Hong Kong – United Christian Hospital responds to case of Legionnaires’ disease
United Christian Hospital responds to case of Legionnaires’ disease
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesman for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following reply today (May 31) regarding a Legionella infection case:
An 86-year-old male patient who had stayed in a medical and geriatric ward of UCH confirmed to have Legionnaires’ Disease. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) visited the ward and collected water samples today. The source of infection is still under investigation. The patient is currently receiving treatment at UCH and is in stable condition.
The hospital has already implemented a series of precautionary and enhanced infection control measures, including:
- Suspending use of related basin faucets and shower heads;
- Installing bacterial filters for related water faucets and arranging to disinfect related water supply system; and
- Providing boiled or bottled water to patients in the wards concerned for drinking and mouth rinsing.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office according to established guidelines. The hospital will co-operate with the CHP to investigate the source of infection.
HKSAR Government demands apology by Amnesty International for unfounded remarks
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The organisation not only refused to admit its mistakes, but also claimed that it would continue to monitor the human rights situation in Hong Kong and the Mainland, attempting to cover up its mistakes and excuse itself for making the fabricated and malicious remarks that slandered Hong Kong and the Mainland. The HKSAR Government despises the act and hopes that the organisation can make a sincere apology responsibly.
Hong Kong Customs and FSD conduct joint counter-terrorism exercise (with photos)
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About 100 officers from Customs and the FSD participated in the exercise, which comprised two scenarios. The first scenario simulated the identification of a passenger suspected to be related to terrorist activities during Customs clearance at the Passenger Arrival Hall of the Ocean Terminal. Customs officers immediately informed the Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit for follow-up action.
The second scenario simulated a biochemical attack attempted by a radical at the Ocean Terminal. Customs officers subdued the attacker and activated the contingency response plan as well as informed on-duty security guards of the Ocean Terminal immediately. People at the scene were evacuated in an orderly and safe manner. FSD officers responded swiftly to the scene upon being summoned to mount a rescue operation and handle the hazardous material.
Customs and the FSD hope to raise frontline officers’ awareness of counter-terrorism and their capability to handle counter-terrorism intelligence through conducting regular exercises. It can enhance the co-ordination and communication between the two departments in case of terrorist attacks so that the lives and property of the public will be better protected.
Moreover, the management staff and security guards of the Ocean Terminal were specially invited to participate in the counter-terrorism exercise this time. This not only can strengthen the co-operation between government departments and stakeholders, but also strengthen the response capability of each person in the event of terrorist incidents.
Buildings Department issued statutory order and to conduct full investigation regarding removal of part of structural wall of a unit at The Capitol, Lohas Park
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Staff of the BD has conducted an inspection at the concerned unit, together with the owner, the interior designer responsible for the renovation of the concerned unit, and staff of the property management company. Certain contraventions were found during the inspection, including removal of part of a 200mm thick structural wall (about 720mm wide by 2150mm high) between the living room and the bedroom for installation of a new door. After inspecting the units above and below the concerned unit by BD officers, no danger to the overall building structure was noted. The concerned owner informed the department that a contractor has been arranged to install temporary supports at the new door opening.
The BD has issued a statutory order to the concerned owner under the BO, including requiring the concerned owner to appoint an Authorized Person (AP) to submit a remedial proposal (including an assessment of the overall effect on the structure of the concerned building due to the alteration works and plans of proposed remedial works, and to obtain approval and consent from the BD before the commencement of such remedial works to reinstate the parts of the building so affected in accordance with the approved plans. The BD will continue to follow up the case seriously to ensure due compliance with the statutory order.
According to the provisions of the BO, any person who wants to carry out building works (including alterations and additions (A&A) works) in private buildings, except works that are exempted in accordance with section 41(3) of the BO or minor works that may be carried out under the simplified procedures of the Minor Works Control System, should appoint an AP to submit plans to the BD for approval and obtain consent from the department in accordance with section 14 of the BO, before commencing such works. The removal of part of the structural wall in this incident is neither exempted building works nor minor works. Such works involving structural wall without the approval of the BD will be regarded as unauthorised building works (UBWs).
The BD spokesman stressed that it is the responsibility of owners to keep their buildings free of UBWs and shall not carry out any UBWs. Any person who intends to carry out A&A works is advised to consult building professionals for advice, including feasibility of the works, and where necessary, apply for approval and consent from the BD to ensure building safety and compliance with the BO. Building professionals and contractors are also required to carefully examine the approved plans and other relevant documents, to observe the relevant requirements under the BO, and to ascertain whether prior approval from the BD should be obtained before commencement of the works to ensure safety of occupants and structural safety of the building.
According to the BO, it is a serious offence to carry out any building works without prior approval. Any person, if convicted, is liable to a maximum fine of $400,000 and two years’ imprisonment. Any person who carries out such works in such manner that it causes or is likely to cause a risk of injury to any person or damage to any property shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a statutory order served on him shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $200,000 and, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence has continued.
Tung Wah Eastern Hospital announced safety incident of hospital facilities
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Government announces details of 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme Second Instalment
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Existing registrants
Eligible existing registrants were issued with the first instalment voucher on April 16 this year. They will be disbursed with the second instalment vouchers from July 16. Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals will be disbursed with $2,000 vouchers, while eligible persons who have come to live in Hong Kong through different admission schemes or to study in Hong Kong will be disbursed with vouchers of half value, i.e. $1,000.
Existing registrants can change the stored value facility account for receiving the second instalment vouchers. Existing registrants who do not want to change the stored value facility account for receiving the second instalment vouchers and other existing registration records are not required to go through any procedure. The Government will make use of their existing registration records to conduct eligibility checking and notify them of the result through SMS notification in early July. If they want to change the stored value facility account, they may refer to the details set out below.
New registrants
New eligible persons and eligible persons who have not registered before will be disbursed with two separate vouchers starting from July 16 and October 16 this year after they have registered. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals will be disbursed with a total value of $5,000 in vouchers, while eligible persons who have come to live in Hong Kong through different admission schemes or to study in Hong Kong will be disbursed with vouchers of half value, i.e. $2,500.
New eligible persons refer to those aged 18 on or before today (May 29) and fulfil the other relevant eligibility criteria. Details of the eligibility criteria and the total amount of vouchers to be disbursed are set out in Annex I.
Arrangements for new registration or changing stored value facility account
New registrants and those existing registrants who want to change the stored value facility account or other registration records should complete the relevant procedures through the electronic registration portal in the Scheme website (www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk) or in person at any of the temporary service centres (nine in total) during the registration period from June 5 (Monday) to June 27 (Tuesday). They will receive the relevant results through SMS notifications after about one to two weeks. The addresses and opening hours of the service centres are in Annex II. People may call the hotline 18 5000 to make appointments.
Consumption voucher disbursement timetable
The arrangement for collecting vouchers through different stored value facilities and the coverage of consumption vouchers are the same as the first instalment. The voucher disbursement timetable of AlipayHK, BoC Pay, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK is in Annex III. The schedule for disbursement of vouchers via Octopus is in Annex IV.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, “To consolidate the economic recovery expeditiously, the Government disbursed the first instalment vouchers to about 6.4 million eligible persons in April this year and the process went smoothly. Hong Kong’s retail and catering sectors have exhibited an encouraging recovering trend in the first four months this year and the consumption sentiment has greatly improved. The disbursement of the second instalment vouchers will inject about $13 billion of purchasing power into the market. In tandem with the series of events launched under the ‘Happy Hong Kong’ campaign and the spending season in the summer holidays, I believe it will accelerate the economic recovery. Let’s spend happily and boost the economy together.”
Hong Kong – HKSAR Government demands apology by Amnesty International for unfounded remarks
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government noted that Amnesty International today (May 30) corrected on the website its earlier fabricated remarks which alleged that a Uyghur person went missing after arriving in Hong Kong, confirming that the person did not go to the city. The HKSAR Government expressed disapproval and outrage that the organisation did not apologise for its unfounded, despicable and fallacious remarks which maliciously smeared the HKSAR Government.Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs and FSD conduct joint counter-terrorism exercise (with photos)
Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department (FSD) co-organised a counter-terrorism exercise codenamed “GATEKEEPER II” this afternoon (May 30) at the Ocean Terminal. Hong Kong – Buildings Department issued statutory order and to conduct full investigation regarding removal of part of structural wall of a unit at The Capitol, Lohas Park
A spokesman for the Buildings Department (BD) said on May 29 that the department is highly concerned about the incident concerning suspected removal of part of a structural wall in a unit at The Capitol, Lohas Park. The BD has deployed its staff for a site inspection and has issued a statutory order to the concerned owner under the Buildings Ordinance (BO). The BD has commenced a full investigation on any contravention under the BO, and will, depending on the investigation result, take appropriate punitive action under the BO (including instigating prosecution). Hong Kong – Tung Wah Eastern Hospital announced safety incident of hospital facilities
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesman for Tung Wah Eastern Hospital (TWEH) made the following announcement today (May 29) regarding a hospital facility safety incident:
A loosened backup battery for the digital keypad system, fell down from the control box installed at the false ceiling at the entrance of the TWEH Ophthalmology Specialist Outpatient Clinic registration counter at around 2pm today. The battery is approximately 15 centimetres in length, 6 centimetres in width and 9 centimetres in height. No patient nor staff were injured and patient service was also not affected. The incident did not involve structural safety. The hospital is very concerned about the incident. Urgent repairs and inspection to the same devices in the hospital was arranged, where no abnormality was noted.
The hospital will request the maintenance contractor for the digital keypad system to submit a report and investigate the incident thoroughly. The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System.Hong Kong – Government announces details of 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme Second Instalment
The Government announced today (May 29) the details of the 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme Second Instalment.Ads
