Tag Archives: China

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme at a media session this afternoon (April 15):
 
Reporter: First, can authorities tell us why did it take so long for the Government to expand the vaccination to those under 30? Are you guys expanding it now in preparation for the vaccine bubble plan? Is there a possibility of further expanding the vaccination to even younger people, people under 16? If there are still unused jabs after the end of September, would these vaccination centres continue to operate? Can citizens assume that after the end of September, only Sinovac jabs will be available to them since all unused BioNTech jabs would be kind of expired already? Do officials have any estimation on how many BioNTech jabs will be unused and expired if the vaccination rate remains this low?

Secretary for the Civil Service: Thank you very much. First question is regarding the extension of the vaccination programme to cover people aged 16 to 29. We monitor closely the operation of the vaccination programme and also the demand and supply in a gradual manner. Now we have already dealt with the cancellation of more than 180 000 BioNTech bookings due to the suspension of BioNTech vaccination a few weeks ago. We have the capacity to expand the coverage of the vaccination scheme. We have also received views that quite a number of people aged below 30 would like to get the jabs so that they can protect their family members or the whole family could get vaccinated. It is the appropriate time that we introduce this arrangement. 
 
     The second question is regarding the coverage to people under 16. Firstly, we have to have available vaccine. That is the answer to your second question.
 
     On the planning for operating the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) until the end of September this year, our thinking behind is that we look at the supply of BioNTech vaccine. We have purchased 7.5 million doses of BioNTech vaccine and they would be delivered to Hong Kong by batches. There are certain limits. For example, you have to use the vaccines within three to four months. Why three to four months but not six months? Because the validity period of the vaccine is usually six months from the date of production. Once out of the production plant, they need to do some tests and then deliver to Hong Kong. When they arrive at Hong Kong usually we just have a period of about three to four months. And also we look at the capacity of our CVCs – we are able to handle 7.5 million doses in the next five months. So, that’s roughly about the period. We have to have some sort of a plan and let the public know early, so that we can all plan accordingly. 
 
     At this stage, of course, I do not want to see any wastage of BioNTech vaccine. And that is why I announce early about our plan and urge the public to get vaccinated and make your booking as early as possible. 
 
Reporter: (Inaudible.)

Secretary for the Civil Service: I tell the public about our plan of operating the CVCs by end of September. We will closely monitor the situation and we hope that we could all work together to make good use of the capacity of our CVCs from now on until end of September, so that every day all the capacity of the CVCs could be used because every day the BioNTech CVCs could handle up to 40 000 doses. You can see that every day we have not used up all the capacity. It is wastage already, but not wastage of vaccine because we handle it very carefully. We urge that we need to work together to make good use of the capacity of the CVCs and let’s work together towards the target. We use up all the available vaccines provided to us so that all the 7.5 million doses could be used for more than 3 million Hong Kong people.

Secretary for Food and Health: I just want to quickly respond to your question about vaccine for people under 16. We are closely monitoring the development and research of vaccines. We understand that there are some vaccines that have now got some data about their use in people under 16. The Department of Health has been working very closely and trying to get more data from these vaccine manufacturers. If the data is satisfactory, we would obviously provide it to our expert committee for scrutiny. We will continue to closely monitor the development of vaccines for people under 16.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     Following is the opening remarks (English translation) by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, on planning and lands policy areas at the special meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (April 15):

Chairman,

     In the 2021-22 financial year, the priority tasks on the Planning and Lands portfolio under the purview of the Development Bureau (DEVB) are: 

(a) Land supply;
 
(b) Safety of drainage systems of buildings; and
 
(c) Building a liveable city.

Land Supply

     On land supply, we will continue to pursue the multi-pronged land supply strategy. At present, we are pressing ahead with the development of the Tung Chung New Town Extension and the Kwu Tung North/Fanling North, Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen and Yuen Long South New Development Areas (NDAs). The first batch of public housing units is targeted for gradual completion from 2024 to 2028. 

     Over the past few years, we have identified 210 sites with potential for housing development. Rezoning has been completed or commenced for 70 per cent of them. It is estimated that about 40 per cent of the public housing units to be completed in the next 10 years will come from these rezoned sites. 

     For brownfield sites, we have promulgated the results of the second-phase review on scattered brownfield sites. In the two-phase review, we have shortlisted a total of 12 brownfield clusters for higher density public housing development in the short to medium term. Taking into account these brownfield clusters, the NDAs, and other ongoing efforts to develop brownfield sites already announced, a total of over 860 hectares of brownfield sites would be gradually developed for housing and other land uses, accounting for over 50 per cent of the total brownfield area in Hong Kong. 

     Furthermore, we will soon apply for funding from the LegCo for investigation and design of the San Tin/Lok Ma Chau Development Node, and will commence as soon as possible a planning and engineering study for the remaining phase of development of New Territories North (NTN) (covering NTN New Town and the Man Kam To Logistics Corridor). 

     Apart from implementing various land supply projects, we are committed to expediting land supply process by streamlining procedures. To this end, the Development Projects Facilitation Office was established under the DEVB in December last year to facilitate the processing of planning, lease modification/land exchange applications and more for larger-scale private residential development projects leading up to the commencement of works, with a view to ensuring effective processing of development applications. 

     Moreover, the remit of the steering group tasked with streamlining development control under the DEVB has been expanded to cover approving departments other than those under the DEVB, with a view to reviewing more comprehensively different aspects involved in the development approval process.
 
Safety of Drainage Systems of Buildings

     On the safety of draining systems of buildings, in response to rising public concerns, we have sought funding of $1 billion through the Appropriation Bill 2021 to establish the Building Drainage System Repair Subsidy Scheme. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Members’ support at the Panel on Development earlier regarding the scheme. Subject to funding approval, we will launch the scheme in May this year. It is expected that the funding scheme would benefit owners of over 3 000 old domestic buildings in repairing or upgrading the drainage systems of their buildings. The Buildings Department will issue a practice note this month to promulgate various enhancements concerning drainage systems; the industry and owners are encouraged to adopt the new design standards in repair works. 

Building a Liveable City

     On building a liveable city, a major programme launched this year is the Invigorating Island South initiative, which aims at developing the Southern District into a better place to live, work and have fun. The Invigorating Island South Office under the DEVB commenced operation in February this year. It is now actively listening to local views for formulating a work plan on the way ahead. 

     In addition, we will continue to pursue harbourfront enhancement with the earmarked funding of $6.5 billion. We will adopt an incremental approach so that harbourfront sites may be opened as early as possible. We will also seek funding from the LegCo for commencing the construction works of two major projects, namely the boardwalk underneath the Island Eastern Corridor and the harbourfront park at Eastern Street North in Sai Ying Pun this year. 

     Thank you. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to be carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) in a medical ward, the spokesperson f… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 9am today (April 15), nine COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 11 246 patients with confirmed … read more

     The Government announced today (April 15) that the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will be expanded to cover persons aged 16 to 29. The minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine is 16, and that for receiving the Sinovac vaccine … read more