Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Thursday, January 1, 1998 CONTENTS ======== 1. FS's transcript 2. Update on avian flu 3. Media arrangements for the visit by Qian 4. FS kicks off campaign on promotion of services 5. Guides published to promote health at workplace 1. FS's transcript *************** Following is a transcript of the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, speaking to the media after officiating at the opening ceremony of "Hong Kong at Your Service" Roving Exhibition at Times Squares this (Thursday) afternoon: FS: I am very happy to be able to participate in this exhibition to demonstrate not only to local people and the international community the importance of services to our economy. Services have helped us to be able to overcome a lot of difficulties associated with the recent financial turmoil in Asia. As you know, that was the most serious turmoil Asia has experienced since World War II. I am sure our excellence in service industry will bring us into a higher plateau of excellence and a new level of achievements in 1998 and give us great opportunities. Well, may I wish all of you a very, very happy 1998. Thank you. End 2. Update on avian flu ******************* The Department of Health (DH) announces one more new confirmed influenza A (H5N1) case today (Thursday). The case involved a 14-year-old female. She is under treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital in satisfactory condition. This brings the total number of cases to 14 confirmed cases and six suspected cases. Following is a list of the cases and their latest conditions: Confirmed cases *************** Case 1 Sex / Age: Male / 3 yr Condition: Died Case 2 Sex / Age: Male / 2 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 3 Sex / Age: Female / 13 yr Condition: Died Case 4 Sex / Age: Male / 54 yr Condition: Died Case 5 Sex / Age: Female / 5 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 6 Sex / Age: Male / 37 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 7 Sex / Age: Female / 24 yr Condition: Under treatment, condition critical Case 8 Sex / Age: Male / 2 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 9 Sex / Age: Male / 4 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 10 Sex / Age: Male / 1 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 11 Sex / Age: Female / 3 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 12 Sex / Age: Female / 60 yr Condition: Died Case 13 Sex / Age: Female / 25 yr Condition: Under treatment, condition critical Case 14 Sex / Age: Female / 14 yr Condition: Under treatment, condition satisfactory Suspected cases *************** Case 1 Sex / Age: Female / 3 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 2 Sex / Age: Male / 6 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 3 Sex / Age: Female / 19 yr Condition: Under treatment, condition critical Case 4 Sex / Age: Male / 3 yr Condition: Under treatment, condition satisfactory Case 5 Sex / Age: Male / 7 yr Condition: Recovered and discharged Case 6 Sex / Age: Male / 72 yr Condition: Under treatment, condition stable End 3. Media arrangements for the visit by Qian **************************************** Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen will arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow (Friday) morning. He will be here for a brief stopover before returning to Beijing. During his stopover, Mr Qian will meet the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, the Executive Council members and principal officials of the SAR Government. Mr Tung will host a luncheon at Government House in the honour of Mr and Mrs Qian. End 4. FS kicks off campaign on promotion of services ********************************************** The Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, today (Thursday) kicked off a "Good Service Good Reward" campaign on promotion of Hong Kong's services industry. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition held at Times Square, Mr Tsang said the campaign message meant more than only material reward. "It is also about nurturing a sense of pride in Hong Kong people so that we see ourselves as sophisticated service providers," he said. "The services sector is a 'people' industry. It is about people using the best of their brains to meet the needs of other people. It is about human development," he added. Today's exhibition raised the curtain for the Publicity Campaign on Promotion of Services this year. According to the Financial Secretary, the services sector contributed to 80 per sent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It would continue to play a big part in sustaining Hong Kong's economic development in future. The exhibition featured different aspects of the services industry. There were photo displays of the services sector, information on the service economy as well as messages on government commitments. Interactive game booths were also installed to arouse the interest of visitors. A video film titled "Hong Kong at Your Service" was premiered during the opening ceremony of the exhibition. The video film would be shown to overseas business community to promote international awareness of the service strengths of Hong Kong. It was also screened for public audience at the exhibition to inform them of the development of the services industry. As part of the publicity campaign, a new television commercial and a new radio announcement "Service Provider" have been broadcast on local television and radio channels since December 18. These commercials depicted the qualities of Hong Kong people which are essential to the success of the services industry with an aim to reinforce the message of "Good Service Good Reward". A new poster of the same theme will also be displayed at government poster sites and MTR stations starting 1998. The roving exhibition will tour around the territory at 13 major shopping arcades on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories from January to May this year. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was officiated by Mr Tsang, with the company of the Director of Business and Services Promotion Unit, Mr Mike Rowse, and the Director of Information Services, Mr Thomas Chan. As it was the first New Year's Day of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Tsang proposed a toast to a prosperous new year during the occasion. End 5. Guides published to promote health at workplace *********************************************** The Occupational Safety and Health Branch (OSHB) of the Labour Department has published three sets of guides to promote the health of employees at workplace. The Senior Occupational Hygienist of the OSHB, Mr Tsin Tai-wa, said today (Thursday) that the guides were aimed at assisting employers to organise health risk assessments, identify hazards and evaluate the extent of workplace risks and take necessary remedial action against hazards. The three sets of "A Simple Guide to Health Risk Assessment on Office Environment Series" are: * Introduction and Housekeeping; * Lighting in Offices; and * Photocopying. The bi-lingual guides have full-colour photographs and illustrations to help readers assess the health environment in workplace. Mr Tsin said:"These guides are intended to help employers and employees assess the health risks in their workplace. Such assessments can be no more than an examination of what, in the course of work, could possibly cause harm to people. "Through a step by step procedure in the guide, employers and employees may identify hazards, the degree of risk and the possible solution in their workplace." Under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation, which comes into effect today, persons responsible for a workplace must maintain a healthy environment for employees. The regulation also requires employees to co-operate with the employer and take reasonable care of health of other employees in the same workplace. Mr Tsin said employers, employees and staff responsible for the health and safety in workplace were welcome to contact the OSHB for collection of the guides. The publications are available for collection at the Branch's headquarters at Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central and all OSHB field offices throughout the territory. For further information and collection of the guides, please contact the Labour Department's Occupational Health Service on telephone 2852 4041 or fax 2581 2049. Mr Tsin said another five sets of guides on ventilation, office workstation design, use of chemicals, material handling and working with computer would be published later this year. End
