The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (August 30) gazetted a notice to invite tenders for the contract for Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area Second Phase Development – Contract 5 – Site Formation and Engineering Infrastructure Works (Contract No. YL/2023/05). The closing time for the tender is noon on November 8.
 
     The works mainly include:

1. site clearance and formation (including land decontamination works) for about 60 hectares of lands, together with provision of associated engineering infrastructure;
2. construction of primary distributor, district distributor and local roads connecting Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area to Ping Ha Road, Ha Tsuen Road and Castle Peak Road;
3. construction of vehicular bridges;
4. construction of pedestrian footbridges and associated stairs and lifts;
5. construction of cycle track cum pedestrian subways and associated retaining walls and lifts;
6. construction of a sewage pumping station;
7. construction of nature terrain hazard mitigation measures;
8. installation of closed circuit television cameras for traffic surveillance;
9. construction of associated works including water mains, drainage and sewerage works, district cooling mains, cycle tracks, footpaths, box culverts, junction improvement works, slope works, retaining walls, street furniture, landscaping works, electrical and mechanical works and other ancillary works; and
10. implementation of environmental mitigation measures (including noise barriers) and environmental monitoring works for the works mentioned above.

 
     The works are scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2025 and will take about 70 months to complete.
 
     The CEDD has commissioned Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS.

     Details of the tender notice are available at the CEDD's website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). For enquiries, please call Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited at 2268 3560 during office hours.

　　The Government announced today (August 30) that the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (SCST) has appointed three new members and reappointed 20 serving members to the Appeal Panel established under the Travel Industry Ordinance (Cap. 634) for a period of two years with effect from September 1, 2024.
     
     The membership of the Appeal Panel for the new term from September 1, 2024, is as follows:
 
Chairperson
——————–
Ms Ho Yuen-han
 
Other Members
——————–
Trade Members

Dr Stephen Chan Siu-lun
Ms Gloria Choi Ying-ching
Mr Andrew Leung Chi-kwan
Mr Jason Shum Jiu-sang
Mr Hazen Tang Tim-wan
Mr Jason Wong Chun-tat
Mr Jonathan Wong Tze-wing
Ms Christina Yuen Ho-yee
 
Non-trade Members

Mr Cheung Kam-leung
Ms Mindy Ho Sze-may*
Mr Frederick Hui Cheuk-kit
Mr Roger Kwan Ho-yeung
Mr Lam Chi-ki
Ms Mavis Lam Ching-heng
Mr Jimmy Poon Wing-fai
Ms Miranda So Man-wah*
Mr Aidan Tam Lon-foong
Ms Marina Tsang Tze-kwan
Ms Iris Wan Lai-sze
Ms Wong Chiu-pui
Ms Rachel Wong Sum-yee
Mr Micky Yip Tik-bun*
 
* new appointee
 
     The SCST appoints members to the Appeal Panel in accordance with section 117 of the Ordinance. Any person aggrieved by the Travel Industry Authority's decisions or orders as specified under section 120 of the Ordinance may lodge an appeal against such decisions or orders. Under section 121, after a notice of appeal has been received, the Chairperson of the Appeal Panel will appoint from the panel an appeal board to hear the appeal. The appeal board hearing the appeal may confirm, vary or reverse any decision or order to which the appeal relates.

     The Tuberculosis and Chest Service (TB&CS) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 30) the tuberculosis (TB) notification in educational institutions in the first half of 2024. The CHP urges the public, especially the stakeholders of schools, including school management, students and parents, to maintain personal and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent TB infections.
      
     The DH received 1 634 notifications of TB cases (provisional figure) from January to June 2024, among which 43 cases were aged 3 to 24 (usual school age), accounting for 2.63 per cent of the total notified cases in the same period. The corresponding proportion of TB cases for the above age group in the first half of 2022 and 2023 were 3.74 per cent and 3.00 per cent respectively. ​For TB in the school setting in Hong Kong, no TB clusters were found from January to June 2024.
 
     The above information has been uploaded to the TB&CS statistics webpage.
 
      "Early identification of TB cases and prompt initiation of anti-TB treatment remain the mainstay of TB control. While the TB notification rate in Hong Kong has showed a consistent decrease in the past few decades, TB remains a relatively common disease in Hong Kong. The DH has all along promoted awareness of TB and its prevention in schools, the community and the healthcare sector so as to facilitate early identification, diagnosis and effective control of the disease at its source," a spokesman for the DH said.
 
     The spokesman explained that TB is an airborne disease. When a TB patient coughs or sneezes, small droplets containing the tubercle bacilli are generated and spread in the air. If another person breathes in these small airborne droplets, he or she may be infected with the germ. Prolonged exposure, however, is usually the most important condition for the disease to be effectively transmitted.
 
     The TB&CS conducts contact investigations for the close contacts of the index case where necessary. The TB&CS has also prepared guidelines on handling TB cases in school settings for reference by schools. For more information, please refer to the guidelines available at www.info.gov.hk/tb_chest/en/contents/Guidelines_School.htm.
 
     Members of the public should maintain continued vigilance against TB and adopt a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, avoid smoking and alcohol, and have suitable exercise and adequate rest. If symptoms develop, such as persistent cough, blood in sputum, weight loss, fever and night sweating, they should seek prompt medical advice. If diagnosed as having TB, a patient should strengthen respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, and receive TB treatment under supervision. For more TB-related information, services and figures, the public may also visit the website of the TB&CS or call the telephone hotline (2572 6024).

     The Government announced today (August 30) the establishment of the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint Subcommittee (CMDBSC) under the Chinese Medicine Development Committee (CMDC) with a view to gathering a wider spectrum of views in formulating the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint.  

     The CMDBSC is tasked to make recommendations to the CMDC on concrete strategies for the overall development of Chinese medicine (CM), as well as the short, medium and long-term objectives and respective feasible initiatives for the long-term planning. Various working groups will be set up under the CMDBSC to enable more focused discussions on issues in different areas.

     The CMDBSC is chaired by the Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development of the Health Bureau (HHB). Members comprise different stakeholders from the CM sector and related sectors, with a view to fully incorporating the views of different sectors and addressing their concerns during the formulation of the Blueprint. Members of the CMDBSC include ex-officio members, Chairmen of the Chinese Medicine Practice Subcommittee (CMPSC) and Chinese Medicines Industry Subcommittee (CMISC) under the CMDC, representatives from the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and the schools of Chinese Medicine of three local universities, and persons from the fields of CM practice, CM drugs, other healthcare professions, testing, research and development, social services and education, etc.

     The two-year tenure of the CMDBSC will take effect from September 1, 2024. The membership list is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development (Dr Vincent Chung Chi-ho)

Non-official members
——————–
Chairman of the CMPSC (Professor Chan Wing-kwong) (Note 1)
Chairman of the CMISC (Mr Tommy Li Ying-sang) (Note 1)
Convener of the Working Group on the Development of Chinese Medicine Services (Dr Liong Ching) (Note 2)
Convener of the Working Group on the Development of Chinese Medicine Industry and Cultural Popularisation (Professor Dawn Au Ching-tung) (Note 2)
Convener of the Working Group on the Development of Chinese Medicine Profession and Talent Cultivation (Professor Kenny Chung Kiu-lam) (Note 2)
Representative of the CMHHK (Hospital Chief Executive, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang)
Representative of the School of Chinese Medicine of the Hong Kong Baptist University (Professor Li Min)
Representative of the School of Chinese Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Dr Sarah Chan Sze-nga)
Representative of the School of Chinese Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (Professor Shen Jiangang)
Professor Chair Sek-ying
Mr Chan Lin-chuen
Ms Jojo Chan Wing-yin
Mr Abraham Chan Yu-ling
Mr Chua Hoi-wai
Mr Koo Hoi-lun
Dr Kwok Tsz-kin
Mr Dominic Lam Chun-hong
Professor Cindy Lam Lo-kuen
Professor Simon Lee Ming-yuen
Professor Gilberto Leung Ka-kit
Professor Hector Tsang Wing-hong
Dr Wong Hung-ngan
Mr Nicholas Wong Lup-hoi

Ex-officio Members
——————–
Representative from the HHB
Representative from the Department of Health
Representative from the Hospital Authority

     The Chief Executive, in his 2023 Policy Address, put forward a number of policy initiatives in relation to the development of CM, including formulating in collaboration with the CM sector a Blueprint which will map out the vision and strategies for the future development of the CM sector in Hong Kong. The Blueprint, expected for release in 2025, covers a number of major areas and involves different stakeholders within and outside the CM sector, including but not limited to service development, talent training, professional development, industry development, scientific research and innovation, public education and cultural inheritance. 

     The Chinese Medicine Unit (CMU) of the HHB has commenced a series of stakeholder engagements since last September, including introducing to relevant advisory committees the direction in formulating the Blueprint and organising six CM development exchange sessions for stakeholders to express their views on different topics. Since the Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development assumed office in late May, the CMU has been maintaining close contact with local, Mainland and international stakeholders through different platforms and means, including participating in or organising various activities, meetings and exchange sessions to gain an in-depth understanding of the current situation of the CM sector and interact with stakeholders, and to explore the feasibility of different development directions and initiatives.

     The CMDBSC is one of the subcommittees under the CMDC which was established in 2013 and chaired by the Secretary for Health. The CMDC drives the direction and long-term strategies for the future development of CM in Hong Kong by providing recommendations to the Government on four key areas, namely the development of CM services, personnel training and professional development, scientific research and development, and development of the CM drug industry (including CM drug testing).

Note 1: The CMPSC and the CMISC are the standing subcommittees under the CMDC.
Note 2: The Working Group on the Development of Chinese Medicine Services, the Working Group on the Development of Chinese Medicine Industry and Cultural Popularisation, and the Working Group on the Development of Chinese Medicine Profession and Talent Cultivation are the working groups under the CMDBSC.

     The Government today (August 30) announced the appointment of Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing as the Chairman and Mr Frederick Poon Siu-chi as the Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) Council, as well as the appointment of three new members and reappointment of two incumbent members for a term of three years with effect from September 1, 2024.
 
     Also joining the Council as an ex-officio member will be Ms Kitty Yu Wai-hing, nominated by the Heads of Universities Committee (HUCOM).
 
     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, “A vital partner of the Education Bureau, the HKEAA has been committed to providing top-tier examination and assessment services. I am confident that, under the leadership of its newly appointed Chairman and the distinguished members from the education and other professional fields, the HKEAA will continue to leverage its professional knowledge and experience to further enhance the quality of its services for contribution to Hong Kong’s education and social development.”
 
     She expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Samuel Yung Wing-ki, for leading the HKEAA to overcome a number of challenges in recent years, including ensuring the smooth conduct of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) Examination during the epidemic and implementing a pilot scheme to set up two DSE examination centres on the Mainland. She also thanked the Deputy Chairman, Mr Yau Siu-hung; member Mr Jason Joseph Lee Kwong-yee, and ex-officio member Ms Dora Yue Kar-man, for their invaluable contributions to the work of the Authority.
 
     The HKEAA is a statutory body established under the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority Ordinance (Chapter 261) to conduct public examinations and other examinations or assessments approved by the Chief Executive. The composition of the Authority is stipulated in Schedule 2 of the Ordinance. Members of the Authority include school principals, teachers, representatives of tertiary institutions, a person who represents the interests of parents, and persons experienced in commerce, industry or a profession.  
                                                                                       
     Following is the membership list of the Council with effect from September 1, 2024:
 
Appointed members:
Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing (Chairman)*
Mr Frederick Poon Siu-chi (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Eric Chan Cheung-wai
Mr Kenny Chan Ngai-sang (reappointment)
Dr Cheung Pui-shan*
Mr Choy Sai-hung
Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung
Professor Alan Lam Hiu-fung*
Mr Lee Wai-hung (reappointment)
Mr Albert Su Yau-on*
Mr Addy Wong Wai-hung
 
Ex-officio members:
Two persons nominated by the HUCOM
The Chairman of the Curriculum Development Council, or his/her representative
The Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council, or his/her representative
The Permanent Secretary for Education, or his/her representative
The Secretary General of the HKEAA
 
*new member