Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (September 29):
 
Question:
 
     The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is currently researching and developing the world’s first nasal vaccine against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 with fewer side effects, and has completed phase one clinical trial of the vaccine. It has been reported that the industrialisation of the vaccine is faced with those problems that local biotechnology research and development (R&D) personnel commonly encounter. The Research Report on Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biotechnology Collaboration (the Report) recently released by Our Hong Kong Foundation has pointed out that the problems concerned are largely related to the clinical trials and manufacture of medicines. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as some members of the biotechnology industry have pointed out that although Hong Kong has a worldwide reputation for its strengths in the clinical trials and research of medicines, and the data obtained from relevant clinical trials have been recognised by quite a number of major drug regulatory authorities (including those on the Mainland and in the United States and Europe), its clinical trial industry lacks support from the Government, of the Government’s measures to support local hospitals and medical schools in conducting the clinical trials of medicines, and whether it has assessed the effectiveness of such measures; if such measures are not in place, of the reasons for that;
 
(2) as the Report has pointed out that the time currently taken for vetting and approval of an application for conducting clinical trials of medicines in Hong Kong (particularly phase one clinical trial) is longer than that on the Mainland and in other places, whether the Government will explore shortening the time taken for vetting and approval of such applications, so as to attract medical and pharmaceutical enterprises to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) as HKU’s R&D team has indicated that the clinical trials concerned cannot commence as early as possible because there is not any vaccine manufacturing plant in Hong Kong, and the vaccine doses to be used in the clinical trials have to be produced by a pharmaceutical company on the Mainland, whether the re-industrialisation initiatives implemented by the Government include those measures to facilitate biotechnology enterprises to set up high-end pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(4) of the measures in place to make use of the Lok Ma Chau Loop to promote the scaled development of the biotechnology industry in Hong Kong, and whether such measures include providing subsidies to the relevant organisations to facilitate the establishment in the Loop of a base for coordinating Mainland/Hong Kong multi-centre late-stage clinical trials or high-end pharmaceutical production lines?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted the Innovation and Technology Bureau, the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Elizabeth Quat is as follows:
 
(1) The Government has been supporting the local clinical trial sector, in order to promote the development of the local pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. The Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) under the Food and Health Bureau supports clinical trial research on infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and advanced medical research through annual open call for investigator-initiated projects.
 
     Apart from investigator-initiated projects, the HMRF provided funding of $80 million in 2013 under its Government-commissioned programme to support the establishment of two Phase I Clinical Trials Centres (CTCs) by the medical faculties of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to enhance the capabilities of Hong Kong in clinical trial and new drug development. The two CTCs have obtained the accreditation of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for conducting clinical drug trials. Additional funding of a total of $100 million has been provided to the two CTCs starting from 2019, under which over 100 clinical trials on novel therapeutic drugs have been initiated. The findings from these studies will help advance clinical practice and the standard and quality of medical care.
 
     In addition, a total of 32 specialties from Queen Mary Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Eye Hospital and Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital have gained accreditation of the clinical trial sites from the NMPA and are eligible to carry out clinical drug trial approved by the NMPA. The clinical trial data generated from these sites could be submitted to the NMPA for the purpose of drug registration in the Mainland, which facilitates Hong Kong to become an important platform for local and multinational pharmaceutical companies to venture into the vast Chinese market.
 
     The Government has been supporting local research and development (R&D) of vaccines to enhance our knowledge base and research capabilities in vaccinology and immunology. Since April 2020, the HMRF has supported two local universities to conduct four vaccine-related R&D projects with a total commitment of $29.5 million. Among them, the HMRF has funded around $20 million to the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine of the HKU, to conduct the Phase I clinical trial on the safety of a nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine “VectorFluTM ONE” co-developed with partners in the Mainland (i.e. Xiamen University and Beijing Wantai Biological). This vaccine candidate is the first nasal spray vaccine among the COVID-19 vaccine candidates approved for Phase I clinical trials. Currently, the Phase I clinical trial of the “VectorFluTM ONE” has been completed in 30 volunteers. The Project Team is now reviewing the next phase of clinical trials to assess a wider range of immune response parameters.
 
(2) According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), anyone who wishes to conduct a clinical trial on pharmaceutical products in Hong Kong is required to apply to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (Board) for a Certificate for Clinical Trial (certificate). The Drug Office of the DH is responsible for providing technical and executive supports to the Board and its committees.
 
     The DH has pledged that applications for the certificates would be processed within three months upon the submission of all required documents by the applicants. In 2020-21, the Board issued a total of 343 certificates with all applications being evaluated and approved within three months.
 
     In addition, the DH has implemented a number of enhancement measures with an aim to shorten the time for evaluating and approving the applications for clinical trials. These measures include extending the validity period of certificates, simplifying the application procedures for low-risk clinical trials and developing an online submission system, etc. As the approval of the certificate is subject to the approval of the ethic committee of the respective research or healthcare institution, in order to further shorten the processing time of clinical trial applications, the applicants could submit applications for certificates to the DH in parallel while their clinical trials are being approved by the ethic committee of their institutions.
 
     Moreover, the HA has also been supporting the development of clinical research in Hong Kong through various aspects including research ethics review governance, stakeholder engagement, as well as provision of study sites in public hospitals with patient involvement. To further optimise the research ethics review application for multi-cluster clinical research, the HA has established the HA Central Institutional Review Board (not for phase 1 clinical trial) in April 2021 to provide a one-stop service to handle and coordinate the ethics review of multi-cluster clinical research.
 
(3) Hong Kong has a competitive edge in the R&D of biotechnology. The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach in promoting the development of biotechnology enterprises through infrastructure, funding schemes and various support measures. The Government has implemented a new listing regime since end April 2018 to facilitate the listing of pre-revenue/pre-profit biotechnology companies in Hong Kong. At present, Hong Kong is Asia’s largest and the world’s second largest fundraising hub for biotechnology.
 
     In terms of infrastructure, the InnoHK research clusters have successfully attracted a number of world-renowned universities and research institutes to the Hong Kong Science Park (HKSP). Health@InnoHK focuses on healthcare technologies, including drug discovery, personalised medicine and vaccine development, etc. This initiative will further consolidate Hong Kong’s status as the hub for global biotechnological research collaboration. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) has also been striving to develop various infrastructure facilities in the Industrial Estates, including the Medical Accessory Resilience Supplies Manufacturing Centre, the Precision Manufacturing Centre and the Advanced Manufacturing Centre, in order to encourage manufacturers (including biotechnology enterprises) to set up high-end production bases in Hong Kong. In addition, wet laboratories (wet-labs) are indispensable to biomedical research. Currently, the leasable area of wet-labs in the HKSP amounts to 59 000 square metres (sq. m.), and will increase to about 68 000 sq. m. after the completion of the conversion works of Building 6W to wet-labs by the end of this year.
 
     In addition, various funding schemes currently support enterprises engaging in the R&D of biotechnology. The Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) under the Innovation and Technology Fund provides dollar-for-dollar matching funding of up to $10 million for private companies to carry out in-house downstream R&D projects, including pre-clinical research and preliminary clinical trials. In 2020-21, the ESS supported 14 biotechnology-related projects with around $30.4 million in funding. The Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme subsidises manufacturers, on a 1 (Government) : 2 (Company) matching basis, to set up new smart production lines in Hong Kong. The funding for each project is capped at $15 million. As at end August 2021, the Government has received 27 applications in total, and three of the supported applications come from biotechnology enterprises, which involve the manufacturing of biologics, as well as in vitro diagnostic reagents and testing systems. The Incu-Bio Incubation Programme of the HKSTPC provides funding of up to $4 million to incubatees engaging in biotechnology, as well as targeted additional funding of up to $2 million for certification or investigational new drug applications, etc. As at end August 2021, the Incu-Bio has supported 47 start-ups, with around $63.5 million approved by the HKSTPC.
 
     In terms of capital, the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF) encourages venture capital funds to invest in local innovation and technology (I&T) start-ups, and co-invests at a matching investment ratio of approximately 1 (Government) : 2 (co-investment partners). The ITVF has invested in start-ups with businesses covering different areas. For instance, the major business of a start-up involves the R&D of DNA sequencing technology and manufacturing of relevant portable sequencers. The Corporate Venture Fund (CVF) of the HKSTPC has invested in biotechnological start-ups engaging in drug delivery, stem cell technology and cancer treatment research, etc. As at end August 2021, the CVF has invested in six biotechnology-related start-ups with a total investment amount of $66.4 million.
 
(4) The Government is pressing ahead with the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) in the Lok Ma Chau Loop. The vision of the HSITP is to become the world’s knowledge hub and I&T centre, and converge technology enterprises, R&D institutions and higher education institutions from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas, thereby connecting upstream and midstream research to downstream market, and further enhancing the collaboration among the industry, academic and research sectors. One of its priority development areas is healthcare technologies. High value-added processes including R&D, prototyping, product design, testing, etc., can be performed at the HSITP. With the geographical advantage of the HSITP, enterprises therein can leverage the strong production facilities of Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for mass production.
 
     Relevant works projects of the HSITP, including infrastructure works, are being carried out at full steam, and the eight buildings in Batch 1 will be completed in phases starting from end-2024. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITPL) will draw up plans as appropriate to attract tenants in accordance with the vision of the HSITP and its priority technology areas, as well as the experience of I&T platforms around the world in developing appropriate admission criteria and rental policies. As for start-ups, the HSITPL will take into account the relevant plans and experience of the HKSP and Cyberport to attract more start-ups to the HSITP and put in place appropriate incubation programmes and support schemes. read more

     The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at six specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
 
     Since there were outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection and/or influenza-like illness in six schools, and the symptoms of the diseases concerned are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence’s sake, the relevant schools or their specified levels are covered in the compulsory testing notice. Persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
 
     Persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must go to any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions to undergo professional swab sampling in fulfilling the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen.
 
     If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above is hoisted or the Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the post-super typhoon “extreme conditions” announcement by the Government is in force at any time during the period for undergoing the compulsory testing, the period for undergoing the compulsory testing will be extended for one day.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection. The Government appeals to persons who are not yet vaccinated, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, to get vaccinated as soon as possible for better self-protection before the fifth wave strikes in Hong Kong.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are in Annex 1.

     Subsequent to the announcement by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on the updated quarantine arrangements of local COVID-19 cases with a mutant strain, persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on the third, seventh, 12th and 19th days counting from the announcement of the relevant confirmed case by the Department of Health (DH). Relevant persons have to undergo testing on specified dates. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf). For prudence’s sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     In accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier, all household members of close contacts are required to undergo compulsory testing. Any person who had lived with a person placed under quarantine pursuant to section 22 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (person under quarantine) in the same residential unit on the date of commencement of quarantine or during the 14 days before that day, and who becomes aware of the quarantine of the person under quarantine when the relevant quarantine has not yet been completed, has to undergo testing within two days of him or her becoming aware that the person under quarantine has been placed under quarantine and report to the Government the result of the test by phone (6275 6901), fax (2530 5872) or email (ct@csb.gov.hk) within three days of undergoing the test. For prudence’s sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

    CTCs provide testing services for the public, including free service for persons subject to compulsory testing. Booking and walk-in services are available. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming two weeks to facilitate the public’s planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (September 29), there were around 28 000 booking places available for tomorrow (September 30) at the CTCs, and around 91 per cent and around 95 per cent availability for booking places for the coming seven days and 14 days respectively. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.
 
    The Government will continue to set up a mobile specimen collection station at The Zenith, 3 Wan Chai Road, tomorrow for residents and workers subject to compulsory testing for free. Outdoor mobile specimen collection stations will be closed if the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 or Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is hoisted while all mobile specimen collection stations together with all CTCs will be closed when the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal or higher or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is hoisted.
 
     Coupled with 18 CTCs, there will be a total of 28 CTCs/mobile specimen collection stations in various districts tomorrow to provide free service for persons subject to compulsory testing. The testing capacity should be sufficient to meet the demand. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are stated in Annex 2. Persons subject to compulsory testing and those with the “LeaveHomeSafe” COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the CHP reminding them to undergo testing as soon as possible may receive free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable).

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the CTCs (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en); 
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf), and the relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs; or
4. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the stool sample collected as per relevant guidelines.
 
     If a person subject to compulsory testing obtains a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner, proving that he or she is unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons, then he or she may choose to undergo testing via the following routes by providing a deep throat saliva sample:
 
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any of the 121 post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 designated general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
2. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority or during hospital stays, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.

     “If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs.”

     Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

     Furthermore, persons subject to testing under the compulsory testing notices should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm. If persons subject to compulsory testing plan to conduct testing at any of the CTCs, they can check the centre’s appointment status in advance. The hotlines of the CTCs are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person 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.

     Relevant officers of different government departments are empowered to perform certain functions under the relevant Regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), including requesting individuals to provide information and assistance when necessary. Any person who fails to comply with the relevant request commits an offence and would be liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000). Collection and use of any personal data for conducting COVID-19 tests must meet the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Government departments or testing service providers which handle the relevant information may provide the data to the DH or other relevant departments for anti-epidemic purposes as necessary. The workflow does not involve the provision of any personal data to organisations or persons outside Hong Kong.

     The spokesman said, “The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.” read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session today (September 29) on the quarterly land sale programme for October to December 2021:
 
Reporter: You said you can’t comment on reports about the Government’s plan on, for example, ancestral land in the New Territories. But is the Government considering more ways to get back the land in the New Territories apart from just using the Lands Resumption Ordinance? And secondly, how would you assess the impact of the ongoing Evergrande debt crisis on land sale in Hong Kong? Do you think it will affect property developers’ willingness to buy land?
 
Secretary for Development: On your second question, I think the Financial Secretary has said a few days back we do not believe that the situation you just referred to would cause any systemic risk in Hong Kong. Our financial system remains intact. Therefore, I also think that it will not impact adversely in any material manner on our property market. That’s our very preliminary view.
 
     On resumption of land, again I will start by giving you some figures. A few years ago, on average, we resumed about 4 hectares of land from the market every year. For the past two years, we resumed about 45 hectares of land from the market every year. Going forward, we estimate that we will resume about 100 hectares of land on average annually from the market. So, you can see that the scope and the speed with which we are resuming land from the market has increased tremendously. So, that is the factual situation and that is a tool that we would not hesitate to use if we can be sure that the underlying public purpose exists with regard to a particular project.
 
     Apart from that, with regard to rumours and speculation relating to the Policy Address, as I have said time and again today, I would not be able to comment further.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Treasury Markets Summit 2021, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Treasury Markets Association (TMA), was held today (September 29) in Hong Kong. 
      
     In his keynote address, the Chief Executive of the HKMA and the Honorary President of the TMA Council, Mr Eddie Yue, highlighted the mutually beneficial relationship between the Mainland and Hong Kong in the financial world, and shared Hong Kong’s strengths and efforts in promoting Reminbi (RMB) internationalisation. He also elaborated the key areas for further enhancing the development of offshore RMB hub in Hong Kong, including liquidity, product development and financial infrastructure, and encouraged market practitioners to seize the relevant opportunities.
      
     The Summit’s panels covered two important topics, namely the impact of COVID-19 on the global economic outlook and financial markets, and the implication of central bank digital currency on the financial markets. The panels were moderated respectively by Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA and Chairman of the TMA Executive Board, Mr Edmond Lau, and Chief Fintech Officer of the Fintech Facilitation Office of the HKMA, Mr Nelson Chow, and joined by distinguished guest speakers from the financial industry and relevant sectors.
      
     The Summit was attended by over 580 local and overseas participants, including representatives from regulatory authorities, treasury market practitioners, asset managers as well as senior executives and professionals from banks, other financial institutions and corporates.

    

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (September 29):
 
Question:
 
     Regarding the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following figures on the complaints about water dripping from air-conditioners received, and the law enforcement actions taken on the matter, in each of the past three years and since January this year by the 19 District Environmental Hygiene Offices (DEHO) under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) respectively:
 
(i) the number of complaints received;
 
(ii) the number of cases identified through proactive inspections;
 
(iii) the number of nuisance notices issued;
 
(iv) the number of applications for nuisance orders made to the court; and
 
(v) the number of prosecutions instituted as well as the average amount of fine imposed on the convicted persons;
 
(2) of a breakdown of the figures mentioned in (1) by type of housing (namely public rental housing, subsidised sale housing and private housing);
 
(3) of the following information relating to the handling of the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners by FEHD in each of the past three years and since January this year (set out by DEHO):
 
(i) the staffing establishment for handling water dripping from air-conditioners;
 
(ii) in respect of the completed cases, the average, longest and shortest time taken to (a) investigate and (b) reply to complainants; and
 
(iii) the average number of days between inspections conducted for the same street or same building;
 
(4) of the following information relating to the “Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Dripping Air-conditioners” in each of the past three years and since January this year:
 
(i) the number and percentage of property management agents participating in the Scheme;
 
(ii) the number and percentage of estates participating in the Scheme;
 
(iii) whether it knows, among the relevant complaints for the participating estates, the respective percentages of those cases in which the water dripping problem was (a) resolved and (b) referred to FEHD for follow-up actions; and
 
(iv) whether it has evaluated the effectiveness of the Scheme in helping to resolve the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners in the estates concerned; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(5) as the Government has advised that there are difficulties inherent in handling complaints about water dripping from air-conditioners (e.g. (i) difficulties in ascertaining the source of water dripping in dim light environment, and (ii) there may be multiple sources of water dripping because air-conditioners are installed vertically at the same location on each floor of high-rise multi-storey buildings), whether the Government will apply advanced technologies for resolving those difficulties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(6) as the Government indicated in 2015 that it would review the practice of recruiting extra contract staff in summer to support frontline staff in handling the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners, and that it would, subject to the availability of resources, consider setting up dedicated teams to focus mainly on handling more complicated complaints in various districts, of (i) the review outcome and (ii) the number of dedicated teams and staffing establishment in each of the past three years and since January this year?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Upon receipt of a complaint from the public about dripping air-conditioner or notice of such a nuisance during its routine inspection, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will conduct site inspections. In most cases, upon issuance of verbal warning or advisory letter by FEHD staff, the flat owners or occupants concerned will take necessary action to rectify the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners. If the problem persists, the FEHD will issue, in accordance with the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), a Nuisance Notice to require the relevant person to abate the nuisance within the specified period. A person who fails to comply may be prosecuted, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000, as well as a daily fine of $200 as long as the nuisance continues. If the nuisance has not yet been abated upon the conviction of the accused, the FEHD will apply to the court for a Nuisance Order to require compliance within the specified period. Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements stated in a Nuisance Order shall be guilty of an offence, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $25,000, as well as a daily fine of $450 as long as the nuisance continues.
 
     Regarding the question raised by the Hon Chan Hak-kan, my reply is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) The number of complaints received by the FEHD and cases identified through the FEHD’s proactive inspections, as well as other required information about water dripping from air-conditioners from 2018 to 2021 (up to July 31, 2021), broken down by the 19 District Environmental Hygiene Offices (DEHOs) and by type of housing, are set out in Annex 1 and Annex 2 respectively. 
 
(3)(i) Health Inspectors are deployed by the FEHD to the 19 DEHOs across the territory to undertake various environmental hygiene duties, including handling complaints about water dripping from air-conditioners. In 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the staff establishment of Health Inspectors in the DEHOs totalled 328. The number increased to 337 in 2021-22. The details of the staff establishment are set out in Annex 3.
 
     As the cases of nuisance caused by dripping air-conditioners mainly occur in the summer months, the FEHD has recruited contract staff to cope with the substantial increase in workload. Dedicated teams were set up to step up the inspection, advisory and education work on buildings where the dripping problem is serious and to take law enforcement actions. The number of contract posts has increased from 40 to 45 over the past three years. The details of the related staff establishment are set out in Annex 4.
 
(ii) and (iii) Upon receipt of a complaint from the public about dripping air-conditioner, the FEHD staff will usually conduct an investigation within six working days and give an interim reply to the complainant within 10 days. Excluding cases with investigation to be re-opened before the next summer due to the approach of cool weather, the average time taken for completed cases (those received and completed in the same year) over the past three years are set out in Annex 5. Besides, staff will be deployed to conduct ad hoc inspections in various locations, especially black spots of dripping air-conditioners with heavy pedestrian flow (such as roadside bus stops, public light bus stands and pedestrian crossings), during different times of the day including the early morning and evening hours. The FEHD does not maintain the other breakdown figures mentioned in the question.
 
(4) The Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Dripping Air-conditioners (the Scheme) was initiated by the FEHD in 2005 to solicit the assistance of property management agents (PMAs) in handling complaints about dripping air-conditioners in private housing estates during the summer season. In 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (up to July 31), the respective numbers of participating PMAs were 78, 80, 82 and 84 and those of participating housing estates were 267, 269, 270 and 269. The respective percentages of cases resolved by the PMAs and cases referred to the FEHD for follow-up actions during the same period are set out in Annex 6.
 
     Under the Scheme, the staff of the participating PMAs will, in the course of performing routine management duties in the housing estates, help identify the sources of the water dripping problems and advise the occupants concerned to rectify them. If the PMAs’ efforts are in vain, the FEHD will take up the cases. The FEHD provides relevant briefings and training for the staff of the participating PMAs, maintain timely communication with them and follow up on the referral cases. After evaluation, the FEHD will issue letters of appreciation at the end of every summer season to commend the PMAs which have actively participated in the Scheme for their efforts and contributions in handling the problems properly.
 
(5) Devices such as digital cameras, high definition telescopes, retractable and adjustable video borescope inspection cameras (with LED lamps) are currently used by FEHD staff to facilitate long-range observation at night time or under poor lighting environment, with a view to identifying the sources of the water dripping from air-conditioners more effectively. The FEHD reviews the methods of investigating dripping air-conditioners from time to time, and will actively consider the use of new technology to enhance the effectiveness of its investigation. 
 
(6) To increase its manpower to cope with the massive workload of investigation, the FEHD has launched a pilot scheme since the summer of 2016 to recruit contract staff for setting up dedicated teams, which are deployed to districts with more serious problems of water dripping from air-conditioners. The duty time of the dedicated teams includes public holidays and non-office hours, facilitating more flexible manpower deployment to tackle the problem by conducting proactive inspections at relatively serious black spots in the districts during different times of the day. The number of dedicated teams has gradually increased from six (30 staff members) in 2017 to nine (45 staff members) this year. read more