Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 23) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, January 23, the CHP was investigating 2 230 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 486 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (171 confirmed cases, 88 asymptomatic cases and 227 cases with pending status) and 1 744 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 41 additional imported cases were reported, including nine cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (four confirmed cases and five asymptomatic cases) and 32 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 1 212 926 and 1 647 399 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations of the cases. Please refer to the Annex and the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.

     The CHP has been closely monitoring the situation of positive cases involving mutant strains by genetic analysis. The accumulative figures of cases identified by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) as well as the proportion of sub-lineage and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) of the Omicron mutant strain among the specimens received by the DH’s PHLSB for verification testing of local cases are listed in the Annex.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, January 23, a total of 12 954 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 12 820 and 127 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as seven deaths reported from private hospitals. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 13 167 death cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (January 22), the total number of confirmed cases was 531 049, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1, 2022, were 418 462, 31 and 262 889 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP said that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who have yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients, children and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected.

     The CHP appeals to the community to keep on maintaining personal hygiene and comply with relevant mask requirements in order to jointly contain the risk of virus transmission. The spokesman reminded members of the public that they can call various hotlines to make enquiries on COVID-19 (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#hotline). read more

     The Principal Officials (POs) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (January 23) continued to participate in the Chinese New Year Home Visit Programme co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Departmen… read more

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Yellow fire danger warning      The fire danger situation today (January 23) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hik… read more

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) is supporting the seventh edition of the “Legends of Lion Dance” held in the port city of Belgium, Antwerp, from January 13 to 29 (Antwerp time), showcasing Hong Kong’s cultural heritage, crafts and Chinese New Year traditions.

     A lively Lion Dance Parade, featuring three lions, delighted the crowds as it made its way to Antwerp’s China Town today (January 22, Antwerp time) to celebrate the start of the Year of the Rabbit. The Acting Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Grace Li, officiated at the eye-dotting ceremony.

     Greeting the audiences at this festive occasion, Miss Li thanked the organiser for bringing Hong Kong culture to Antwerp. She also invited guests to visit Hong Kong and experience the charm of Hong Kong in person. She highlighted that most COVID-19-related health measures had been lifted, and that Hong Kong was open, welcoming business people and tourists.
 
     The “Legends of Lion Dance” includes an exhibition held at Antwerp’s main public library, the Bibliotheek Permeke, until January 29. It showcases 14 unique lion heads, embroidered and crafted in Hong Kong. As highlights of the event, there were also two Hong Kong film nights, with a screening of Amos Why’s 2021 film, “Far Far Away” on January 17 and of Ho Cheuk-tin’s 2022 film “The Sparring Partner” on January 25.

     Together with other workshops and activities on martial arts, movies, culinary cultures, music, Cantonese Opera and calligraphy, the event promoted not only the Chinese New Year tradition in Hong Kong, but the uniqueness of Hong Kong as an international cultural and sports centre.

     With the support of the HKETO, Brussels and the Belgium-Hong Kong Society, the event organised by Asian Events Tofoe, a non-profit-making organisation established by Hong Kong second-generation community members in Antwerp, has become a firmly-established event on Antwerp’s annual cultural calendar since it was first held in 2017.

      

     The 2023 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs concluded successfully at 2am today (January 22). The fairs were held at 15 locations for seven days from January 16, attracting over 1.14 million visitors. Yesterday (January 21) was the peak, with more than 100,000 visitors in the LNY Fair at Victoria Park on a single day.

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that the community is moving gradually forward along a path to normalcy. The department is pleased to resume organising the LNY fairs this year for members of the public to buy New Year flowers, and is even more pleased to see them enjoy the fairs which operation has been smooth. 

     This year, the FEHD has increased the size of the stalls, widened the passageways, and applied technology for crowd management, with a view to providing members of the public a more comfortable and safer venue to purchase New Year flowers. The FEHD has also offered assistance to stall vendors in various aspects such as security, illumination and refuse collection to ensure the smooth running of the LNY fairs.

     The department adopted various waste reduction and recycling measures. In addition to the collection of general recyclables including waste paper, plastics and metals, the department also arranged contractors to collect bamboo sticks, wooden pallets, polyfoam and wilted or unsold flowers with reusable value. From opening of the LNY fair sites up to the site clearance operation today, about 85.6 tonnes of materials with reusable value were collected in the 15 LNY fair sites in order to enhance recycling of resources.

     Moreover, the department also gathered some 150 unsold pots of flowers and plants donated by the vendors in the fairs. They were delivered to 30 elderly homes/residential care homes for persons with disabilities and two public hospitals by six volunteer teams made up of FEHD staff.

     With the LNY fairs concluded successfully, the department deployed 170 staff members, 24 refuse collection vehicles and street cleaning vehicles to clean up the Victoria Park venue. The other 14 LNY fair sites were cleaned up by the department’s cleaning contractors. All site clearance work was completed at about 6.30pm. After thorough cleaning, the venues were restored to their original state.

     The 2023 Che Kung Festival fair and the Fong Ma Po New Year Fair at Lam Tsuen in Tai Po will be held until February 5. The spokesman reminded members of the public planning to visit the two fairs that they may browse information including the opening times and queuing situation of the fairs at the FEHD’s dedicated webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk) in advance.