Tag Archives: China

     To enhance the public’s understanding of transitional housing and to facilitate the people in need to make an application, the Housing Bureau (HB) will organise the third Transitional Housing Open Day on September 14 (Saturday). Twelve operating organisations will set up booths to introduce the living environment, community services, ancillary transport facilities and amenities of various projects. On-site applications will also be accepted.
 
     Details of the open day are as follows:
 
Date: September 14 (Saturday)
Time: 11am to 4pm
Venue: Kwai Fong Community Hall (2 Lai Fong Street, Kwai Chung)
 
     Round-trip shuttle buses to the transitional housing projects below will also be provided on the day. As seats are limited, interested participants will need to pre-register on-site. Details of the shuttle bus services are as follows:
 

Transitional Housing Project	Departure time (from Kwai Fong Community Hall)
(1) Lok Sin Village at Wong Yue Tan, Plover Cove, Tai Po (passing by the Good House at Shuen Wan, Ting Kok Road, Tai Po with introduction on the shuttle bus)	12.30pm
(2) CONCORDIA Tsat Sing Kong at Tsat Sing Kong, Pat Heung and Kam Tin, Yuen Long (passing by the CONCORDIA Sheung Yue River at Fan Kam Road, Yuen Long with introduction on the shuttle bus)
(3) The STEP at Ngau Tam Mei North (San Tam Road), Yuen Long (passing by Ngau Tam Mei South (Chun Shin Road), Yuen Long with introduction on the shuttle bus)
(4) Pok Oi Sing Ping Village at Ping Che Road, Ta Kwu Ling

 
     More information on transitional housing can be found on the thematic website (www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/transitional/index.html). read more

     With the commencement of the new school year, the Department of Health (DH) today (September 12) appeals to all eligible primary and secondary school students to enrol for the annual health assessment service provided by the DH’s Student Health Service (SHS) in the 2024/25 school year.  

     The DH’s SHS has all along been dedicated to safeguarding the physical and psychological health of students through health promotion and disease prevention services. To identify health problems at an early stage for timely advice and intervention, enrolled students will be arranged to attend a designated Student Health Service Centre (SHSC) to receive a health assessment, individual counselling and health education services. The SHSCs will provide a series of health services to meet students’ health needs in different stages of their development, including screenings for health problems related to growth, vision, hearing and scoliosis; physical examinations; psychosocial health and health behaviour; individual counselling; health education and mop-up vaccinations. Students found to have health problems will be referred to the Special Assessment Centres of the SHS, specialist clinics of the Hospital Authority, or other organisations as appropriate for further assessment and management. For instance, in the 2022/23 school year, approximately 13 per cent of primary and secondary school students were referred to optometrists of the Special Assessment Centres for further vision assessments owing to failed vision screening in the SHSCs and other reasons.

     Through the efforts of various parties including the Government, schools and parents, more than 417 000 primary and secondary school students attended annual health assessment at the SHSCs in the 2023/24 school year, with an overall attendance rate of 71.3 per cent (up to August 31), which is higher than the level of the 2018/19 school year (69.9 per cent) before the outbreak of COVID-19.

     Enrolment for the annual health assessment service of the 2024/25 school year is now open. The enrolment forms have already been distributed to parents/guardians/students through the schools. Parents/guardians/students who have not yet enrolled are urged to enrol through their schools.

     To streamline the enrolment procedures and further encourage students’ participation, the SHS is piloting the Online Enrolment Scheme (E-enrolment) in the 2024/25 school year. Schools participating in the E-enrolment will provide a unique QR code to their students and parents/guardians to facilitate their access to the online enrolment platform. Currently, a total of 70 schools have participated in the E-enrolment. The DH will review the experience of the E-enrolment and determine the schedule for full implementation of the online enrolment arrangement.

     Besides the health assessment service to individual students, the SHS also assists schools in carrying out school-based health promotion work in a more comprehensive and effective manner. To echo the health-promoting school concept of the World Health Organization, the DH has launched the Whole School Health Programme since the 2023/24 school year, aiming to improve the health of students, school personnel, as well as that of families and other members of the community through schools. The programme covers four themes including physical activity, healthy eating, mental health and social well-being.

     Furthermore, to promote students’ mental health and empower them to cope with the challenges and difficulties encountered in the new school year, the SHS has released a series of mental health messages and basic life skill tips via the thematic website YouthCan (www.youthcan.hk/en/theme/new-school-year/index.html).

     For more information about SHS and enrolment, as well as health tips for students and parents, please visit www.studenthealth.gov.hk/eindex.html. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 12) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of high… read more

     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) conducted an operation codenamed “Thunderstone” yesterday (September 11) against the illegal sale of alternative smoking products (ASPs). A heated tobacco device and a batch of 400 suspected ASPs were seized during the operation.
      
     Through in-depth investigations, officers of the TACO yesterday conducted an operation by posing as customers to contact people suspected of selling ASPs illegally. In the operation, a heated tobacco device and a batch of 400 suspected ASPs were seized. Officers initiated an investigation against a 28-year-old man for suspecting of selling ASPs and possessing ASPs for commercial purposes. Charges will be laid against offender(s) when sufficient evidence is found.
      
     The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) prohibits the promotion, manufacture, sale and possession for commercial purposes of ASPs. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
      
     A spokesman for the DH said that the department will continue to take stringent enforcement action. The spokesman also cautioned against the use of any ASPs and stressed that these products contain amounts of nicotine similar to those of conventional cigarettes in order to sustain addiction. In addition, health hazards of long-term exposure to these new products are unknown. The Government appeals to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. They are encouraged to call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183. The hotline is operated by registered nurses and provides professional counselling services on smoking cessation. Information on smoking cessation can also be obtained from www.livetobaccofree.hk.

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     Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation between August 28 and September 9 to combat the sale of counterfeit mooncakes and festive goods. A total of 26 boxes of suspected counterfeit mooncakes and over 560 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including lanterns and tableware, with a total estimated market value of about $28,000, were seized. Five persons were arrested.

     Customs earlier carried out cyber patrols and made use of a big data analytics system to conduct risk assessments and analyses. It was found that suspected counterfeit mooncakes had been put on sale at online platforms. On the other hand, during patrols in various districts, Customs found that suspected counterfeit lanterns were being sold at retail shops. 

     Later, Customs officers posed as customers and conducted test purchases. Followed by an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of trademark owners, enforcement actions were conducted on consecutive days. During the operation, Customs officers identified two online platform accounts suspected of selling counterfeit mooncakes and searched a residential unit in Southern District, resulting in seizures of the batch of suspected counterfeit mooncakes and tableware. Also, Customs officers raided three retail shops in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long where the batch of suspected counterfeit lanterns was seized. 

     During the operation, two men and three women, aged between 21 and 70, were arrested. 

     The investigation is ongoing. Customs is looking into the source of the goods involved in the cases, and samples of the seized mooncakes will be sent to the Government Laboratory for safety testing.  

     With the Mid-Autumn Festival around the corner, Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcement to combat counterfeiting activities involving the sale of festive food and goods.

     Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at street shops or online shops with a good reputation and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     Customs also reminds sellers not to sell counterfeit goods and to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     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.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

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