Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 29) investigating a food poisoning case related to the consumption of wild mushrooms, and urged the public not to pick and eat wild mushrooms.

     The case involves a 51-year-old female, who developed vomiting and diarrhoea about one hour after consuming wild mushrooms at home on April 25. She sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department of North District Hospital on the same day and was admitted for treatment. She has been in a stable condition and was discharged.

     Initial investigations revealed that the patient picked the wild mushrooms consumed from the roadside in Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui on April 25. The CHP’s investigation is ongoing.

     “Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms like profuse sweating, hallucinations, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases,” he added.

     “If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification,” the spokesman said. read more

     Mobile Libraries 1, 5 and 6 will suspend services during designated periods in May and June for routine maintenance, a Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman announced today (April 29).      &n… read more

     The Task Force on Home-school Co-operation and Parent Education set up under the Education Commission (EC) has completed its review on the existing approach in promoting home-school co-operation and parent education in order to formulate the directions and strategies for fostering both. The Task Force today (April 29) submitted the review report to the Education Bureau (EDB).
 
     The Chairman of the Task Force, Mr Tim Lui said, “A healthy and pleasant environment is conducive to the physical and psychological growth of children while parents play a pivotal role in their children’s development and learning.
 
     “We hope that through universal, diversified and innovative home-school co-operation and parent education activities, we can strengthen the mindset of parents and help them become happier and more positive, facilitate parent’s comprehensive understanding of their children’s developmental needs and strengthen their ability, knowledge, skills and attitude in parenting, with a view to minimising possible negative thinking and changing their mindset of excessive competition so as to create an enjoyable and healthy learning and living environment for students.”
 
     At the invitation of the EDB, the Task Force was set up in December 2017. It has examined the promotion of home-school co-operation and parent education in Hong Kong and other regions, and has also reviewed the findings of relevant local studies and parent education programmes and activities provided by local tertiary institutions and non-governmental organisations. During the review, the Task Force had a number of in-depth discussions with stakeholders, released a consultation document and held consultation sessions to collect views from stakeholders and the public.
 
     The Task Force has put forward 18 recommendations in its report, including the provision of more resources to schools, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations, the increase in the Set-Up Grant for PTAs in kindergartens, launching of a territory-wide “Positive Parents Campaign”, the provision of subsidies for schools to implement school-based activities under the “Positive Parent Campaign” and commissioning of tertiary institutions/non-government organisations to design and develop a curriculum framework for parent education, e-learning programmes, workplace parent education courses, etc. The recommendations are set out in the Annex.
 
     Having received the review report, the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung said, “I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Chairman, Mr Lui, and all of the members of the Task Force for their hard work and professionalism in conducting the review.
 
     “The EDB is dedicated to fostering home-school co-operation and parent education. The Task Force has proposed comprehensive measures on these two areas to further assist us in achieving the goals of creating a suitable environment for children to grow up healthily and happily, and discouraging the culture of excessive competition. The EDB will study the report and recommendations carefully so as to take appropriate follow-up actions and implement the feasible recommendations in phases to benefit parents and students with different needs.”
 
     The full review report can be viewed on the EC website www.e-c.edu.hk/en/publications_and_related_documents/education_reports.html. read more

     China Road and Bridge Corporation illegally used powered mechanical equipment to carry out night-time works at a sports centre construction site at Area 24D on Sha Tin Tau Road in Sha Tin, which violated the regulation on noise control. The company was fined $18,000 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (April 29) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a complaint from members of the public in February last year about the noise nuisance generated by night-time works at a construction site on Sha Tin Tau Road. EPD staff conducted an investigation and found that the construction site concerned had obtained a construction noise permit (CNP) from the EPD, but construction works was illegally carried out using a concrete lorry mixer after 7pm, which violated the CNP requirements. The department subsequently initiated prosecution against the main contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation, in accordance with the NCO.

     The EPD spokesman explained that the NCO aims to protect the public from disturbance of rest. Members of the construction industry should carry out works during the daytime and non-general holidays as far as possible to minimise disturbance to nearby residents. If the works have to be conducted during the restricted hours (between 7pm and 7am the following day, or at any time on a general holiday), a permit must be obtained from the EPD. The construction works shall commence only when the CNP has been granted upon completion of an assessment to support its compliance with regulatory requirements. Only specified powered mechanical equipment as indicated in the CNP can be used for the construction works and contractors must also implement noise mitigation measures to minimise noise nuisance as stipulated by the CNP, including the erection of hoardings, noise enclosures and barriers at the sites, to reduce the impact of noise on nearby residents as far as possible. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.

     The EPD has followed up the case with works supervisory staff of the Architectural Services Department and the contractor concerned. The contractor has been requested to properly arrange its works and strictly comply with all CNP requirements. read more

     In celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Police Force, a commemorative book, entitled “Hong Kong Police Force 175th Anniversary – From Strength to Strength  Serving with Pride and Care”, will g… read more