The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 18) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea respectively about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Lisburn and Castlereagh District of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom (UK), Cuxhaven District in the State of Niedersachsen of Germany; and Namyangju-si, Anseong-si and Pocheon-si of Gyeonggi-do Province; Hongseong-gun of Chungcheongnam-do Province; Mungyeong-si of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province; and Goseong-gun of Gyeongsangnam-do Province of Korea, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 8,700 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 330,000 poultry eggs from the UK, about 2,500 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 880,000 poultry eggs from Germany and about 740 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 8.9 million poultry eggs from Korea in the first nine months of last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the British, German and Korean authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     To tie in with the tradition of cleaning up before the Lunar New Year, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 18) commenced a year-end clean-up campaign across the territory, and appealed to the public for active participation and efforts to maintain cleanliness in the household, the community and public places to welcome the Year of the Ox.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "In light of the ongoing pandemic, the FEHD has launched a two-week stepped-up year-end clean-up campaign from January 4 to enhance street cleaning operations at complaint hotspots in all districts, combat illegal acts of shop front extension, and strengthen rodent prevention and control work. To consolidate the efforts of keeping Hong Kong clean and containing the pandemic, the year-end clean-up campaign has been launched today aiming to maintain a clean and hygienic environment."

     During the campaign period, the FEHD will step up the cleaning of public facilities under the department's management including markets, cooked food centres, hawker bazaars, public toilets and refuse collection points. Cleaning of problematic sites of illegal refuse dumping and other public cleanliness offences will also be enhanced. In addition, the FEHD will conduct mosquito and rodent prevention and control operations targeting places such as old tenement buildings, streets, rear lanes, village houses and construction sites, according to each district's circumstances. Temporary junk collection points will also be set up for residents to discard large items of household waste.

     In addition, FEHD staff will step up inspection, cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, and remind stall tenants to clean up their stalls thoroughly. Cleaning as well as refuse and bulky waste collection services at the refuse collection points in all districts will also be enhanced.

     The spokesman added that to ensure the cleanliness of public places, the department will continue to strengthen enforcement action and issue fixed penalty notices to offenders in breach of the public cleanliness and obstruction regulation.

     The department's dedicated thematic website will showcase the efforts and work of the year-end clean-up campaign. Regular updates of the work will be reported. Meanwhile, the website has also provided useful information and advice on environmental hygiene for gaining public collaboration and understanding. For more information, please visit the FEHD website: www.fehd.gov.hk.

     The spokesman stressed that maintaining a clean and hygienic community hinges on the co-operation and active participation of everyone. He called for the concerted efforts of every member of the public to maintain environmental hygiene and enjoy a clean environment in the coming Lunar New Year.

    

     The Government announced today (January 18) the list of the designated quarantine hotels for the second cycle. A total of 36 hotels will provide about 10 000 rooms in the new cycle, with the contract period lasting from February 20 to April 20.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "The Government issued letters to some 2 000 hotels with valid hotel or guesthouse licences on January 5 to invite application for enlisting as designated quarantine hotels in the second cycle. We have received applications from over 70 hotels.
 
     "Upon assessment, 36 hotels were shortlisted as the designated quarantine hotels for the second cycle (see list in the Annex) to provide about 10 000 rooms of various types and rates for selection by returnees to Hong Kong. Thirty-two hotels on the list are designated hotels in the first cycle while four are newly included."
 
     The spokesman added, "We have increased the number of hotels offering lower room rates in this new cycle of the scheme after considering the market demand for hotels offering different rates. The number of hotels offering room rates of $500 or below will increase from seven to 11 and the number of these rooms will be almost doubled to over 2 800 rooms. This represents 27 per cent of the total number of rooms in the second cycle and an increase of 1 200 rooms as compared to that of the first cycle. The number of rooms with rates of $1,000 or below accounts for 83 per cent of the total number of rooms offered in this cycle, providing about 8 500 rooms in total."

     To further prevent importation of COVID-19 cases and reduce contact between returnees from overseas and the local community, the Government fully implemented the Designated Quarantine Hotel and Designated Transportation Scheme on December 22, 2020, requiring all travellers arriving from countries outside China to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days at designated quarantine hotels according to the specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H). Thirty-six hotels were selected as designated hotels in the first cycle, providing about 12 000 rooms. The contract period of these hotels will end on February 19.
 
     The list of designated hotels in the second cycle and related details such as room rates have been uploaded to the thematic webpage www.designatedhotel.gov.hk.

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (January 18) for people in need of the service.
   
     The temporary shelters will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (January 19) when the cold weather warning is still in force.

     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.

     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department's hotline 2572 8427 for more information.

     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Districts:
——————–

Central and Western:
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories:
—————-

Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung

North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung:
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (January 20) at 11am, and Thursday (January 21) and Friday (January 22) at 9am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will speak on "Motion of Thanks", to be moved by Ms Starry Lee, which states: "That this Council thanks the Chief Executive for her address."
      
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, all of which require written replies.
      
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.