Dcs leads charge in improving district governance - task force meeting recap
The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, chaired the fourth meeting of the Task Force on District Governance today (April 29) to follow up on the initiatives endorsed by the Steering Committee on District Governance. The meeting reviewed the preparatory work of various bureaux and departments for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and the implementation progress of seven district issues.
Mr Cheuk said, "This year's October 1 anniversary is of great significance, marking not only the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, but also the first National Day of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region after the reform of District Councils and the completion of the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law. I will assist the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) in leading various bureaux and departments to make good preparations for various celebration activities and publicity programmes."
The Steering Committee chaired by the CS formulated at its first two meetings strategies in relation to seven district issues, covering areas on support for children and the elderly, environmental hygiene, law and order, road safety, pedestrian facilities and estate environment. The Task Force continued to follow up at this meeting the implementation details and the progress of the relevant items is as follows:
(1) Expanding after-school care service and enhancing support for parents
Non-governmental organisations responsible for providing after-school care services have progressively commenced their services since last September. As at the end of this February, 59 primary schools have participated in the School-based After School Care Service Pilot Scheme, providing approximately 2 900 service places in total.
(2) Caring for the elderly and enhancing community support
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has added elderly-friendly fitness equipment to 18 leisure venues, and will hold around 5 700 recreation and sports activities for the elderly for free this year. The LCSD has also launched the Umbrellas for Loan by Elderly Park Visitors Scheme this February.
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has launched a pilot scheme this March, withTsuen Wan and Southern Districts as pilot points, to identify hidden elders, carers of the elderly, and caregivers of persons with disabilities in need of assistance during home visits by District Services and Community Care Teams for referral to the SWD and social welfare units for follow-up support.
(3) Fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is continuing to enhance the cleanliness and hygiene of public markets and cooked food markets, including progressively increasing the frequency of cleansing work in markets, and commencing stall improvements at the Queen Street Cooked Food Market on a trial basis starting this February.
The FEHD is also continuing to strengthen rodent control, including increasing the number of overnight rodent control roving teams, and extending the trial scheme of allowing food premises to place large-size waste containers in rear lanes for temporary storage of waste.
(4) Enhancing public order and combating crimes on all fronts
Police plan to install closed-circuit television in 615 locations with higher crime figures across districts to serve as a deterrent against and an aid in the investigation of street crimes. Fifteen installations have been completed for technical tests in Mong Kok this April.
(5) Improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety
The Highways Department (HyD) is expanding the repaving of footpaths, with works on 18 sections already completed. The Transport Department is installing auxiliary pedestrian crossing devices with red light-beam projections at pedestrian crossing black spots in various districts, with devices at the first 17 locations installed and commissioned.
(6) Enhancing the walking experience for citizens and creating a pedestrian-friendly environment
The HyD has selected 36 footbridges and pedestrian subways in 18 districts, and will design and carry out renovation and beautification works. The HyD has also selected 10 suitable locations and completed preliminary designs for installing bench railings for citizens to sit and rest on a trial basis. The above works are targeted to commence in mid-2024.
(7) Improving the environment of public housing estates and creating comfortable homes
The Housing Department has rolled out estate improvement works for 10 public rental housing estates starting from the first quarter of 2024, and will commence improvement works based on various themes in another five in the second quarter.
Mr Cheuk received reports from the relevant Heads of Departments on their work. He urged departments and District Councils to make good use of the refined district governance structure and discharge good governance with various district initiatives of community interests to continuously enhance governance efficacy at the district level and duly address the needs of the people.
DCS chairs fourth meeting of Task Force on District Governance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DCS chairs fourth meeting of Task Force on District Governance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DCS chairs fourth meeting of Task Force on District Governance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Chp on high alert as imported measles case sparks investigation
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (May 14) investigating an imported case of measles infection and reminded the public that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles, and people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received a measles vaccination during childhood should review their vaccination history.
The case involves an 11-month-old girl with good past health. She developed fever, cough and runny nose since May 7, and rash since the following day. She was brought to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pok Oi Hospital on May 9 and admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on May 10 for treatment. Her respiratory specimen sample tested positive for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. She is now in stable condition and is still hospitalised. Her two household contacts remained asymptomatic.
An epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient was born outside Hong Kong and did not receive measles vaccinations in her home country. She lived overseas during the incubation period and arrived in Hong Kong on April 23. The patient did not have contact with measles patients in Hong Kong. The case has been identified as an imported case. During the communicable period, the patient had visited the Immigration and Registration of Persons - Yuen Long Office (Yuen Long Office) located on Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, between around 10am and 11.30am on May 6. The CHP will conduct medical surveillance on about 40 staff of the concerned office.
As measles is highly infectious, the CHP has set up an enquiry hotline (2125 2374) for contact tracing of the case. The CHP appealed to the persons who visited the Yuen Long Officelocated on Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, between 10am and 11.30am on May 6 to call the hotline. Officers of the CHP will assess their conditions and offer suggestions. The hotline will operate from 9am to 1pm tomorrow (May 15), and from 9am to 5.30pm starting from May 16, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
Investigations are ongoing.
"The global immunisation coverage rates have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries worldwide are facing a resurgence of measles outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of measles cases had risen worldwide to over 300 000 cases reported in 2023, a roughly 80 per cent increase from 2022. The Western Pacific region recorded a total of about 5 000 cases in 2023, which representedmore thana 2.5 timeswhen compared with 2022, with persistent transmission found in the Philippines and Malaysia. In view of the continuous increase in measles cases, the WHO has urged parents to bring their children to get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent measles from spreading," a spokesman for the DH said.
The CHP reiterated that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. During the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years, parents, schools and healthcare workers in Hong Kong continued to support childhood immunisations, striving to maintain the immunisation coverage rates at a high level. As revealed by the vaccination uptake of primary school students and the findings of the territory-wide immunisation surveys regularly conducted by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has been consistently maintained at a high level, well above 95 per cent, and the local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most of the people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. On the whole, the information available indicates that the risk of large-scale outbreak is considered to be low in Hong Kong. However, it is possible for some not fully vaccinated people to get infected and transmit the measles virus to susceptible people (including children aged below 1 who are not due for the first dose of measles vaccine).
The spokesman reminded members of the public that delays in vaccination will weaken the protection for children against measles, and parents are reminded to maintain up-to-date vaccination for their children for comprehensive and timely protection. All people who are non-immune to measles, especially foreign domestic helpers, people working or studying in tertiary institutions, and workers of sea/land/air border control points who may be at a higher risk of contacting an imported case, should receive two doses of measles-containing vaccine. In general, people can be considered as non-immune to measles if they (i) did not have the infection confirmed by laboratory test before, and (ii) had not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines in the past, or have unknown vaccination status or unknown immunity against measles. On the other hand, as measles was endemic in Hong Kong and most parts of the world before 1967, people born before 1967 are considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection.
The spokesman supplemented that, members of the public who are planning to travel to places with a high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received a measles vaccination during childhood. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles, are urged to consult their doctor for advice on vaccinations at least two weeks before departure.
The spokesman advised, "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals."
Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP'smeasles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH'sTravel Health Servicefor news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.
Source: AI-generated images
