The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (July 14) that it registered 16 lease modifications, one land exchange and one lot extension in the Land Registry during the quarter ending June 2023, of which six were modific… read more
The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (July 14) that it registered 16 lease modifications, one land exchange and one lot extension in the Land Registry during the quarter ending June 2023, of which six were modific… read more
The Government announced today (July 14) the reappointment of 10 incumbent members, as well as the appointment of five new members, namely Miss Grace Chan Man-yee, Ms Ip Shun-hing, Dr Jenny Lee Shun-wah, Ms Queenie Man Wei-yin and Mr Albert Su Yau-on, to the Elderly Commission (EC). Their appointments will take effect from July 30, 2023, for a term of two years.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said, “The EC plays an important role in advising the Government on policies and initiatives relating to elderly care. The Commission’s work will surely benefit from the diverse backgrounds and rich experience of the reappointed and newly appointed members. We will continue to join hands with the Commission to promote the well-being of elderly persons in Hong Kong.”
Mr Sun also thanked the outgoing members, namely Ms Maggie Chan Mei-kit, Ms Tammy Chan Yee-ching, Mr Chua Hoi-wai, Dr Elsie Hui and Ms Grace Li Fai, for their active participation in the work of the EC in the past.
The membership of the EC for the new term is as follows:
Chairman
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Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung
Non-official members
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Professor Bai Xue
Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau
Miss Grace Chan Man-yee
Ms Ip Shun-hing
Professor Daniel Lai Wing-leung
Professor Linda Lam Chiu-wa
Mr Lau Tat-chuen
Dr Jenny Lee Shun-wah
Mr Horace Lit Hoo-yin
Dr James Luk Ka-hay
Mr Theodore Ma Heng
Ms Queenie Man Wei-yin
Mr Kyrus Siu King-wai
Mr Albert Su Yau-on
Ms Macy Wong Chor-kei
Miss Yu Chui-yee
Official members
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Secretary for Labour and Welfare or representative
Secretary for Health or representative
Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing or representative
Director of Health or representative
Director of Social Welfare or representative
Chief Executive, Hospital Authority or representative read more
​The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (July 7).
The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
The heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Island:
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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 –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
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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 –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, 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 Districts:
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Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, 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 –
Wu Shan Road Community Hall
101 Wu Shan Road, Tuen Mun
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more
The Department of Health (DH) today (July 7) said that owing to their benefits no longer outweigh the risks, pharmaceutical products containing pholcodine would be deregistered and should not be available in the market with effect from January 1, 2024.
Pholcodine is a centrally acting cough suppressant, which is used in adults and children to treat a non-productive cough. The Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Pharmaceutical Products and Substances: Certification of Clinical Trial/Medicinal Test) Committee (the Committee) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong, at its meeting yesterday (July 6), decided to, in the public interest as stipulated by the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A), deregister pharmaceutical products containing pholcodine with effect from January 1, 2024, after taking into consideration various factors including the latest recommendations on pholcodine by overseas regulatory authorities, and advice given by local experts.
The Committee has consolidated information from other countries and the advice of local experts that the use of pholcodine in the 12 months before general anaesthesia with neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) is a risk for developing NMBA anaphylaxis.
In Hong Kong, there are currently 27 registered pharmaceutical products containing pholcodine. These products are listed in the Attachment. They are all Part 1 poisons controlled under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) and can only be sold at pharmacies under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
The DH will issue letters to healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical traders to inform them of the Committee’s decision to deregister pharmaceutical products containing pholcodine, and to advise healthcare professionals to arrange suitable alternative treatments for their patients.
“When the Committee’s decision takes effect on January 1, 2024, all drug manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and healthcare professionals must stop selling or supplying pharmaceutical products containing pholcodine. Drug manufacturers and wholesalers are also required to recall all products concerned from the market by December 31, 2023. The DH will take enforcement action against any illegal possession or sale of such products afterwards,” a spokesman for the DH said.
Under the Ordinance, illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
The DH advised that doctors and pharmacies should stop prescribing or dispensing pharmaceutical products containing pholcodine. There are other medicines for cough treatment available in local market. Patients taking pharmaceutical products containing pholcodine should consult their healthcare professionals to review their treatment plans as soon as possible. read more