Hong Kong – New service points for opening eHealth accounts to facilitate access to government health services by citizens
New service points for opening eHealth accounts to facilitate access to government health services by citizens
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The Health Bureau announced today (January 5) the provision of eHealth account opening services at 18 designated post offices to assist members of the public to register early as eHealth users. The new measure aims to enable citizens in accessing various government health services while the Government is gradually extending the requirement of having an eHealth account to use these services starting this year.
At present, some 80 per cent of Hong Kong citizens are eHealth users. The Government calls on citizens who have not yet registered with eHealth to take action as early as possible in order to continue enjoying various government health services. As a further facilitation, the Government has designated one post office in each of the 18 districts across Hong Kong (see Annex) to provide eHealth account opening service. Citizens simply need to bring their identity documents to the post office. The staff will verify their identity on-site and assist them to complete the registration for the account-opening process. The Government is also planning to extend the eHealth account-opening service to more post offices in the future.
Apart from the new registration channel through post offices, citizens may also continue to make use of multiple existing channels to open eHealth accounts:
- Register online and open accounts in one go upon identity verification through the “iAM Smart” mobile application;
- Register on the eHealth website and complete identity verification by presenting identity documents at the 63 Electronic Health Record (eHR) Registration Centres of the Hospital Authority (HA) or the Department of Health (DH), the eight eHealth mobile registration counters, about 4 800 service locations of private healthcare providers and the eHR Registration Office located at Kowloon Bay in person for opening an eHealth account;
- Visit the above locations direct in person with identity documents for registration and opening eHealth accounts upon identity verification; and
- Visit various District Health Centres (DHCs) to register as members and open eHealth accounts.
Methods for account opening, addresses and operating hours of service points are detailed on the eHealth website. Since November last year, a default consent arrangement was made in the system to register participating citizens of government-subsidised vaccination schemes with eHealth as a streamlined registration procedure.
The Government will roll out the eHealth+ as announced in the 2023 Policy Address. One of the main directions is to centralise the storage of digital health records from both public and private sectors and to integrate different healthcare protocols through a personalised eHealth account for individual citizens. It is already a current requirement for citizens who receive services at the DHCs, enrol in the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme launched in mid-November last year, or participate in the Public Private Partnership Programmes of the DH and the HA to use eHealth. To foster the development of primary healthcare services, the Government will gradually extend the arrangement for use of eHealth from this year to other government health services, including government-subsidised vaccination schemes and the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme. Another major future development of the eHealth+ system is to support various cross-boundary medical collaboration initiatives within the Greater Bay Area including the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Measures will be introduced later to enable citizens to bring their health records to seek medical treatment across the boundary.
The Government has been striving to optimise the eHealth mobile application with a view to enabling members of the public to have better control and management of their health records. A number of functions have been added to allow citizens to record and manage their personal health data, such as accessing records of government-subsidised vaccination schemes, making appointments at selected clinics under the DH and the HA, checking the balance of the Elderly Health Care Voucher, and managing and integrating blood pressure and blood glucose indexes for healthcare personnel’s reference.
For other details about eHealth, members of the public may visit the website or call the hotline at 3467 6300.
OREX Announces OREX Open RAN Service Lineup Achieves TCO reduction of up to 30% and reduces power consumption by up to 50%
NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today its brand-new service lineup of OREX RAN, OREX SMO, and OREX Services, part of its commitment to becoming an Open RAN service provider for international telecom operators. Through this announcement, the company aims to provide clarity and mutual understanding among international telecom operators regarding the services offered by OREX, thereby facilitating its further expansion. OREX is DOCOMO’s Open RAN service brand, developed in collaboration with multiple global vendors. It can be customized to address the unique challenges of each customer. The introduction of OREX Open RAN services is expected to reduce clients’ total cost of ownership by up to 30%1 when the costs of initial setup and ongoing maintenance are taken into account. It can also reduce the time required for network design by up to 50%. Additionally, OREX reduces power consumption at base stations by up to 50%.2 In the OREX RAN offering, OREX leverages the features of Open RAN, allowing the combination of various vendor products to provide base stations that are highly cost-effective. Leveraging the knowledge gained from DOCOMO’s unique experience in building mobile networks with multiple equipment vendors since the 4G era, OREX integrates the strengths of its 13 OREX PARTNERS3 to offer an extensive range of virtualized radio base networks (vRANs) and radio units (RUs) compatible with the range of different frequencies in use in various countries. With the addition of seven new RU vendors,4 OREX is poised to meet the demands of an even larger customer base. With OREX SMO, OREX provides software developed by NTT Corporation to facilitate the efficient design, configuration and monitoring of wireless access networks, enabling autonomous and optimized device operation. Adoption of OREX SMO allows the automatic optimization of network design, reducing design workload by up to 50%, particularly in complex cases that would normally take several weeks. It also reduces operational workload by automating tasks such as the adjustment of the antenna angle of base stations, which is critical for securing the coverage area. OREX SMO is compliant with the standard specifications defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE.5 OREX Services provide the procurement and system integration required for the adoption of OREX RAN and OREX SMO, as well as post-implementation operational support and maintenance. On September 22, DOCOMO initiated the deployment and operation of OREX RAN and OREX SMO in its domestic 5G network, incorporating base station software from Fujitsu Limited, cloud platform from Wind River, hardware accelerator from NVIDIA, and COTS server with Intel processors. Building on the operational experience they have accumulated within DOCOMO’s network, these companies plan to enhance OREX Open RAN services and expand their product combinations, striving to offer improved cost-effectiveness and reliability. Going forward, DOCOMO will continue to support global telecom operators in their adoption of Open RAN with its new OREX offerings, strengthening its cooperation with global partners to make Open RAN a reality. In addition, DOCOMO will leverage the technology by applying the All-Photonics Network6 to transport network in Open RAN, following the concept of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN)7 promoted by the NTT Group. It will also utilize low-power servers equipped with photonics-electronics convergence technology and integrate OREX SMO with IOWN’s Cognitive Foundation.8 (1) Estimated value based on comparison of DOCOMO’s standard network with DOCOMO’s standard network with deployment of OREX RAN and OREX SMO. This also includes the impact of partial reductions in power consumption. (2) Estimated value based on a comparison of DOCOMO’s standard network with DOCOMO’s standard network following the deployment of OREX RAN and OREX SMO. (3) The number of OREX PARTNERS as of September 26, 2023. For more information, please visit the official (4) DENGYO Technology Co., Ltd., DKK Co., Ltd., Fujitsu Limited, HFR, Inc., Mavenir, NEC Corporation, and SOLiD. (5) The O-RAN ALLIANCE, led by DOCOMO since its establishment, is a world-wide community of telecom operators and vendors committed to re-shaping Radio Access Networks to be more scalable, open and intelligent in order for them to be able to support 5G and all future network standards. (6) An architecture that introduces photonics (optics) based technology to every aspect from the network to terminals. This enables far lower power consumption, higher quality, greater capacity, and less delay, all of which are difficult with current electronics-based technology. (7) A concept for networks and information-processing infrastructure, including terminals, that aims to optimize the individual and the whole based on a whole variety of information. It leverages innovative technologies focused on optics to provide high-speed, high-capacity communication and tremendous computational resources. For more details, please visit (8) A mechanism for the deployment, configuration and coordination of information and communication technology (ICT) resources at different layers, from cloud to edge computers, network services and user facilities, and the centralization of their management and operation.OREX is a trademark of NTT DOCOMO, INC. About NTT DOCOMO NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s leading mobile operator with over 87million subscriptions, is one of the world’s foremost contributors to 3G, 4G and 5G mobile network technologies. Beyond core communications services, DOCOMO is challenging new frontiers in collaboration with a growing number of entities (“+d” partners), creating exciting and convenient value-added services that change the way people live and work. Under a medium-term plan toward 2020 and beyond, DOCOMO is pioneering a leading-edge 5G network to facilitate innovative services that will amaze and inspire customers beyond their expectations.https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/
Resumption of bus service on Shek O Road
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The TD reminded motorists to pay attention to traffic conditions and drive with care as the concerned section of the road is converted into one-lane-two-way traffic.
Civil Service College organises first seminar of series on “Holistic View of National Security” (with photos)
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WEBWIRE – Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Today, NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to designate new areas of critical habitat to protect threatened and endangered green sea turtles. The agencies share jurisdiction for sea turtles, with the Fish and Wildlife Service overseeing their protection and recovery on nesting beaches and NOAA Fisheries providing oversight in the marine environment. The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes designating 8,870 acres (approximately 35.896 square kilometers) of critical habitat on land where green sea turtles bask, nest, incubate, hatch and travel to the sea. NOAA Fisheries proposes to designate marine critical habitat from mean high water to 20 meters depth to protect access to nesting beaches, migratory corridors and important feeding and resting areas; it also includes Sargassum habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Green sea turtles continue to face threats in the marine environment, including human interactions like bycatch and marine debris, as well as habitat loss and the ongoing impacts of climate change, said NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit. These new critical habitat proposals will aid in our joint mission to protect and recover endangered and threatened green sea turtles. Designating critical habitat for green sea turtles will help us effectively carry out our mission of protecting and recovering the species, said Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz. Endangered Species Act protections are benefiting the species by raising awareness about its threats, inspiring diverse partnerships on its behalf, and now helping conserve habitat critical to its conservation and recovery. The proposed critical habitat areas include the states of California, Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina and Texas; the territories of American Samoa, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands; and the commonwealths of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. Details on the proposed critical habitat can be found in the Fish and Wildlife Services Frequently Asked Questions. Designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) does not affect private landowners unless they implement an action involving federal funds, permits or other activities. It also does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness reserve or preserve, or other conservation areas, nor does it allow the government or public to access private lands. It does not create a closed area, marine protected area, refuge, wilderness reserve, preservation or other conservation area. A final rule listing 11 distinct population segments (DPSs) of green sea turtles was issued in 2016 (three endangered DPSs and eight threatened DPSs). The 2016 rule did not include the proposed critical habitat as it was deemed not determinable at that time. Once critical habitat is designated, federal agencies must consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service or NOAA Fisheries to ensure actions they fund, authorize or undertake will not destroy or adversely modify the critical habitat. Much of the proposed critical habitat for the green sea turtle overlaps with existing critical habitat for other species. Please visit the Fish and Wildlife Services online mapping tool offsite link and NOAA Fisheries online mapping tool offsite link for more information on those overlapping areas and species. Historically, green sea turtles were killed for their meat and eggs, leading to global population declines. Today, the species faces an array of risks, including threats to its habitat. Coastal development impacts the beaches they require to nest and increases artificial lighting, causing hatchlings to migrate to the lights and away from the ocean. Runoff and other pollution kill seagrass and algae, reducing the availability of these major food sources for green sea turtles. Fisheries bycatch, vessel strikes, marine debris and pollutants also continue to threaten green sea turtles. Climate change also imperils green sea turtles as rising seas and storms erode beaches and flood nests, causing them to wash away. Higher sand temperatures can increase the number of female hatchlings, shifting the ratio of males and females. Changes in ocean temperature alter the amount and distribution of food, upsetting their migration, foraging range and nesting seasons. NOAA Fisheries and the Fish and Wildlife Service listed the green sea turtle under the ESA in 1978. Todays announcement comes as the ESA turns 50 this year. Throughout the year, the ESA is being celebrated for its importance in preventing imperiled species extinction, promoting the recovery of wildlife and conserving the habitats upon which they depend. The Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries will conduct virtual and in-person informational meetings and public hearings on the proposed critical habitat. Registration is only required for virtual meetings and hearings. Please visit one of the following websites to register: Comments on the proposed rules must be submitted by Oct. 17, 2023. Submit comments at www.regulations.gov under docket number FWS-R4-ES-2022-0164 for the proposed terrestrial critical habitat; and under docket number NOAA-NMFS-2023-0087 for the proposed marine critical habitat. Visit the NOAA Fisheries and Fish and Wildlife Service websites for more information about green sea turtles.
Japan – OREX Announces OREX Open RAN Service Lineup
OREX website.https://www.rd.ntt/e/iown/.Hong Kong – Resumption of bus service on Shek O Road
The Transport Department (TD) today (September 10) said that Shek O Road, which was temporarily closed due to landslide and road subsidence, was reopened after emergency repairs. After bus trial, Citybus route no. 9 (Shau Kei Wan – Shek O) will be resumed with deployment of single-deck buses. The first departure will be departed from Shau Kei Wan and Shek O respectively at 6am today.Hong Kong – Civil Service College organises first seminar of series on “Holistic View of National Security” (with photos)
The Civil Service College (CSC) of the Civil Service Bureau has launched the “Holistic View of National Security” seminar series, providing a comprehensive and multi-perspective analysis of the development of the holistic view of national security, its main content, the challenges of safeguarding national security, and its significance to the country’s development. The first seminar of the series, on the topic of “The Overview of the Development of Holistic View of National Security”, was delivered by the Director of the Office of the Center for a Holistic Approach to National Security and Research Professor of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Mr Chen Xiangyang, at the Central Government Offices today (August 2).
Addressing the seminar, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said that the civil service is an integral part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) governance system, and civil servants must deepen their understanding of the necessity and importance of safeguarding national security in the complex international environment. They should be proactive in discharging their duties of safeguarding national security and act in full accord with the HKSAR Government in promoting the work of safeguarding national security.
The seminar series consists of seven talks, covering topics such as the relationship between national security and the rise and fall of great nations; global economic change; and the opportunities and challenges of technological development for safeguarding national security. The seminars are delivered by experts from the Center for a Holistic Approach to National Security and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.
Around 200 officers, including middle and senior-level civil servants and politically appointed officials, attended the seminar today.NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service propose new critical habitat for green sea turtles
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