Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after attending the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Housing today (November 5):

Reporter: The residents in Tung Chung are suffering because of the influx of tourists. What do you have to say to them?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: We would be trying to do whatever we can to relieve their stress in terms of the influx of tourists to Tung Chung, and therefore we are looking into the possibility of whereabouts we can move the bus station. At the same time, we have to make sure that there would be sufficient space for the passengers to queue and make sure that the queuing is safe in terms of traffic.

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

The following is issued on behalf of the Business Facilitation Advisory Committee Secretariat:
 
     The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee held its 38th meeting today (November 5). At the meeting, members received a briefing from the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) on the various types of support available to the trade, and noted the World Bank's Doing Business 2019 Report released on October 31.
 
     The ITC briefed the Committee on the different funding schemes under the Innovation and Technology Fund which can help boost innovation and technology (I&T) capability in the manufacturing and services industries. The Committee was also briefed on the enhanced tax deduction measure for research and development (R&D) expenditure. The measure aims to encourage more investment by enterprises in local R&D projects in order to promote R&D activities and groom relevant talents in Hong Kong. Members were supportive of the enhanced tax deduction measure. They also said they appreciated the Government's continuous efforts in assisting the trades in the application of I&T, as well as in pursuing R&D with a view to enhancing their competitiveness.
 
     Regarding the Doing Business 2019 Report, the Chairman of the BFAC, Mr Wong Ting-kwong, said, "We are highly encouraged that Hong Kong moved one place up this year and was ranked the fourth on the ease of doing business globally. This is a recognition of the Government's good work in business facilitation." The Committee also expressed its appreciation of the commitment and achievements of the bureaux and departments in further enhancing their business licensing services under the "Be the Smart Regulator" Programme.
 
     The Committee also noted the work of its three task forces:
 
Wholesale and Retail Task Force (WRTF)
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* With effect from August 2018, operators selling prepacked ready-to-eat food requiring hot holding by means of vending machines were required to obtain a permit from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Appreciating the FEHD's efforts in discussing with the trade before implementing the licensing control, the WRTF also supported the relevant control, which would help ensure food safety and protect public health.
 
* The Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 will come into effect on November 30, 2018. Under the Ordinance, no person shall sell or supply intoxicating liquor to minors in the course of business, or sell intoxicating liquor through vending machines. The WRTF welcomed the legislation, which would protect young people from the influence of alcohol. It also appreciated the Department of Health's efforts in preparing guidelines to facilitate the compliance of the trade, as well as its publicity work on the legislation through various channels.
 
Food Business and Related Services Task Force (FRSTF)
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* The FEHD, the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department and the Independent Checking Unit of the Transport and Housing Bureau reviewed the food business licence application procedures and proposed to implement measures to help applicants obtain full licences in a timely manner. Relevant departments also reviewed the existing procedures on the processing of applications for layout plan alterations and proposed enhancement measures. The FRSTF welcomed the departments' efforts to address the trade's concern.
 
Task Force on Business Liaison Groups
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* The Task Force on Business Liaison Groups noted that a number of facilitation measures will be implemented progressively in 2018-19, including facilitating the trade in applying for installation of improvised sprinkler systems in premises located in old composite buildings to meet licensing requirements, facilitating licence applications for purpose-built hotels, and providing greater flexibility for club operators to alter their seating layout to suit operational needs.
 
     Papers of the Committee meeting are available at www.gov.hk/en/business/supportenterprises/bf/advisory/index.htm for public access.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 5) investigating a case of ginkgo seed poisoning and hence reminded members of the public not to consume large amounts of ginkgo seeds.

     The case involves a 38-year-old woman, who developed dizziness, nausea, tremor, headache and abdominal pain about one and a half hours after consuming around 50 to 60 fried ginkgo seeds purchased from a street hawker in Prince Edward on November 3. The patient was admitted to United Christian Hospital yesterday (November 4) and was discharged after treatment on the same day. She has been in a stable condition all along.

     "Natural toxins are present in a wide variety of plants, some of which are commonly consumed as food, including ginkgo seeds. Ginkgo seeds contain toxins which are mainly neurotoxic. Vomiting, irritability and tonic or clonic convulsions are the typical symptoms in ginkgo seed poisoning and usually begin one to 12 hours after ingestion. Children are especially susceptible to this type of food poisoning. In severe cases where large amounts have been taken or in susceptible individuals, loss of consciousness and death may occur," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

     "It has been reported that ingestion of 10 to 50 pieces of cooked ginkgo seeds at one time can cause acute poisoning in humans. The unripe and uncooked seeds are more toxic and the toxicity is reduced after cooking," the spokesman added.

     The spokesman appealed to the public not to consume raw ginkgo seeds and should limit the intake. Particular attention should be given to children, the elderly and individuals with poor health conditions. If symptoms of poisoning develop, they should immediately consult medical professionals for advice and prompt treatment.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 in a female ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following update today (November 5):
 
     One more patient (aged 54) in the ward has presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patient and the test results were positive for Parainfluenza Virus Type 3. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation and is in a 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.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Wong Ka-hing, this morning (November 5) visited Maryknoll Fathers' School (Primary Section) in Sham Shui Po to observe the outreach vaccination arrangements under the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme.
 
     Professor Chan said, "The winter influenza peak usually occurs during January to March or April every year in Hong Kong. Besides high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and immunocompromised patients, healthy people may also contract influenza and develop complications. Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is one of the safe and effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications.
 
     "To increase the SIV uptake rate among primary school children, the DH introduced the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme this year to reach out to 184 primary schools and provide SIV to their students through a Government Outreach Team or a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Team. As of November 1, 2018, over 16 000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered via the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme in 31 schools.
 
     Under the pilot scheme, the DH arranged for a PPP Team to provide outreach vaccination today at the primary school that Professor Chan visited. Some 480 pupils consented to receive SIV at the school, representing around 70 per cent of the total number of pupils.
 
     She learnt that the DH's procurement and delivery of vaccines for the PPP teams have been smooth under the pilot scheme. The DH also arranges to collect unused vaccines and clinical waste, as well as provides administrative support. A total of 36 doctors were recruited to participate in the PPP. An injection fee of $70 per dose is provided to the PPP doctors.
 
     Professor Chan added, "The DH also encourages primary schools, kindergartens and child care centres (KGs/CCCs) not participating in the pilot programme to arrange outreach vaccination for their students through the Enhanced Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) Outreach Vaccination. As of end-October, 2018, a total of 69 primary schools and 73 KGs/CCCs notified the DH that they would arrange outreach vaccination via the Enhanced VSS programme. In addition, eligible persons can also receive subsidised or free SIV vaccination via the VSS and the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) respectively."
 
     As of November 1, 2018, around 25 000 doses had been administered via the Enhanced VSS Outreach Vaccination. Meanwhile, over 87 000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered via the GVP and over 174 000 doses via the VSS (including the Enhanced VSS Outreach Vaccination), representing increases of 21 per cent and 54 per cent respectively from the same period in the 2017/18 season.