Delegation of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention visits DH to exchange on efforts and achievements in surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today (November 20) met with the Director General of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Professor Wang Jianwei, and his delegation at the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH). They conducted exchanges on Hong Kong's work and achievements in the management, surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases.
"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is actively aligning with the overall disease control and prevention strategy of our country by continuously enhancing our emergency response capacities to public health emergencies and delivering high-quality public health services. The CHP of the DH and the CDC have maintained close co-operation and exchanges. In July 2023, the CDC signed a memorandum of understanding with the CHP and collaboration in the field of public health has been proactively expanded, including integrating the HKSAR's Field Epidemiology Training Programme with the Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Programme and arranging trainees to undergo one-year practical training in the Chinese Mainland. In addition, the CDC also regularly sends observers to Hong Kong to participate in public health exercises organised by the CHP. The observers provided valuable insights," said Dr Lam.
During the meeting, the officers of CHP of the DH briefed Professor Wang on the DH's effort and achievements in various areas, including work and strategies on surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases; the operation of the Territory-wide Sewage Surveillance Programme; the latest developments in the Field Epidemiology Training Programme; emergency response measures for communicable diseases; collaboration with international health organisations in the prevention and control of communicable diseases; efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance; and measures to prevent and control non-communicable diseases.
Professor Wang expressed strong affirmation of the effectiveness of the HKSAR's efforts in the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases.
Dr Lam said the DH will continue to enhance Hong Kong's resilience and capacity in responding to communicable diseases by aligning with the relevant national public health policy frameworks. He also looked forward to further strengthening co-operation and exchange with the CDC, sharing experiences, resources, and achievements in the prevention and control of communicable diseases as well as the development of public health system. This collaboration aims to jointly contribute to the construction of Healthy China and enhance public health security at both the national and global levels.
Delegation of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention visits DH to exchange on efforts and achievements in surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Delegation of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention visits DH to exchange on efforts and achievements in surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
