Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to their notice to the Drainage Services Department by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline on 2300 1110.

     The Government today (March 21) urged members of the public, especially the elderly and children, to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) as early as practicable for personal protection.

     “The local seasonal influenza activity has been staying at low levels over the past three years, so the immunity against influenza in the local community as a whole may be relatively weaker than in the past. We also observed elevated influenza activity in some countries or areas of the northern hemisphere in the past few months, and some have even reached peak season. Given that members of the public do not need to wear a mask mandatorily since March 1 this year, the risk for influenza transmission will become higher and members of the public should not lower their guard. As of March 19, about 1.5 million doses of SIV had been administered via the Government Vaccination Programme and the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS), representing a roughly 23 per cent rise over the same period in 2021/22 season. The influenza vaccination coverage rate for the elderly aged 65 or above has reached 47 per cent. While the vaccination coverage rate for children below 18 years of age is almost 40 per cent, that for toddlers aged 6 months to below 2 years is around 8 per cent only. Parents are urged to arrange vaccination for their children as early as possible to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill should they get infected. The Government strongly appeals to members of the public, especially the elderly and children, to receive influenza vaccination early,” a Government spokesman said.  

     SIV is one of the effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reduce influenza-related hospitalisation and death. All persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive SIV for personal protection. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public, particularly persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early.

     Those aged 6 to 48 months may continue to choose to receive both COVID-19 vaccination and free SIV at designated Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) under the Department of Health (DH) when a reservation is made for them online. Staff of MCHCs will proactively call the parents and during their consultation session at MCHCs explain to them information on COVID-19 vaccination and SIV. By answering parents’ queries on vaccination and eliminating their misunderstandings or worries, they will be encouraged to arrange vaccination for their children.

     Currently, Hong Kong residents aged 50 or above may choose to receive both COVID-19 vaccination and free SIV at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs). To encourage and facilitate children in getting SIV, from March 22 onwards, Hong Kong residents aged between 6 months and below 18 years may choose to receive free SIV on-site when they are receiving the COVID-19 vaccination at CVCs. They can also make reservations for receiving both COVID-19 vaccination and SIV through the booking system of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk) starting from 9am on March 22.

     Meanwhile, to facilitate parents to keep their children’s vaccination records as lifelong personal medical records, the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS) has gradually covered the records of vaccinations under the Government’s VSS, including COVID-19 vaccination records, records under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme as stored in the system of the DH, and SIV records which will start to be included in the eHRSS from this quarter onwards. Parents can access their children’s vaccination records via the eHealth mobile app.

     The spokesman reminded members of the public that currently various vaccination venues provide co-administration of COVID-19 vaccine and SIV to eligible persons. The venues include the designated facilities under the Hospital Authority and the DH, CVCs and Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations. Details on eligible persons are available at www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106096.html.

     The public may call the hotline (2125 2125) or visit the Vaccination Schemes page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html) for more information on various SIV schemes.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (March 4) appealed to members of the public to help prevent and control obesity as well as lead a healthy lifestyle in support of World Obesity Day.

     Established in 2015 as an annual campaign, World Obesity Day has been observed on March 4 since 2020, with the goal of stimulating and supporting practical actions that will help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reverse the global obesity crisis. The theme of World Obesity Day 2023 is “Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk About Obesity”.

     A spokesman for the DH said, “Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders and sleep apnoea.”

     In Hong Kong, about one in two adults are considered to be overweight or obese. The local situation of overweight and obesity deteriorated amid the COVID-19 epidemic with decreasing physical activities and a change in dietary patterns. For school children in the 2018/19 school year prior to the COVID-19 epidemic, the detection rates (Note) of overweight (including obesity) of primary and secondary school students were about 18 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. The detection rates increased to about 21 per cent and 22 per cent in the 2021/22 school year. School closures, online classes, decreased physical activity and more screen time resulted in the increased risk of overweight and obesity.

     According to the Population Health Survey (PHS) 2020-22 conducted by the DH, about one quarter of persons aged 18 or above performed an insufficient level of physical activities. Compared with the previous PHS, a significant increase in the prevalence of physical inactivity was observed, possibly partly related to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures in place during the study period. Among persons aged 15 or above, about 98 per cent of them reported an inadequate intake (i.e. an average of less than five servings) of fruit and vegetables per day.

     Leading a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of obesity. “The fundamental cause of obesity is more calories are consumed than expended. To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, members of the public are encouraged to eat a balanced diet and refrain from alcohol drinking, be physically active and reduce the amount of time spent being sedentary,” the spokesman stressed.

     The DH has been promoting a healthy lifestyle through a life-course and setting-based approach. Eating out and ordering takeaway food are common among Hong Kong people. The DH has been enlisting the support of restaurants to provide healthier dishes through the EatSmart Restaurant Star+ campaign. In collaboration with relevant government bureaux/departments and the public, private and non-governmental sectors, the DH has also initiated the StartSmart@school.hk and EatSmart@school.hk campaigns to encourage healthy eating and physical activity in order to create an environment conducive to a healthy lifestyle in pre-primary institutions and primary schools.

     Apart from encouraging healthy eating, the DH also initiated a social marketing campaign with the theme of “10 000 Steps a Day” last year, with an aim of promoting walking as a simple form of physical activity that can easily be incorporated into a daily routine.

     The Government is committed to halt the rise of obesity. The DH will continue to step up efforts to enhance public awareness about the importance of healthy living and increase people’s health literacy, as well as working in close partnership with other government departments and community partners to foster a health-enhancing environment.

     ​For more information about healthy living, please visit the Change4Helath website of the DH.

Note: The data are calculated based on the anthropometric measurements of primary and secondary school students conducted by Student Health Service Centres of the DH. For more details on the statistics of youth health-related behaviour, please refer to the CHP’s website www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/757/5513.html. 

     The Transport Department (TD) today (January 19) reminded motorists and cyclists to observe road safety during the Lunar New Year holidays. 

     “Motorists must not drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, or participate in illegal road racing, so as to avoid contravening the law. Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs will significantly impair driving ability. After drinking alcohol or taking drugs, one should use public transport services or arrange someone else to drive,” a TD spokesman said.

     “Drink driving, drug driving and illegal road racing will endanger motorists themselves as well as other road users. These illegal activities can lead to traffic accidents and cause serious injuries and even deaths.”

     The spokesman also appealed to motorists not to park their vehicles illegally. They should park in a parking place or car park so as to maintain smooth road traffic. This can avoid causing traffic jams, obstructing public transport operation or delaying emergency vehicles in rescue operations. This can also avoid obstructing the sight lines of pedestrians and other road users, which may otherwise cause traffic accidents. For drivers who commit traffic offences and cause traffic obstruction, the Police will issue warnings or summonses, or even tow away the vehicles concerned.

     As many people go cycling for leisure during holidays, they are advised to cycle within their abilities and observe road safety, wear suitable personal protective equipment and properly check their bicycles. They should always be attentive, patient and law-abiding when cycling.

     The spokesman emphasised that road safety hinges on the co-operation of every road user, and appealed to the public to exercise self-discipline and comply with traffic rules.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (September 9) reminded the public to observe fire safety and keep the countryside clean during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

     “To prevent hill fires, visitors should not release any sky lanterns,” an AFCD spokesman said.

     “It is an offence under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96) to illegally light a fire or release a sky lantern in country parks and open countryside. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and one year’s imprisonment upon conviction.”

     To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community, the spokesman also appealed to the public to avoid visiting popular locations in the countryside or participating in meal gatherings in crowded places during the peak period on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The public must comply with the restrictions on group gatherings under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G).

     The spokesman also reminded the public that, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, country park barbecue sites and campsites are still closed. Members of the public are not allowed to enter any cordoned area or carry out barbecuing and camping activities within country parks.

     The spokesman appealed to visitors to keep the countryside clean and properly dispose of waste and used masks. Anyone who commits a littering offence in a country park area is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. The AFCD will step up patrols at country parks. Enforcement actions will be taken against offenders of the regulations concerned.