The Department of Health (DH) today (June 30) endorsed a licensed drug wholesaler, Teva Pharmaceutical Hong Kong Limited (Teva), to recall three batches (batch numbers: 0480918, 0681118, and 0760120) of Losartan-Teva Tablet 50mg (Hong Kong Registration Number: HK-58863) from the market as a precautionary measure due to the presence of an impurity in the product.

     The DH received today notification from Teva of the finding by the overseas manufacturer of the product that the active pharmaceutical ingredient of the above batches contain a higher than accepted level of azido impurity. According to Teva, the three affected batches have been imported and supplied in Hong Kong. As a precautionary measure, Teva is voluntarily recalling those batches from the market.

     Azido impurity is considered a mutagen that can cause a change in the DNA of a cell and may increase the risk of cancer, although the risk for the azido impurity to cause cancer in humans is unknown. Overseas drug regulatory authorities have been reviewing the safety impact of azido impurity found in medicinal products. The DH will closely monitor the development of the issue and any safety updates regarding the drug issued by overseas drug regulatory authorities for consideration of any action deemed necessary.    

     The above product is a prescription medicine used to lower blood pressure. According to Teva, the affected batches have been supplied to clinics of the DH, private clinics and community pharmacies.    

     Teva has set up a hotline (3904 3799) to handle related enquiries.    

     "So far, the DH has not received any adverse reaction reports in connection with the product. The DH will closely monitor the recall," a spokesman for the DH said.   

     "Patients who are taking the above product should not stop taking the medicine, but should seek advice from their healthcare professionals as soon as possible for appropriate arrangements," the spokesman added.

  

     In response to media enquiries about matters of rights and benefits of employees of Apple Daily/Next Digital Limited, a spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (June 30) expressed deep concern and called upon Apple Daily/Next Digital Limited to maintain effective communication with its employees over employment matters with appropriate arrangements.
      
     The spokesman continued, "The Employment Ordinance stipulates that wages and termination payments should be paid no later than seven days after the date of termination or expiry of contract. Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years. If the employer becomes insolvent and cannot settle wages in arrears and relevant termination payments, the LD can assist the employees to apply for ex gratia payment from the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund, and for legal aid from the Legal Aid Department as necessary."
      
     The LD calls on affected employees to approach the branch offices of the Labour Relations Division (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/tele/lr1.htm), call the LD's dedicated hotlines (3580 2661 and 3580 8721) during office hours or email to LRD-KT@labour.gov.hk for enquiries on their employment rights and benefits and assistance.
      
     Affected employees in need of employment services can approach job centres of the LD (www1.jobs.gov.hk/0/en/Information/ContactUs) or call the dedicated employment services hotline 2342 0486 during office hours. They may also browse the LD's Interactive Employment Service website or use its mobile application to look for suitable jobs from the job vacancy database of the LD.

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 30) reminded catering premises operators that in accordance with the current directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), they are required to register relevant information at the FEHD's vaccine bubble (VB) thematic webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/events/covid19/vaccination_declaration.html) if they choose to operate under Types C or D Modes of Operation under the VB.

     "Should the above-mentioned premises opt to change to operate in other modes or as bars/pubs, their operators must submit an application for cancellation of Types C or D restaurant registration via the VB thematic webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/COVID19_CancelRestaurant.html). Upon verification, the FEHD will update the lists of catering premises under Types C and D Modes of Operation at the VB thematic webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/events/covid19/vaccine_bubble_locations.html)," the spokesman said.

     Furthermore, apart from the regular testing services provided for practitioners working at Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse, the FEHD will continue to arrange free COVID-19 testing services for targeted groups, including high-exposure groups such as staff and personnel working in markets, licensed hawkers and practitioners of cold stores, to safeguard public health. The deadline for online registration for the scheme has been extended to July 31. People in high-exposure groups who have already registered and undergone testing may register again.

     Under the scheme, the testing agency (Prenetics Limited) will be responsible for the provision of one-stop services covering specimen taking and testing. For details of the testing programme, please call the hotline of the testing agency at 3008 8319 or visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/events/covid19_test/info_20200926.html).

     To minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the spokesman appealed to operators and staff members of all premises to stay vigilant, and continue to comply with the relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease in a concerted and persistent manner, and to maintain personal and environmental hygiene continuously with a view to ensuring cleanliness of the premises and food safety.

     A charter signing ceremony was held today (June 30) to launch the Territory-wide Physical Fitness Survey for the Community. The survey aims to set up a database on the physical fitness of people of Hong Kong, identify the relationship between physical exercise patterns and the physical fitness of people of Hong Kong as well as assist the Government in identifying priority areas for improvement to enhance the overall physical fitness of the community.
      
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, noted that the Government conducted the Territory-wide Physical Fitness Test for the Community in 2005 and 2011. The Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) proposed in 2018 that the survey should be launched again and the proposal was subsequently included as one of the new initiatives in the Chief Executive's 2018 Policy Address.
      
     "We hope that a regular and standardised territory-wide physical fitness survey could facilitate the formulation of policies for promoting sport for all and help prevent diseases through early intervention. The survey will also enable participants to have a general understanding of his or her own fitness condition," Mr Tsui said.
      
     Members of different companies or organisations will be selected by random sampling to participate in the survey. Representatives of various groups and organisations signed a charter at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre today to show support for the survey. The survey is commissioned by the Community Sports Committee (CSC), under which an Advisory Committee on the Territory-wide Physical Fitness Survey for the Community (AC) was established to advise on its implementation, publicity and promotional strategies and community involvement.
      
     The Chairman of the CSC, Mr David Yip, said in the ceremony that the membership of the AC consists of representatives from the Department of Health, the Education Bureau, the HAB and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), as well as professional organisations. Professionals from academia were also invited to provide their views on the survey. Mr Yip hoped that the survey will enhance the public's understanding of the importance of physical fitness for health and encourage the public to exercise regularly in daily life.  
      
     The convenor of the AC, Dr Leung Pak-yin, introduced the details of the survey in the ceremony. The survey will cover 8 500 people of Hong Kong aged between 7 and 79. Based on the population projection of the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the sample sizes required for various age groups in the survey are calculated based on the population proportion in the Hong Kong.
      
     Different types of companies and organisations are invited to participate in the survey through random sampling in accordance with the economic groups framework provided by the C&SD for the working population, and the information of social welfare organisations for the non-working population. Staff and members of the invited companies and organisations may register online to participate in the survey through questionnaires and physical fitness tests. Data collection of the survey is expected to be complete in early 2022, and the survey findings will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2022.
      
     The LCSD, under the supervision of the AC, is responsible for implementing the work of the survey. For details of the survey, please visit the webpage pfs2021.com.hk.

        

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited New World Tower in Central today (June 30). During the visit, he and the Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Company Limited, Dr Adrian Cheng, jointly viewed the administering of the BioNTech vaccine to around 160 staff members of the group, as arranged by the Government's outreach vaccination service. 

     "I am grateful to New World Development for liaising with the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) to make arrangements for today's outreach vaccination. Such a move has enabled its staff to get vaccinated so that they can not only protect themselves and their families, but also their colleagues working in the same office and visitors as well. It also helps the community as a whole to build a protective barrier as soon as possible," Mr Nip said. 

     Mr Nip said that so far the outreach team has been mobilised 31 times and around 6 000 people have been vaccinated through the outreach vaccination service. He called on various sectors and industries to join the Government in promoting the Early Vaccination for All campaign and encourage people to get vaccinated so as to help build an immune barrier in Hong Kong as soon as possible by significantly raising the vaccination rate, thereby restoring normality to society sooner rather than later. 

     Should enterprises and organisations have a sufficient number of employees who would like to get vaccinated and a suitable venue with sufficient space, they can make use of the outreach vaccination service so that their employees can be vaccinated in a more convenient way. Enterprises and groups can call the hotline for the outreach vaccination service at 3904 1490 from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm, for arrangements. 
  
     There has been enthusiastic support for the outreach vaccination programme since it was launched by the CSB. Having provided the outreach vaccination service to the Hong Kong Sports Institute, global professional services enterprises, property developers, financial institutions, the construction industry, public utilities, a property management company, universities and a district organisation, the CSB is now proactively in discussions with enterprises and groups from various sectors on the feasibility of providing the service to them. 
  
     Mr Nip expressed his gratitude to the medical team and administrative support staff of the Community Vaccination Centre at Ho Man Tin Sports Centre for providing the outreach service today.