HKSAR Officials Visit Households Across 18 Districts to Celebrate Chinese New Year and Distribute Blessing Bags

Principal Officials of HKSAR Government conclude year-end household visits for four consecutive days across 18 districts (with photos/video)

On the final day of the year-end household visits across 18 districts co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Department, Principal Officials (POs) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government continued to tour various districts today (February 16), including Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Islands, Kwun Tong, Eastern and Tai Po Districts, to visit different families, distribute blessing bags in celebration of the Chinese New Year, share the festive joy and celebrate the Chinese New Year together.

The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, accompanied by the District Officer (Sha Tin), Mr Frederick Yu, together with District Council (DC) members and representatives from the District Services and Community Care Team (Care Team) of Sha Tin District, visited a grassroots family and an elderly person living in Heng On Estate to chat with them, learn about their living conditions and present them with blessing bags in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Accompanied by the District Officer (Tsuen Wan), Mr Billy Au, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Tsuen Wan District, visited an elderly family and a middle-class household living in Sham Tseng to engage them in warm conversations and send seasonal greetings.

Accompanied by the District Officer (Islands), Miss Amy Yeung, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, together with Islands District DC members as well as representatives from the Islands District Care Team and the Ethnic Minority Care Team, visited an elderly couple and an ethnic minority family living in Cheung Tung Estate. Accompanied by the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Denny Ho, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Kwun Tong District, visited elderly doubletons and a young family living in Yau Tong Estate.

In addition, accompanied by the District Officer (Eastern), Mr Henry Lai, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, together with a DC member and an ethnic minority representative from the Care Team of Eastern District, visited an ethnic minority family and an elderly singleton living in Model Housing Estate. Accompanied by the District Officer (Tai Po), Ms Tiffany Chung, the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Tai Po District, visited an elderly family and a youth living in Fu Tip Estate.

The POs of the HKSAR Government paid visits to various households such as elderly families, young families, grassroots families and ethnic minority families across 18 districts for four consecutive days (February 13 to 16) to express care to them through face-to-face interactions, convey positive messages and extend well wishes, and join the community and citizens in welcoming the Chinese New Year.

Principal Officials of HKSAR Government conclude year-end household visits for four consecutive days across 18 districts Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Principal Officials of HKSAR Government conclude year-end household visits for four consecutive days across 18 districts Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Principal Officials of HKSAR Government conclude year-end household visits for four consecutive days across 18 districts Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Principal Officials of HKSAR Government conclude year-end household visits for four consecutive days across 18 districts Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Principal Officials of HKSAR Government conclude year-end household visits for four consecutive days across 18 districts Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Principal Officials of HKSAR Government conclude year-end household visits for four consecutive days across 18 districts Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH steps up inspections to premises offering RGA hair growth or platelet-rich plasma services to safeguard public health

In light of the recent investigation by the Department of Health (DH) that some shops are suspected of performing Regenera Activa hair growth (an autologous cell transplant medical procedure, referred as RGA) or platelet-rich plasma injections, contravening the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) (the Ordinance) which prohibits operating a day procedure centre (DPC) without a licence, the DH today (February 16) visited over 30 shops in Hong Kong which claimed to offer similar services in their websites and conducted investigations if the shops involved illegal acts of operating a DPC without a licence to safeguard public health.

During the operation, no RGA or platelet-rich plasma medical procedures were found to be conducted at the shops. Some of the shops would arrange customers to undergo the relevant medical procedures at licensed DPCs. Nevertheless, the DH has reminded the responsible persons of the shops that, according to the Ordinance, transplantation of any cells, tissues or organs, including autograft, allograft, xenograft, processed tissue or blood products (such as platelet-rich plasma) and skin flap, are scheduled medical procedures stipulated in the Ordinance. Such procedures, when performed in an ambulatory setting, must take place in a licensed DPC. The DH has also issued a letter to remind all registered doctors and dentists of the abovementioned legal requirements. Any person operating a DPC without a licence commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for three years.

The DH announced last week that a shop in Mongkok offering RGA hair growth services and platelet-rich plasma injections was suspected of operating a DPC without a licence, the relevant investigation and evidence collection are still ongoing. The DH will seriously follow up on the case, and take appropriate actions against the shop and its responsible persons in accordance with the relevant ordinances.

The DH reminded doctors that before performing RGA, platelet-rich plasma injection or other scheduled medical procedures stipulated in the Ordinance, they must verify that the premises holds a suitable licence, so as to ensure the best interests of patients and adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct.

Meanwhile, the DH urged the public that before receiving RGA or platelet-rich plasma injection or other scheduled medical procedures stipulated in the Ordinance, they should find out if the premises providing the services had obtained a DPC licence in accordance with the Ordinance. To assist the public in identifying licensed or exempted facilities, the DH has established thePrivate Healthcare Facilities Register, which lists all private healthcare facilities with valid licences and exemptions. DPCs must display their licence in a conspicuous place. Each licence bears a QR code that can be scanned using the eHealth app to verify its validity. For more information, please visit the DH's Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilitieswebpage.

DH steps up inspections to premises offering RGA hair growth or platelet-rich plasma services to safeguard public health Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases