Improved registration process for dental clinics offering emergency services
With a view to further facilitating the walk-in emergency dental services for members of the public, the Department of Health (DH) today (May 27) said that starting from June 11, the registration time for the preliminary registration arrangements at its nine dental clinics providing general public sessions will be advanced from midnight on the day of service to 8pm on the day before service, allowing people in the queue to leave at an earlier time after preliminary registration.
The nine relevant dental clinics located in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories (except those on outlying islands) are Kennedy Town Community Complex Dental Clinic, Kowloon City Dental Clinic, Kwun Tong Dental Clinic, Mona Fong Dental Clinic, Tai Po Wong Siu Ching Dental Clinic, Fanling Health Centre Dental Clinic, Tsuen Wan Dental Clinic, Yan Oi Dental Clinic and Yuen Long Government Offices Dental Clinic. From June 11, the nine dental clinics will preliminarily register personal information for people in the queue and verify the originals of their identity documents starting at 8pm on the day before providing general public dental services. Each person can only register once. Staff would cease the preliminary registration when the number of registered persons reached the quota of the general public sessions. Those who have finished preliminary registration can leave the clinic immediately and do not have to continue waiting. They should return to the relevant clinics at the scheduled disc-distributing time in the morning on the service day (in the afternoon on the service day for Mona Fong Dental Clinic) to obtain a disc, register formally in order and receive treatment. The DH has recruited additional staff to maintain order.
For the sake of clarity, the preliminary registration arrangements for the general public sessions on June 11 will start at 8pm on the day before (i.e. June 10). Notices detailing the new arrangements and logistics will be displayed at conspicuous locations of the clinics. The addresses and time of operation of the relevant dental clinics can be viewed at websitewww.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_dcgps.html.
In addition, the development of software and systems by the DH is in full progress, with an aim to roll out an online disc distribution and registration system for the general public dental services this year. By then, there will be no need for the public to queue in person to obtain a disc. Meanwhile, the system can provide the public with real-time information on available quotas to ensure full utilisation.
Meanwhile, the Government is strenuously planning a series of measures to effectively enhance the local public dental services, including the collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to strengthen in the next year the emergency dental services targeting the underprivileged groups with financial difficulties through an expansion of service capacity, service points and service scope, thus promoting early identification and timely intervention of dental diseases. The target is to provide additional service capacity that will be at least twice the capacity provided by the current dental general public sessions. The programme details will be announced in due course.
The dental clinics under the DH are mainly responsible for providing dental benefits for civil servants/pensioners and their eligible dependents as required of the Government as terms of employment for civil servants, and therefore civil servants/pensioners and their eligible dependents are the major service targets of these clinics. Currently, dental care services in Hong Kong are mainly provided by the private sector and NGOs. The DH provides general public sessions to offer free emergency dental treatments (including general public sessions to provide treatment of acute dental diseases, prescription for pain relief, treatment of oral abscess and teeth extraction) to the public through designated sessions in 11 government dental clinics of the DH.
Source: AI-generated images
HKSAR LegCo strongly disapproves of and rejects annual report of European Commission
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
A spokesperson for the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (September 23) expressed strong disapproval of and rejection against the unfounded and biased content relating to various aspects of the HKSAR in the annual report issued by the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. LegCo also fully supports the HKSAR Government in issuing its statement to set the record straight.
The LegCo spokesperson reiterated that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China. LegCo firmly supports the HKSAR Government to resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) and other relevant laws, so as to safeguard the lawful rights and interests enjoyed by Hong Kong people and other persons in the HKSAR in accordance with the law.
The LegCo spokesperson pointed out that the HKNSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, and that the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration that Hong Kong residents enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. Nonetheless, just as the case with other places in the world, such rights and freedoms are not absolute.
As stated in the HKSAR Government's statement, the offences endangering national security stipulated by the HKNSL and the SNSO target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity. The relevant laws do not affect normal exchanges of local institutions, organisations and individuals with other countries, regions and relevant international organisations, including the United Nations, and the EU, etc. Law-abiding persons will not unwittingly violate the law. The LegCo spokesperson strongly condemned the so-called report for biasedly quoting figures to twist facts and making unfounded smears against the determination and dedication of the HKSAR to persistently safeguard the lawful exercise of rights and freedoms by citizens. At the same time, the LegCo spokesperson urged the EU to respect facts, abide by the international law and basic norms governing international relations, immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China's internal affairs, and refrain from smearing and defaming the actual situation of the HKSAR with double standards.
The LegCo spokesperson stressed that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law. The Judiciary exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the Basic Law, free from any interference. Criminal prosecutions are based purely on laws and admissible evidence, and all defendants enjoy the right to a fair trial. Facts have also proven that since the implementation of the national security laws, Hong Kong society has restored stability, with its indices of international competitiveness, rule of law and economic rankings all remaining among the top globally.
The LegCo spokesperson also stated that the allegations in the report regarding LegCo elections, the performance of duties by Members and Council procedures are entirely inconsistent with facts. LegCo is the Legislature of the HKSAR established under the Basic Law and forms an important component of the HKSAR's constitutional order. Since the improvement of the electoral system and the full implementation of "patriots administering Hong Kong", LegCo has been returned by the Election Committee, functional constituencies and geographical constituencies through direct elections, embodying balanced participation with Members from diverse backgrounds denoting broad representation. The elections were conducted in a fair, just and open manner, suiting the actual circumstances and overall interests of Hong Kong. Members take oaths in accordance with the law to uphold the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the HKSAR, perform their duties legally, and the efficiency of Council proceedings has significantly improved.
The LegCo spokesperson emphasised that LegCo exercises its powers and functions in accordance with the law, including enacting laws, monitoring the Government's work and approving public expenditure. It maintains a relationship of checks and balances as well as complementation with the Executive Authorities, promoting law-based administration of the HKSAR Government, economic development and improvement of people's livelihood, while proactively aligning with national development strategies. The Code for Members of the Legislative Council (The Code) implemented since the Eighth LegCo has been conducive to a more efficient performance of Members' duties. The Code aims to set exemplary high standards as well as promote positive interactions between the Executive Authorities and the Legislature, thereby enhancing LegCo's efficacy, achieving good governance and meeting the expectations of society.
The scrutiny of bills by LegCo is conducted in strict accordance with the Rules of Procedure and statutory procedures in an open and transparent manner. Members can fully express their views while taking into account the interests of various sectors. In the past, anti-China forces seeking to destabilise the country and Hong Kong had used LegCo as the platform to obstruct governance, paralyse the Council and undermine Hong Kong's interests. At present, LegCo has completely broken free from past chaos of confrontation and polarisation, returning to the right track of efficient operation, focusing on Hong Kong's long-term development and people's livelihood. Allegations of democratic retrogression and suppression of dissent are malicious distortions of the actual situation in Hong Kong.
The LegCo spokesperson reiterated that LegCo has a constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security. Every sovereign state has the right to enact laws safeguarding national security and will not allow public officers to endanger national security. The EU itself maintains strict national security vetting and allegiance requirements, yet makes unwarranted accusations against LegCo of the HKSAR for performing its duties in accordance with the law. This is a typical example of hypocrisy and double standards.
The LegCo spokesperson emphasised that under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong possesses the distinctive advantage of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, continuously playing its role as a "super-connector" and "super value-adder". Defamation by external forces will never succeed. LegCo will continue to resolutely fulfil its constitutional duties, support the administration of the HKSAR Government in accordance with the law, fully assist in implementing the HKSAR's First Five-Year Plan to proactively integrate into and serve the overall national development, and ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems".
Source: AI-found images
