The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 2) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From May 25 to yesterday (June 1), the CHP recorded one imported DF case. The patient had been to Malaysia during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday, 11 imported cases of DF had been recorded in 2023. In 2022, 26 imported cases of DF were recorded.

     The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some countries and areas in Southeast Asia and South America compared to the same period last year, and the trend is rising. Members of the public, while travelling abroad, should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

     "Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     â€‹DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

     â€‹The Home Affairs Department is opening 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (June 2).
 
     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
 
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
 
     The heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Island:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Wu Shan Road Community Hall
101 Wu Shan Road, Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
 
    In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 2) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2023.
 
     In the first quarter of 2023, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2.8% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 41.2 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 5.3% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 26.2 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 1.9% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 15.0 million tonnes.
 
     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2.5% in the first quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 0.5% and 5.8% respectively compared with the preceding quarter. The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorter-term comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends.
 
Port cargo
 
     Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 12.3% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 27.3 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 23.4% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 13.9 million tonnes.
 
     Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 6.4% and 4.1% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 13.7 million tonnes and 12.5 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) increased by 9.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 3.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment decreased by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 11.6 million tonnes.
 
     The detailed port cargo statistics are summarised in Table 1.
 
     The main countries/territories of loading of inward port cargo and countries/territories of discharge of outward port cargo are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.
 
     Comparing the first quarter of 2023 with the first quarter of 2022, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the United States of America (+15.2%), Indonesia (+10.7%) and the mainland of China (+10.6%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Taiwan (-41.2%), Vietnam (-30.4%), Korea (-23.5%), Japan (-23.4%) and Thailand (-17.2%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the mainland of China (+22.1%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-33.6%), the United States of America (-32.7%), Japan (-20.3%), Korea (-17.3%) and Australia (-16.9%).
 
     The principal commodities of inward port cargo and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
 
     Comparing the first quarter of 2023 with the first quarter of 2022, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+17.1%) and "stone, sand and gravel" (-14.7%). As for outward port cargo, triple-digit or double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+290.5%), "pulp and waste paper" (+32.3%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+16.1%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+15.2%) and "machinery" (-18.0%).
 
Containers
 
     In the first quarter of 2023, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.43 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 7.4% compared with the first quarter of 2022. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 9.3% to 2.72 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 1.0% to 0.71 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 10.1% and 8.4% to 1.46 million TEUs and 1.27 million TEUs respectively.
 
     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 5.2% in the first quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 5.1% and 5.4% respectively.
 
     In the first quarter of 2023, seaborne laden containers decreased by 16.9% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 1.93 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 16.4% to 0.79 million TEUs.
 
     Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 19.2% and 6.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 0.40 million TEUs and 1.06 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 18.5% and 5.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 0.27 million TEUs and 1.00 million TEUs respectively.
 
     The detailed container statistics are summarised in Table 6.
 
     Port cargo and laden container statistics are compiled from a sample of consignments listed in the cargo manifests supplied by shipping companies and agents to the C&SD.
 
Vessel arrivals
 
     Comparing the first quarter of 2023 with the first quarter of 2022, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 30.2% to 4 526, with the total capacity also increasing by 31.8% to 70.9 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 59.4% to 14 704, with the total capacity also increasing by 40.5% to 17.3 million net tons.
 
     The statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong are given in Table 7.
 
     Vessel statistics are compiled by the Marine Department primarily from general declarations submitted by ship masters and authorised shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.
 
Further information
 
     More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, First Quarter 2023". Users can download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020008&scode=230).
 
     For enquiries about port cargo and container statistics, please contact the Electronic Trading Services and Cargo Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 or email: shipping@censtatd.gov.hk). For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section under the Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel: 2852 3662 or email: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).

      The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (June 2) officiated at the activation ceremony for Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL)'s staff car park solar canopy project. This is the first project commenced since the introduction of the facilitation measures by the Government to support the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) system in open car parks by the private sector.
 
      Under this project, the solar PV system at HKDL's staff car park will cover 80 parking spaces, generating over 200 000 kWh of electricity annually that satisfies the electricity consumption of around 60 three-person families. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
 
      Speaking at the activation ceremony, Mr Tse said that the Government has been committed to creating favourable conditions for the private sector to develop renewable energy. He was also pleased to learn that HKDL responded to the Government's plan of controlling single-use plastics by stopping the provision of expanded polystyrene tableware, disposable plastic take-away containers, disposable straws and inflatable cheering sticks for audiences. He hopes that more organisations and community members will participate in the promotion of environmental protection and pursue decarbonisation.
 
       Mr Tse then visited various green facilities at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, including solar power generation systems, a lighting and air-conditioning monitoring system, a rainwater collection and computerised irrigation system, and a food waste collection system, etc, to understand the success of HKDL's green measures in promoting the development of renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency and waste reduction at source.
 
      Other officiating guests at the activation ceremony were the Managing Director of HKDL, Mr Michael Moriarty; Chief Building Surveyor of Buildings Department Mr William Poon; and Chief Engineer of Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Mr George Liu. Over 50 representatives from the New Territories West Elder Academies Cluster and school also participated in the event.
 
      The Government announced Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 in 2021, setting out four major decarbonisation strategies, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction. The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Development Bureau introduced a set of measures in April last year to facilitate the installation of solar PV systems in open car parks by the private sector, to assist applicants, including public organisations, to install solar PV systems not exceeding three metres in height in open car parks. In addition, the Buildings Department provides a fast-track mechanism to process and approve building plans and gross floor area concessions. Details of the facilitation measures have been uploaded to Hong Kong Renewable Energy Net of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (re.emsd.gov.hk/english/gen/facilitation_measures/open_car_park.html).