinary polling stations will be converted into counting stations for counting of votes. The counting stations will be open to the public once the conversion has been completed. Members of the public will be able to watch the counting process at designated areas inside the counting stations.

     A media centre will be set up at the Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre, 2 Chui Ling Road, Tseung Kwan O, where the election result will be announced by the Returning Officer. A public gallery will be set up for members of the public to watch the announcement of result at the media centre. In view of the limited seating capacity, admission to the public gallery will be arranged on a first come, first served basis from 11pm tomorrow. To facilitate admission control, members of the public admitted to the venue will be required to wear a wristband provided by the REO for identification purpose. Public enquiries about the venue arrangement can be made at 3904 0290, which will operate from 10pm tomorrow until the announcement of the election result.

     Enquiries about the by-election can be made to the election hotline at 2891 1001, which will operate from 7am to 11pm tomorrow.

     A complaints hotline, 2827 7251, will also be in service from 7.30am to 11pm tomorrow to handle complaints about breaches of electoral rules and guidelines.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (November 25).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.