Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
As the Hong Kong Observatory has cancelled all typhoon warning signals, the Civil Engineering and Development Department today (September 6) announced that the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point will be reopened at 11am for public use.
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 6) that the shark prevention net at Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District has been repaired and the beach is reopened.
The beach was temporarily closed earlier for shark prevention net maintenance work.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) delegation concluded a five-day visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong today (September 5). The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, said that the visit will enhance communications and mutual understandings among healthcare professionals of the two places, amid support the exploration of future collaboration in healthcare services and talent exchanges.
Mr Fan said, "The delegation held meetings with the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and visited several renowned healthcare institutes, namely the Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliate to Capital Medical University, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital and Peking Union Medical College Hospital in the past five days. We learned about the latest development of healthcare institutes in Beijing and exchanged views on issues with common concern regarding public hospital management and development, laying a solid foundation for future collaborations."
Mr Fan added that the public healthcare services in Hong Kong and Beijing can learn from each other, and are looking forward to further collaboration in hospital management and services development, such as talent training and exchanges so as to enhance collaboration at organisational level for the quality of healthcare services in both places. The HA will continue to maintain close tie with the healthcare institutes in Beijing for the wellbeing of patients.
The delegation also participated in the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), including the CIFTIS's Thematic Exhibition on Health Services. The HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko, said, "We showcased HA's achievements in technology and innovation, including the Clinical Management System developed by the HA, to the participants from different countries and places, allowing them to understand the integration of medical services and information platforms, accessibility of health informatics in all HA public hospitals that support medical professionals to provide quality healthcare services to Hong Kong citizens.”
In the exhibition, the HA also exhibited the two Ten-year Hospital Development Blueprints, shared the experience of talent exchanges and introduced the Global Healthcare Talent Scheme, as well as the health management solutions for Hong Kong citizens, Data Collaboration Laboratory and clinical artificial intelligence projects.
The HA delegation also participated in the Beijing International Conference for Public Health Cooperation held under the CIFTIS and had in-depth exchanges with different medical and health experts.
Upon invitation by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission (BJHC), the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, led representatives of the department to Beijing to attend the Global Trade in Services Summit, Hygiene and Health Services Thematic Exhibition, and Beijing International Conference for Public Health Cooperation of the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services, as well as to have work meeting with the BJHC. The visit concluded today (September 5). During his stay, Dr Lam also met relevant health and drug regulatory authorities with a view to further deepening exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland in various public health aspects.
Dr Lam called on the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control (NADPC) and had a meeting with the Vice-minister cum member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the National Health Commission (NHC) and the Director cum secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the NADPC, Mr Wang Hesheng. They discussed the forthcoming in-depth co-operation and set up of standing mechanism for conducting exercises on public health emergency responsiveness; nurturing talent for communicable diseases and various aspects on disease control and prevention. Dr Lam then visited the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and had a meeting with the member of the Leading Party Members' Group cum Deputy Commissioner of the NMPA, Mr Zhao Junning, to exchange views on enhancing the development of regulation of medicine and medical devices, facilitating the co-operation in Greater Bay Areas, as well as aligning with international standards. In addition, Dr Lam visited the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control and met with Director for Drug Safety of NMPA cum Director General of National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Mr Li Bo, to have in-depth exchanges on updating co-operation agreement on testing of Chinese medicine standards, setting of standard, establishment of Chinese Medicines Herbarium in the future in Hong Kong and future development initiatives of both sides (including the Greater Bay Area). Later, Dr Lam visited the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) and called on member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the NHC and Director cum secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the NATCM, Professor Yu Yanhong, to discuss issues including the regulation and development of Chinese medicine, including setting up of Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute and the relevant scientific research projects.
During his meeting with BJHC, Dr Lam reviewed the achievements of the memorandum of understanding between Beijing Municipal Health Commission and Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region throughout the years with the Party Committee Secretary cum vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, Mr Zhong Dongbo, and the Director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, Mr Liu Juncai. They also reached a consensus on the agenda items of the Beijing-Hong Kong High-level Symposium on Health Cooperation to be held in Hong Kong in the second half of this year.
Besides, Dr Lam also toured the Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University to learn more about application of innovation and technology in the development of smart hospitals and the facilitation of drug development as well as the transformation of into medical research and application.
Concluding the visit, Dr Lam pointed out that the Mainland and Hong Kong's health and drug regulatory authorities have maintained close exchanges, enhancing the responsiveness to public health emergency and safeguarding the health and well-being of the people of both sides. Efforts will be made by both sides to strengthen collaboration among the Greater Bay areas in healthcare aspect. Hong Kong will fully committed to support the Mainland's development on international platforms of regulating medicine and medical devices, giving full play to the Hong Kong's important role as the gateway of the Mainland to international markets and serve as the bridgehead.
The delegation includes the Head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, and the Assistant Director of Health (Health Sciences and Technology), Dr Alice Wong.
Hong Kong Customs today (September 5) arrested two salesmen of a medicine shop suspected to have applied a false trade description in the course of selling a proprietary medicine, and engaged in unfair trade practices involving a misleading omission in the course of selling Chinese medicines, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
A Customs officer this afternoon, disguised as customer, conducted a test-buy operation at a medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui. A salesman was suspected of making a false claim in the course of selling a medicine by saying that it was a particular brand of medicine. However, the officer later found that the medicine was not the brand specified by the salesman.
Separately, the same salesman, during the course of selling three types of Chinese medicines, was also suspected of providing untimely material information about the total price of the Chinese medicines. The total price of the medicines was revealed only after they were ground by another salesman, and that the price was almost eight times higher than what was expected. Customs officers subsequently arrested the two salesmen, aged 49 and 32 respectively.
An investigation is ongoing and the two arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase products from reputable shops. Consumers should also be cautious about the unit price and ask for more information, including the total price of the goods selected, before making a purchase decision.
Under the TDO, any person who in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any goods commits an offence. Any trader who engages in a commercial practice that omits or hides material information or provides material information in a manner that is unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely, and as a result causes, or is likely to cause, an average consumer to make a transactional decision, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction of two offences is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Moreover, Customs has established the Quick Response Team to handle urgent complaints lodged by short-haul visitors in contravention of the TDO. To address the pressing needs of tourists, complaints will be promptly referred and handled with priority.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO 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/).