The Government announced today (February 26) the re-appointment of Mr Douglas So Cheung-tak as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Chinese Medicine Development Fund, the appointment of Dr Priscilla Choy Wai-fun as a new member, and the re-appointment of 13 incumbent members to the Committee.
 
     All appointments will take effect on March 1, 2021, for a term of two years.
 
     Since the establishment of the Chinese Medicine Development Fund (CMDF) in 2019, various funding schemes have been launched in phases to support training, improvement of clinic facilities, enhancement of proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm) manufacturing quality and management systems, pCm registration, promotion of Chinese medicine (CM), applied studies and research. The Committee has provided professional and valuable advice on matters relating to the scope, implementation, promotion and vetting of applications of these funding schemes. As at the end of 2020, over 900 funding applications had been approved.
 
     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, thanked the Chairman and members of the Committee for their invaluable contributions over the past two years, and expressed the hope that the Committee could foster the development of CM in Hong Kong by continuing to offer views and recommendations on the overall administration and operation of the CMDF. Professor Chan also thanked the outgoing member, Ms Anne Chuah Ah-poh, and commended her contribution to the Committee.
 
     The membership of the Committee, with effect from March 1, 2021, is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Mr Douglas So Cheung-tak

Non-official Members
———–
Professor Bian Zhaoxiang
Dr Chan Kei-wai
Mr Chan Wing-suen
Dr Priscilla Choy Wai-fun
Professor Feng Yibin
Ms Lam Pui-yan
Ms Serena Lau Sze-wan
Mr Henry Lee Kai-ping
Dr Liong Ching
Mr Gerry Ma Kwai-yung
Dr Or Ka-hang
Ms Wang Huimin
Mr Wong Ka-on
Professor Justin Wu Che-yuen

Ex-officio Members
——————–
Representative(s) from the Food and Health Bureau
Representative(s) from the Department of Health
Representative(s) from the Hospital Authority
Representative(s) from the Innovation and Technology Commission 

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (February 26):
 
Reporter: Secretary, could you explain why didn't the Government give back the ETV building to RTHK if the EDB (Education Bureau) no longer needs it? Secondly, could you explain how did you set the subsidy proportion for the old buildings to repair their drainage pipes?
 
Secretary for Development: On the first question, the Education Bureau has confirmed with us that they no longer need to use the building. ETV has ceased operation. If you look at the planning of the site, it is zoned as R(C) – Residential (Group C). It is our usual practice that when a piece of land reverts to the Government, in this case, the Lands Department, they will dispose of the land in accordance with the long term planning of the site. This is exactly what we are doing in this situation.
 
     Your second question pertains to the level of subsidy. We will be going to the Legislative Council's Panel on Development to explain details (of the subsidy scheme) in late March. In terms of its framework, it will closely follow the framework for Operation Building Bright 2.0 (OBB 2.0). It will consist of two parts. One part will be subsidies for buildings with owners who can organise repair works by themselves in a joint effort. The other part will be for buildings with owners who cannot organise themselves to do the renovation works necessary. These works will be done for them by the Buildings Department. The subsidy under the proposed scheme will be available to cover part of the expenses for the works. What we are thinking now is we will cover up to 80 per cent of the costs involved. The reason is that, if we use public money to fully cover the costs involved, there might be risk of moral hazard, because owners might believe that even if they do not maintain the upkeep of the building, every time repair works will be covered by money from the public purse. We don't think it's a wise move. So owners will have to shoulder part of the costs, and at the moment, we are thinking about 20 per cent will be the right approach.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     As announced earlier, the Judiciary will from March 1 (Monday) require all persons who enter the Judiciary premises to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app so as to enhance protection of court users against COVID-19 infection following the resumption of normal court business.

     Those who do not scan the venue QR code with the app will be asked to have their names, contact numbers and the dates and times of their visits recorded on a registration form. The form has been uploaded to the Judiciary website (www.judiciary.hk/en/court_services_facilities/leavehomesafe.html) and is available at the Judiciary premises.

     All persons who do not use the app and refuse to have their contact information recorded will be denied entry to the Judiciary premises.

     The data collected will solely be used to facilitate the work of the Government in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and related purposes, and may be provided to the relevant government departments for epidemiological investigations and contact tracing.

     While the Judiciary will make every effort to minimise inconvenience to court users, it is inevitable that the measure will mean more time required for court users to gain access to the Judiciary premises. As such, court users are advised to download and learn to use the app before going to the Judiciary premises and arrive at the Judiciary premises earlier, particularly during the peak hours in the early morning or after the lunch break.

     For enquiries regarding the technical or operational details of the app, court users may call the government hotline at 1823.

     The Judiciary will continue to maintain other preventive measures including mandatory body temperature checks, requiring all people to wear surgical masks at all times unless otherwise directed by judges or judicial officers and reducing seating capacity of courtrooms, court lobbies, registries and accounts offices.

     Any court users including parties and legal representatives who have a fever or a high body temperature; who are subject to any quarantine requirement, medical surveillance or compulsory testing while waiting for test results; or who have preliminarily tested positive or tested positive for COVID-19 are not allowed to enter Judiciary premises. They should apply to the court as soon as practicable for permission of absence or inform the court with reasons for absence as appropriate.

     The Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, and a number of service heads of the Department of Health (DH), today (February 26) received COVID-19 vaccinations at the Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) operated by the DH at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library in Causeway Bay. Dr Chan appealed to members of priority groups to be vaccinated early to protect themselves and others.
 
     Dr Chan, together with the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), Dr Ronald Lam; the Controller of Regulatory Affairs, Dr Amy Chiu; the Consultant in-charge, Dental Services, Dr Wiley Lam; the Acting Deputy Director of Health, Dr Teresa Li; Assistant Director (Drug), Mr Frank Chan; the Head of Public Health Services Branch, Dr Ho King-man; the Head of Health Informatics and Technology Office, Dr Liza To; and the Principal Nursing Officer, Dr Mary Foong, received vaccinations by DH colleagues on-site.
 
     Dr Chan said, "Healthcare workers are among members of priority groups. Being the major department in fighting against the epidemic, we appeal through our actions today to fellow DH colleagues and other healthcare workers in the public and private sectors to receive a vaccination early."
 
     Vaccinations are free of charge. Priority vaccinations are arranged for five groups of people, namely personnel in healthcare settings and those participating in anti-epidemic related work; persons aged 60 years or above (a maximum of two carers accompanying elderly people aged 70 or above can also receive a vaccination); residents and staff of residential care homes for the elderly/persons with disabilities; personnel maintaining critical public services, and personnel performing cross-boundary related work.
 
     Dr Chan said, "Receiving a vaccination early can protect oneself, and especially can greatly reduce the occurrence of severe complications and the risk of fatality. I appeal to members of the public to seize the opportunity to participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, with a view to safeguarding public health in the community."
 
     Dr Chan also took the opportunity to chat with colleagues on duty at the centre to know more about their work. She expressed support and gratitude to colleagues for their professionalism and participation, which has enabled the programme's smooth operation and contributed to the prevention and control of COVID-19.
 
     The Government will set up 29 CVCs in Hong Kong to provide COVID-19 vaccination services for members of the public who have made bookings through the Government online booking system. The first five CVCs have commenced operations today, together with the 18 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority, to provide vaccines for those in the priority groups. Private doctors participating in the vaccination programme will also administer the vaccine for priority groups in early March. 
 
     Members of the public can visit the thematic website, www.covidvaccine.gov.hk, to make reservations for vaccinations and to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines.

                      

     Police today (February 26) laid a holding charge against a 73-year-old woman with one count of murder.

     The woman was arrested yesterday (February 25) in connection with a murder case happened in Kwai Chung on the same day in which a 69-year-old man died.

     The case will be mentioned at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts this afternoon.