The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As the moon reaches its fullest and brightest, the Mid-Autumn Festival highlights the theme of unity.
 
     Tomorrow (September 17) marks the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Hospital Authority (HA) has organised various celebratory activities for patients, allowing them to experience the festive spirit even while undergoing treatment in hospitals.
 
     The festival embodies the meaning of unity. The healthcare team and volunteers express their warm wishes through thoughtful gifts, including healthy mooncakes symbolising reunion, lanterns signifying brightness and good fortune, charming handcrafted mooncake decorations, and delightful healthy custard buns shaped like bears.
 
     The HA extends its wishes for a speedy recovery to all patients, hoping for a joyful reunion under the full moon.
 

        

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 16) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From September 8 to 14, the CHP recorded three community-acquired LD cases:
 

1. A female patient, aged 60 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Tai Po District;
2. A male patient, aged 66 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Shatin District; and
3. A male patient, aged 68 with good past health, who lives in Yau Tsim Mong District.

     "Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     As of September 14, 81 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2023 and 2022, there were 121 and 80 cases respectively.

     "Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels," the spokesman said.

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Immunocompromised persons should:
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily. 

     
     The public should observe the health advice below:
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes: 

1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     â€‹â€‹The public may visit the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, witnessed the triumph of the Hong Kong, China delegation at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 in Lyon, France, on September 15 (France time). The delegation achieved the best ever results in the Competition with a total of one gold medal, one silver medal and two bronze medals.

     This year, the Hong Kong, China delegation, comprising 37 skilled elites from various local institutions, participated in 32 skills competitions. Among them, Chan Wing-ki won a gold medal in Visual Merchandising, Yiu Ho-man won a silver medal in Pâtisserie and Confectionery, Wong Fu-tung and Wan Ka-chi won a bronze medal in Aircraft Maintenance and Cloud Computing respectively.

     The delegation also won medallions for excellence in 10 competition trades, including 3D Digital Game Art, Bakery, Fashion Technology, Graphic Design Technology, Information Network Cabling, Joinery, Mechatronics, Mobile Applications Development, Restaurant Service and Welding; and a medallion for excellence in Rail Vehicle Technology, a demonstration trade.

     Dr Choi attended the closing ceremony of the WorldSkills Competition and the prize presentation ceremony of the Hong Kong, China delegation, and exchanged views with the contestants. She highly praised the team for their excellent performance in the Competition, noting that they have won the highest number of awards and achieved the best ever results since Hong Kong first participated in the WorldSkills Competition in 1997. She also commended Hong Kong contestants for showcasing their best performance and fully demonstrating the talent and perseverance of Hong Kong youth in the international arena.

     She said that the Government, industry and vocational and professional education and training (VPET) institutions will spare no effort and continue to work together to nurture more VPET talent to achieve the aim of providing an alternative pathway to success and creating strong impetus for the development of Hong Kong.

     At their meeting with Dr Choi, the contestants said that VPET not only helps them acquire professional skills, industry knowledge and soft skills, but also benefits them with diverse learning, exchanges and internship opportunities.

     In their sharing, the contestants also said that the Competition has refined their time management and problem-solving abilities, and taught them to stay calm when facing challenges. They also made use of this treasured opportunity to exchange techniques with contestants from around the world to elevate their skill level and learn about the latest industry trends to broaden their horizons. They believed that there would be ample development opportunities for their future career.

     Organised biennially by WorldSkills International, the WorldSkills Competition is the largest skills competition in the world and hailed as the "Skills Olympics". This year, the event attracted more than 1 400 participants from nearly 70 countries and regions.

     Dr Choi will continue her visit to Lyon on September 16 (France time), and then depart for Toulouse to attend the European Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition.

            

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC) held a welcome home reception at Ma On Shan Sports Centre, Sha Tin, today (September 16) to greet the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games returning from the Games.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the reception. He presented certificates of commendation to the Hong Kong athletes who participated in the Games in recognition of their excellent performance at the Games; and extended his appreciation to the coaches, medical team and staff of the Delegation, as well as the relevant sports committees and sports associations.

     Mr Lee said that the athletes overcame their physical limitations to compete in the Games, showcasing their indomitable sportsmanship. When they step onto the field, they show the world the Hong Kong spirit of becoming stronger in the face of challenges. They serve as examples of telling good Hong Kong stories on the international stage.

     The Government has long been supporting the development of sports for persons with disabilities (PWDs), and the resources allocated to athletes with disabilities have been increasing. In this financial year, the Government has allocated over $130 million for promoting the development of sports for PWDs, an increase of over 40 per cent compared to five years ago. In collaboration with the HKPC, the Government has launched a five-year pilot programme on career and education for athletes with disabilities to assist them in acquiring the necessary knowledge and skill sets for their post-athletic transformation. The programme will help them start their "second careers", allowing them to focus on their training and competition without worries. Mr Lee added that the outstanding performance of the athletes in the Paris Paralympic Games reflects the effectiveness of the Government's efforts in promoting disability sports.

     The 2024 Paralympic Games was held between August 28 and September 8 this year in Paris, France. A total of 23 Hong Kong athletes were sent to take part in eight competition events, namely archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, equestrian, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. With their exceptional skills and perseverance, the Hong Kong team won eight medals in total, including three gold, four silver and one bronze medals in the events of swimming, boccia and badminton. Their performance was impressive, and the results were exciting.

     Also attending the event today were the Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Songmiao; Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr Fang Jianming; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Christile Drulhe; the President of the HKPC, Mrs Jenny Fung; the Chef de Mission of Hong Kong, China Delegation to Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Dr John Leung; and the Honorary President of the HKPC, Dr York Chow.

     After the reception, Mr Lee hosted a luncheon at Government House to commend the Delegation for their efforts and outstanding performance in the Games.

            

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (September 16) the September 2024 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).

     Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled "Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 2013 to 2023" and "Statistics on Sectoral Concentration". Statistics presented in the "Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 2013 to 2023" article are based on the data source from the Social Welfare Department.

"Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 2013 to 2023"

     According to the data source from the Social Welfare Department, the total number of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) cases has decreased gradually at an average rate of 2.6% per annum in the past decade. The number of cases fell from about 260 000 as at end 2013 to about 200 000 as at end 2023. Larger decreases were noted in low-earnings cases (-15.9% per annum on average) and single parent cases (-3.5% per annum on average). There were 273 941 CSSA recipients as at end 2023, representing a drop of 30.6% when compared with end 2013.

     This feature article describes the major changes in the number of CSSA cases and recipients during the period from 2013 to 2023.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Research and Statistics Section of the Social Welfare Department (Tel: 2892 5225; email: rsenq@swd.gov.hk).

"Statistics on Sectoral Concentration"

     A wide range of statistical indicators can be compiled from the results of the Annual Survey of Economic Activities conducted by the Census and Statistics Department for analysing the business situation and performance of various economic sectors in Hong Kong. Among others, statistics on sectoral concentration can throw light on the extent of business concentration within individual sectors.

     This feature article analyses the extent of business concentration in selected economic sectors of Hong Kong by making reference to the Concentration Ratios and Herfindahl-Hirschman Indices compiled in terms of business receipts in 2021 and 2022. It is an update of similar articles on the same subject published in preceding years.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7398; email: asw@censtatd.gov.hk).

     Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 130 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460).

     Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).