FEHD briefs insurance industry on arrangements for allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 29) held a briefing session with the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) to introduce the policies and relevant arrangements for allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises to representatives of insurance companies.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, "To enable the insurance industry to gain a comprehensive understanding of the arrangements for allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises, the FEHD, together with the HKFI, held a briefing session today. The session covered relevant policies, legislative requirements, licensing conditions, the Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour and the regulatory framework, with a view to facilitating the insurance industry in formulating and providing appropriate insurance products and services for their clients."
"The FEHD advises that permitted food premises should proactively notify their insurance companies in the future and consult them to confirm the coverage and specific terms of their insurance."
Following the three briefing sessions held for the food trade from May 11 to 13, the FEHD held the fourth briefing session yesterday (May 28), to set out relevant application procedures, eligibility criteria, licensing conditions and matters that require restaurant operators' attention, as well as to answer questions from attendees. Over 400 persons have attended the four briefing sessions in person, while more than 18 000 viewers watched the live broadcast or replay online.
The FEHD is accepting applications from restaurants for allowing dogs to enter their premises. As of 6pm yesterday, the department has received over 1 700 applications. The application period will end on June 8. Interested restaurants may submit their applications electronically through the FEHD's dedicated webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/dog_restaurants/index.html). The first batch of permission is expected to be granted in mid-June, with dogs allowed to enter permitted food premises starting from a specified date in July. The exact date will be announced in due course. Information including the Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour has been uploaded to the FEHD's dedicated webpage for reference by restaurant operators and members of the public. Enquiries about the applications can be made from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) through the dedicated hotlines (2867 5912 and 2867 2836).
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) held four briefing sessions for the food trade from May 11 to 28, providing explanations of the policies and relevant arrangements for allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises. Photo shows the Senior Superintendent (Legislative Review) of the FEHD, Mr Benny Yip, explaining relevant information to the trade at the fourth briefing session yesterday (May 28). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 29) held a briefing session with the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers to introduce the policies and relevant arrangements for allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises to representatives of insurance companies. Photo shows the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Donald Ng (second right), delivering an opening speech virtually at the briefing session. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 30) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.
In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:
Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.
In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:
Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.
The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.
Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:
Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
Seek shade;
Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.
If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.
Source: AI-found images
