SEE begins visit to Shanghai
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Shanghai today (August 17).
Upon his arrival in the afternoon, Mr Tse met with the President of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company, Mr Chen Haibo, with leaders of the International Cooperation Department of the State Grid Corporation of China and the State Grid International Development Company Limited also participating. He then visited the Power Dispatching and Control Center of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company to learn about Shanghai's latest developments in the monitoring and management of the electricity grid system.
Mr Tse later attended the launching ceremony of the "Green Dreams Come True: HK Electric Green Energy, Innovation, Technology and Cultural Study Tour", organised by the Hongkong Electric Company Limited and supported by the State Grid Corporation of China. During his speech, he pointed out to the teachers and students from Hong Kong at the ceremony that the country has made swift progress in green and low-carbon transition in recent years. Under the 15th Five-Year Plan, the country is accelerating the formation of a new energy system, pursuing proactively the target of reaching carbon emission peak, enhancing the capability to address climate change, improving the quality of the ecological environment, and implementing the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".
He also shared with the teachers and students the work of the Environment and Ecology Bureau on green and low-carbon transition. It strives to reduce the carbon emissions by half by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, thereby making Hong Kong a low-carbon, green and liveable city.
Mr Tse further stated that Hong Kong's carbon neutrality by 2050 and the country's future development rest in the hands of the younger generation. He encouraged students to seize the opportunity to understand the country's achievements in green and low-carbon development as well as technological innovations, to experience the historical legacies and inheritance of the Chinese culture, to develop aspirations, and to make personal pursuits to become a part of the overall national development.
Mr Tse will continue his visit to Shanghai tomorrow (August 18).
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Shanghai today (August 17). Photo shows Mr Tse (back row, fourth left), with participating Hong Kong teachers and students at the launching ceremony of the "Green Dreams Come True: HK Electric Green Energy, Innovation, Technology and Cultural Study Tour", organised by the Hongkong Electric Company Limited and supported by the State Grid Corporation of China. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Shanghai today (August 17). Photo shows Mr Tse (centre) speaking at the launching ceremony of the "Green Dreams Come True: HK Electric Green Energy, Innovation, Technology and Cultural Study Tour", organised by the Hongkong Electric Company Limited and supported by the State Grid Corporation of China. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Shanghai today (August 17). Photo shows Mr Tse (left) meeting with the President of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company, Mr Chen Haibo (right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Primary Healthcare Commission to integrate Hong Kong's primary healthcare services for elderly people in phases
The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) under the Health Bureau announced today (August 18) that primary healthcare services for the elderly in Hong Kong will be further enhanced. Starting from October 5 (Monday), the services of Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) under the Department of Health (DH) will be gradually integrated into the district health network, providing more comprehensive primary healthcare services for the elderly under a new service model.
The Health Bureau, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Substantial increase in service points and service capacity
The integration of elderly health services aims to implement the primary healthcare direction put forward by the Chief Executive in the Policy Address, and to take forward the measures set out in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint. The PHC Commission will integrate nine EHCs, namely those in North District, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun Wu Hong, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Shing, San Po Kong, Yau Ma Tei, Shau Kei Wan and Aberdeen (see Annex 1) in the first phase. Integration of the remaining nine EHCs will be completed within 2027-28.
Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Upon completion of the integration, the number of service points will increase substantially from the current 18 to more than 100, covering District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) across all 18 districts in Hong Kong and designated Hospital Authority (HA) Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs), among others. The overall capacity for elderly health services will also double, increasing from the current approximately 54 000 elderly persons per year to more than 120 000. The service flow of chronic disease management and health assessment services after integration is as follows (see Annex 2).
Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Arrangements for integrating chronic disease management services
Elderly persons who have follow-up consultations or examinations at the nine EHCs in the first phase may continue to attend their appointments at the EHCs on the scheduled dates. Starting from October 5 this year, after the elderly persons have completed their follow-up consultations, the DHCs will co-ordinate their subsequent follow-ups. Upon registration as DHC members for free, the elderly persons can directly enter the treatment phase of the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme after assessment, and receive follow-up care from a community family doctor of their choice. In addition, arrangements will be made for elderly persons receiving follow-up consultations at both an EHC under the DH and an FMC under the HA, to continue their follow-up care at the FMC.
Photo source: reference image
Arrangements for integrating health assessment service
For members who have appointments for health assessment services at the EHCs, the DH will continue to provide services. Members awaiting an appointment date and elderly persons interested in using EHC services will receive services at the DHCs starting from December this year. The PHC Commission will roll out more comprehensive elderly health assessment services. The scope of assessments provided by the DHCs will be expanded from the current domains of cognition, mobility and vision to cover nutrition, hearing, psychological capacity and urinary problems. Healthcare professionals will formulate tailored management plans for the elderly persons based on the assessment results. Details will be announced later.
Service arrangements for underprivileged elderly
Elderly persons who are recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, recipients of the Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above, or holder of valid medical fee waiver certificates will, upon registering as DHC members, be arranged to receive preventive elderly health services and assessments at designated HA FMCs. Subject to their eligibility, the relevant fees may be fully or partially waived.
Photo source: reference image
Follow-up work
The PHC Commission, together with the DH, will gradually issue letters to EHC members in the coming weeks to inform them of the service integration and subsequent follow-up arrangements. Meanwhile, the EHCs will update their signage, and the PHC Commission will also progressively refurbish the existing facilities and environment of the EHCs. Relevant information has already also been uploaded to the EHC website and the DHC website. Members of the public may also visit or call the EHCs and DHCs (see Annex 3) for enquiries. They may also call the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network enquiry line at 2157 0500, which operates from 9am to 9pm on Mondays to Saturdays (except public holidays).
Source; HKSAR Government Press Releases
