The Government announced today (November 12) the establishment of the Special Registration Committee (SRC) in accordance with the amended Medical Registration Ordinance and the appointment of Professor Grace Tang Wai-king as the SRC Chairperson, and Mr Chan Wing-kai, Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung and Mr Anthony Wu Ting-yuk as members. Their term of office will run from November 15, 2021, for three years.  

     Professor Grace Tang Wai-king, Mr Chan Wing-kai and Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung will join the SRC in their capacity as members of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK). Their term of office as SRC members will cease when they are no longer members of the MCHK. Apart from the four members appointed by the Chief Executive, there are also six ex-officio members in the SRC.

     As a statutory body under the MCHK, the SRC is responsible for determining the list of recognised medical qualifications after reviewing programmes offered by non-local medical schools with quality comparable to those provided by the two medical schools in Hong Kong. It will submit the list to the Registrar of Medical Practitioners (i.e. the Director of Health) for promulgation. Non-locally trained doctors who possess the recognised medical qualifications, subject to their fulfilment of certain criteria, may apply for special registration to practise in the public healthcare institutions. After serving for a certain period, obtaining recognised specialist qualifications and passing stringent assessment, they would be granted full registration to practise in Hong Kong.

     The Government expects the SRC to determine the first batch of recognised medical qualifications within the first half of 2022 to allow qualified non-locally trained doctors to serve in the public healthcare institutions in Hong Kong under special registration.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said, "In view of the shortage of doctors in the public healthcare system, members of the public hope that more qualified non-locally trained doctors would come to work in Hong Kong. Given Professor Tang's wealth of experience in medical education and public service, I am confident that the SRC is capable of discharging its statutory duties effectively under her leadership and will be able to draw up the list of recognised medical qualifications as soon as possible.

     "The other three members have substantial experience and expertise in different areas, including accounting, legal services and patients' rights. We are confident that they, alongside the other six senior executives of public healthcare institutions and statutory bodies, will provide valuable advice and ensure that the SRC will draw up the list in a smooth and timely manner."

     The membership list of the SRC is as follows:
 

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (November 12) launched a free online programme, "A Closer Look at Western Orchestras", at the department's Edutainment Channel. This eight-episode programme offers a fun-filled introduction to an orchestra, including its historical development and music genres, the role of conductors, musicians and the supporting team behind the scenes as well as concert etiquette. Hosted by Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra Jeff Leung, the first episode of the programme is now available at the channel.
 
     The content of each episode is outlined below.
 
Episode 1: The Orchestra (available online)
Introducing the historical development of the orchestra, its basic composition and its "four families of instruments".
 
Episode 2: The Musicians
Introducing the establishment and seating arrangements of the musicians and placement of instrumental groups in an orchestral set-up.
Guest: Renowned local violinist, Dr Kitty Cheung
 
Episodes 3 and 4: The Conductor
Sharing the work of conductors and their important roles in orchestras.
Guest: Music Director Emeritus of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Ms Yip Wing-sie
 
Episodes 5 and 6: The Music
Introducing the symphonies of different musical periods, and the music genres performed by orchestras on different occasions.
 
Episode 7: Behind the Scenes
Sharing by stage and production manager and a librarian who manages orchestra scores on their daily work.
 
Episode 8: The Audience
An elaboration of selected stage details and etiquette for enjoying orchestral concerts from the perspective of an audience.
 
     The free online programme "A Closer Look at Western Orchestras" is conducted in Cantonese, and each episode is approximately five minutes long. To watch the programme, please visit the LCSD's Edutainment Channel at www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/performing_arts/page_640.html. Details and the release schedule of other episodes will be announced in due course on the programme website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1246.html. For programme enquiries or more information, please call 2268 7321.

     The Highways Department (HyD) today (November 12) invited tenders for "Provision of Universal Accessibility Facilities at Footbridges, Elevated Walkways and Subways – Package 5 Contract 2" (Contract No. HY/2021/16).

     The works are scheduled to commence in February 2022 and will take about 36 months to complete. The works will mainly include:

(i) construction of 31 lifts at 17 walkways in Tai Po, Yuen Long, and North District; and
(ii) associated civil works, electrical and mechanical works, geotechnical works, roads and drainage works, modification works for the existing walkways, landscaping works and lighting works.
      
     The HyD has appointed Mannings (Asia) Consultants Limited (MACL) as the consultant to design and supervise the construction works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from the office of MACL at 5/F, Winning Commercial Building, 46-48 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
      
     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. Submission of tenders will close at noon on December 24 (Friday). Tender submissions should be placed in the Government Secretariat Tender Box located at the lobby of the Public Entrance on G/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.
      
     For enquiries, please call MACL at 3168 2028.

     The Government today (November 12) announced that the 37th round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly.
 
     In accordance with section 10(1) of the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), the Secretary for Food and Health issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday (November 11), requiring persons who are employed by and will be on duty at RCHEs, RCHDs, nursing homes and day service units attached to the premises of residential care homes during the period from November 24 to 30, 2021, or who will provide services to residents or users through hire-of-service contracts with residential care homes and the aforementioned units during that period (including full-time, part-time and relief staff), to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 during the period from November 17 to 23, 2021, according to the requirements and procedure set out in the notice (the Specified Test). The samples must be collected by using combined nasal and throat swabs and must not be taken by the person to be tested. However, persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course (i.e. received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the end of the testing period) are not required to undergo the Specified Test. Persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course in places outside Hong Kong (i.e. received the recommended dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine as stipulated in relevant guidelines at least 14 days before the end of the testing period, and the vaccine used is included on the list of vaccines recognised for specified purposes as published on www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/list_of_recognised_covid19_vaccines.pdf), are also not required to undergo the Specified Test.
 
     The staff of the aforementioned institutions may choose the following means to undergo the Specified Test:
 
(1) To undergo the Specified Test in any of the Community Testing Centres (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en), Temporary Testing Centres (if any) (see the list at www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_supportser/sub_ttc), or mobile specimen collection stations (if any) (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) in accordance with the instructions given by the staff at the centre/station;
 
(2) To have a sample collected by a healthcare professional or trained personnel as arranged by institution operators at a laboratory listed on the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf); or
 
(3) To self-arrange testing provided by a laboratory listed on the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" at their own expense (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf) and the sample through a combined nasal and throat swab must not be taken by the person himself or herself.
 
     Any person who fails to comply with the testing notice commits an offence and may be subject to a fixed penalty of $5,000. He or she would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.
 
     A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said that the SWD and the Department of Health would issue letters to institutions to inform them of the relevant arrangements and requirements. The spokesman reminded that staff of the said institutions who would undergo testing at community testing centres should make an advance booking via the community testing centre booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk) for the free testing service. In addition, institution operators should remind their staff members to properly keep the SMS notifications of their test results or their test result reports.
 
     Institution operators are required to keep records of their staff having received the Specified Test and the results within the time frame specified by the Government. They are also required to keep the list of staff members who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course. Institution operators also have to co-operate with Checking Officers (Compulsory Testing) of the SWD who are enforcing the Regulation at residential care homes.
 
     The SWD spokesman said that starting from the 26th round of compulsory testing, staff members who have not been vaccinated and do not have medical certificates certifying that they are unfit to receive a COVID-19 vaccination owing to health reasons have to undergo compulsory testing at their own expense. The Government will continue to monitor the epidemic situation and make adjustments to the aforementioned testing policy after taking the overall anti-epidemic measures into account. Although staff members who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course are exempted from the regular compulsory testing, they can still receive free testing if they voluntarily choose to undergo the test for the time being.

     The Chief Executive in Council has authorised the proposed road improvement works at the Heung Fan Liu area. The notice was gazetted today (November 12).

     Details of the works are set out in the Annex.