Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building,
Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Monday, January 5, 1998
CONTENTS
========
1. Transcript of CS's media session at airport
2. Screening of travellers not necessary
3. Update on avian flu
4. Welfare services to needy chicken farmers continue
5. EPD welcomes investigation report
6. DSD's response to Ombudsman's Report
7. Citybus backs voter registration
8. Appointment of new Director of NAPCO
9. Government thanks Metrication Committee for its efforts
10. Sewage treatment works to upgrade for Sheung Shui
development
11. 36 building plans approved in October
12. Tender for the 18th issue of 3-Year Exchange Fund notes
13. Water storage figure
14. Rates and government rent for first quarter of 1998 due
1. Transcript of CS's media session at airport
*******************************************
Following is a transcript (English part) of the Chief
Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan's media
session at the airport before visiting Beijing today
(Monday):
Reporter: Mrs Chan, what will you be doing in Beijing?
Mrs Chan: My visit this time is mainly at the invitation
of Mr Liao Hui, the Head of the Hong Kong and Macau
Affairs Office. And I'm delighted to have this
opportunity to meet Mr Liao Hui and his colleagues to
discuss the matter of mutual interest. The Hong Kong and
Macau Affairs Office has also very kindly arranged for me
to pay a courtesy call on the Deputy Head of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, the head of the security department
and also the NPC Secretary, Mr Cao Zhi. In addition, of
course, I'm delighted that the Vice Premier, Mr Qian
Qichen, is able to spare some time to see me. And I'll
also have an opportunity to dine with him and his wife on
Tuesday evening. I expect to be back in Hong Kong at noon
time on Wednesday.
Reporter: Will you be discussing the recent financial
crisis at Hong Kong...?
Mrs Chan: Of course the Vice Premier is very interested in
every thing that goes on in Hong Kong. He had only a very
short stay here on his way back from his South African
visit. So I'm sure this will be a good opportunity for me
to bring the Vice Premier up-to-date on what's happening
in Hong Kong not only on the financial upfront but also on
other issues. I'm sure he will be very interested, for
example in hearing the latest about the avian flu.
Reporter: Mrs Chan, there have been some criticism about
the flu case. There were protest yesterday because...
cause financial losses...how would you respond?
Mrs Chan: We've already made it quite clear that we very
much appreciate and sympathise with the financial
difficulties that various people are facing, not only the
owners of farms but also retailers and wholesalers. We
are getting active thought to an applicable and reasonable
compensation package. In addition, as I indicated on
Saturday, this has been a very massive operation against a
background of very little experience since this is an
entirely new virus and also against resource constraint.
There will be a need for us to take a fairer look at the
way we've conducted this whole procedure to see what
lessons can be learnt from this current operation and what
improvement can be introduced in future. In particular, I
think we need to look at the internal co-ordination of
various health issues, the question of resources both in
the Health Department and in the Agriculture and Fisheries
Department. But we have to take things a step at a time.
Our current priority is clearly to discuss with Mainland
authority the establishment of a system of checking and
verification that will ensure that as and when we start
importing poultry again from Mainland that we will have in
place the system that will ensure that imported poultry
does not carry this virus. Thank you very much.
End
2. Screening of travellers not necessary
*************************************
The HK Government Health Authority would be providing
information to its counterparts in the Philippines and
Thailand on the latest situation of influenza A H5N1 in
Hong Kong explaining that the screening of travellers was
not necessary .
A spokesman for the Department of Health today
(Monday) said: "According to World Health Organisation
(WHO), the present cluster of cases is not at the scale of
an epidemic. WHO has also not recommended any travel
restrictions or quarantine measures.
"We appreciate other countries' concern over the
issue. However, the main mode of transmission of this
virus is considered at this stage to be from bird-to-man.
The transmission from man-to-man, if occurring, is
considered inefficient at this stage."
"Screening of travellers coming in or going out of
Hong Kong is therefore not necessary and not practical."
The spokesman pointed out that the chicken slaughter
exercise last week was a precautionary move to minimize
the risk of avian flu to people in direct contact with
live chickens. Thorough cleansing of poultry market
stalls in Hong Kong was being conducted to ensure the
hygiene conditions of these places.
With precautionary measures, such as good personal
hygiene, being taken, the chance of tourist getting the
avian flu is extremely small.
The spokesman said this information had been
incorporated in an updated information sheet for tourists
to be disseminated through Hong Kong Government Overseas
Offices and the Hong Kong Tourist Association.
He also noted that there was no export of live
poultry from Hong Kong in recent years.
End
3. Update on avian flu
*******************
The Department of Health (DH) announced today
(Monday) that there were no new cases of influenza A
(H5N1) today.
Moreover, Case 5 of yesterday's suspected case list,
involving a 72-year-old male, has been deleted from the
list.
This brings down the total number of cases to 16
confirmed cases and four 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
Case 15
Sex / Age: Male / 3 yr
Condition: Under observation, condition satisfactory
Case 16
Sex / Age: Female / 19 yr
Condition: Under treatment, condition critical
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: Male / 3 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
Case 4
Sex / Age: Male / 7 yr
Condition: Recovered and discharged
End
4. Welfare services to needy chicken farmers continue
**************************************************
Medical social workers from the Social Welfare
Department continue to station at the 14 special health
centres tonight (Monday) until January 10 to help visiting
chicken farmers and workers who may need welfare services
in view of the current avian flu situation.
The centres are open from 6 pm to 10 pm daily during
the above period.
End
5. EPD welcomes investigation report
*********************************
In response to media enquiries, an Environmental
Protection Department(EPD) spokesman said the department
welcomed the Ombudsman's investigation report on the beach
pollution incidents last year and would study the findings
in detail.
"The two beach pollution incidents in July last year
were unprecedented and were of serious concern to EPD," he
said. "After the incidents, we took immediate steps to
strengthen the coordination with Drainage Services
Department and other departments concerned in handling
similar incidents."
He added that a number of measures recommended in the
report have already been implemented by the department,
and it would follow up on the report findings to see what
further improvements should be made.
End
6. DSD's response to Ombudsman's Report
************************************
In response to the Ombudsman's "Investigation Report
on the Co-ordination between the Drainage Services
Department (DSD) and Environmental Protection Department
(EPD) over the Protection of Public Beaches from Being
Polluted by Sewage Discharges" today (Monday), a DSD's
spokesman said the following:
"The department welcomes the comments and
recommendations in the Report, and, in fact, has carried
out improvement measures to address the issues and enhance
our services to the public.
To deal with commonly encountered incidents which may
have an adverse impact on the environment, a departmental
Task Force was set up in November to map out a
comprehensive contingency plan for staff of sewage
treatment facilities at operational and managerial levels.
In addition, we are critically reviewing our
technical circular on 'Reporting of Incidents to
Headquarters' with a view to stepping up co-ordination
within the department in dealing with emergencies.
Meanwhile, we will work closely with the EPD and
other relevant government departments under a new Beach
Pollution Response Plan. The Plan sets out clearly the
responsibilities and line of communication in incidents
requiring a prompt response.
The DSD has also joined hands with EPD in employing a
consultant to carry out an 'Investigation into Bathing
Beaches Water Quality' study. Its aim was to identify
problems that may be faced by bathing beaches which are
near sewage treatment works and come up with suitable
solutions."
End
7. Citybus backs voter registration
********************************
The acting Director of Home Affairs, Mr Augustine
Cheng, today (Monday) appealed to Citybus staff to
register as voters for the Legislative Council elections
in May this year.
During his visit to the Ap Lei Chau Citybus Depot in
Aberdeen, Mr Cheng urged Citybus staff to take the
opportunity to exercise their civic rights by registering
as electors before the deadline for registration on
January 16.
"As of today, about 430,000 people have registered as
electors or reported change of address," said Mr Cheng.
"In a bid to maximize the number of electors,
district offices are organising visits to major
corporations to promote and facilitate registration among
their staff in addition to household visits," he added.
"Similar visits have been or will be paid to other
corporations such as major charitable organisations, the
Airport Authority, the Hospital Authority, Kowloon Motor
Bus and others to rally support from their staff for the
coming LegCo elections."
"In addition, visits to places like homes for the
elderly, youth centres, convalescent hospitals, tertiary
institutions and schools are still underway to register
eligible voters who may not be residing at home," he said.
Voter registration counters are also set up at the
district offices' public enquiry service centres, Kowloon
Canton Railway stations, bus termini, venues of district
functions, shopping arcades and other convenient
locations. Mr Cheng urged eligible voters to make use of
these facilities to register as electors or to report
their change of address to update their personal
particulars on the electoral roll.
Mr Cheng was assisted by the acting Southern District
Officer, Mr Anthony Li and Voter Registration Ambassadors.
They were welcomed by the senior management of Citybus who
helped arrange the facility by allowing the employees to
be registered on the spot.
End
8. Appointment of new Director of NAPCO
************************************
The Government announced today (Monday) that Mr Kwok
Ka-keung will succeed Mr Billy Lam Chung-lun as Director,
New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office with effect from
January 19, 1998. Mr Lam has assumed the post of Deputy
Chief Executive Officer on secondment to the Airport
Authority with effect from today.
Commenting on the new appointment, the Secretary for
the Civil Service, Mr Lam Woon-kwong, expressed full
confidence in Mr Kwok, saying that "with his long
experience in the management of the Public Works
Programme, he is well placed to lead the New Airport
Projects Co-ordination Office at this important stage in
the implementation of the Airport Core Programme."
Biographical notes of Mr Kwok Ka-keung:
--------------------------------------
Aged 46. Mr Kwok Ka-keung joined the civil service
as an Administrative Officer in 1974 and rose to his
present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in
January 1996. He has held appointments in a variety of
departments and branches/bureaux, including the former
City and New Territories Administration, Transport Branch,
the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and
Conditions of Service, the former Registrar General's
Department, Security Branch and Works Bureau. He has been
serving as Deputy Secretary (Programme and Resources) in
the Works Bureau since September 1994 before taking up his
new appointment as Director, NAPCO.
End
9. Government thanks Metrication Committee for its efforts
*******************************************************
The Government today (Monday) thanked all current and
past members of the Metrication Committee for their most
valuable service rendered towards promoting the use of the
International System of Units (or metric units) in Hong
Kong.
A government spokesman said that having completed its
mission of giving policy advice to the Government on
metrication matters, the Metrication Committee would lapse
after the current term expires in January 1998.
"The Trade and Industry Bureau will continue to
retain policy responsibility for the promotion of
metrication, answer public enquiries and arrange with the
Information Services Department for launching suitable
publicity programmes on metrication," he said.
The spokesman said the Metrication Committee was
first established in 1969 to implement the Government's
policy of encouraging the use of metric units in Hong
Kong.
"During the last three decades or so, the Metrication
Committee has launched many large scale publicity
programmes and has successfully encouraged the adoption of
the metric system in the education, public utility,
building construction, civil engineering, and
manufacturing sectors," he added.
The committee has also overseen the adoption of the
Metrication Ordinance which requires submissions to the
Government involving weights and measures to be expressed
in metric units.
"Through the Metrication Committee's relentless
efforts, the message of going metric is now widely
accepted by the general public," the spokesman said.
End
10. Sewage treatment works to upgrade for Sheung Shui
development
*********************************************************
The facilities of Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works
(STW) will be upgraded to meet the planned development in
Sheung Shui and Fanling areas up to 2011, the Assistant
Director (Projects and Development) of the Drainage
Services Department (DSD), Mr Keith Murrells, said today
(Monday).
The project is part of the North District Sewerage
Master Plan which aims to provide comprehensive sewerage
facilities for the area.
Signing a contract for the project works, Mr Murrells
said that denitrification and disinfection facilities
would be installed to increase the capacity of the STW by
about 33 per cent, from 60,000 cubic metres to 80,000
cubic metres per day.
Upon completion of the upgrading works in late 2001,
the sewage generated from the new towns in Sheung Shui and
Fanling, surrounding villages and the Sheung Shui
Slaughterhouse will be treated according to the latest
standard for discharge into River Indus.
"The effluent quality will be improved as nutrient
removal and disinfection facilities are added. This will
improve much the water quality in River Indus," Mr
Murrells said.
The contract, which covers civil works only, was
awarded to China Fujian Corporation for International
Techno-Economic Co-operation at a cost of $166.4 million.
The upgrading works comprise two contracts - civil
works and electrical and mechanical works. The other
contract will be awarded soon.
End
11. 36 building plans approved in October
*************************************
The Buildings Department approved a total of 36
building plans in October last year -- 13 on Hong Kong
Island, 10 in Kowloon and 13 in the New Territories.
This compared with 33 building plans approved in
September and 62 in August.
The approved plans covered 19 for apartment and
apartment/commercial developments, four for commercial
developments, two for factory and industrial developments,
and 11 for community services developments.
Consent was given in the month for works to start on
34 building projects, which will provide 88,829 square
metres of usable domestic floor area and 129,146 square
metres of usable non-domestic floor area on completion.
The department also issued 20 Occupation Permits --
four on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon and 14 in the New
Territories.
Of the buildings certified for occupation in October,
the usable floor areas for domestic and non-domestic uses
were 24,517 square metres and 160,051 square metres
respectively.
The declared cost of new buildings completed in the
month totalled about $2.375 billion.
In addition, 19 demolition consents involving 35
buildings and structures were issued.
The department's Control and Enforcement Division
received 988 complaints against unauthorised building
works in October, and issued 260 Removal Orders on
unauthorised works.
End
12. Tender for the 18th issue of 3-Year Exchange Fund notes
*******************************************************
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announces that the
tender for the 18th issue of 3-year Exchange Fund notes
will be held on Monday (January 12) for settlement on
Tuesday (January 13).
Similar to the previous issue, an amount of HK$500
million 3-year notes will be on offer. In addition to
that, another HK$100 million will be held as reserve by
the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for supply to Market
Makers in the secondary market. The Notes will mature on
January 12, 2001 and will carry interest at the rate of
9.28% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.
Members of the public who wish to tender for the
Notes may do so through any of the Market Makers or
Recognized Dealers on the published list which can be
obtained from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority at 30th
floor, 3 Garden Road, Hong Kong (or telephone 2878 8150).
Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral
multiples thereof.
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
EXCHANGE FUND NOTE PROGRAMME
TENDER INFORMATION
Tender information for the 18th issue of 3-Year
Exchange Fund notes:
Issue Number :3101
Tender Date and Time :Monday 12 January 1998
9.30 am to 10.30 am
Issue and Settlement Date :Tuesday 13 January 1998
Amount on Offer :HK$500 million plus an
additional HK$100 million
as reserve stock for the
Monetary Authority
Maturity :Three years
Maturity Date :12 January 2001
Interest Rate :9.28% per annum payable
semi-annually in arrears
Interest Payment Dates :13 Jul 1998, 13 Jan 1999,
13 Jul 1999, 13 Jan 2000,
13 Jul 2000, 12 Jan 2001
Tender Amount :Each tender must be for an
amount of HK$50,000 or
integral multiples thereof.
Members of the public who
wish to tender for the Notes
may approach Market Makers
or Recognized Dealers on the
published list
Other details :Please see Information
Memorandum published or
approach Market Makers or
Recognized Dealers
End
13. Water storage figure
********************
Storage in Hong Kong's reservoirs at 9 am today
(Monday) stood at 82.7 per cent of capacity or 484.442
million cubic metres.
This time last year the reservoirs contained 467.095
million cubic metres of water, representing 79.7 per cent
of capacity.
End
14. Rates and government rent for first quarter of 1998 due
*******************************************************
The Rating and Valuation Department announced today
(Monday) that in accordance with the Rating Ordinance and
the Government Rent (Assessment And Collection) Ordinance,
rates and/or government rent for the first quarter 1998
are due and payable on or before January 31 this year.
Payment may be made using autopay under payers' bank
accounts, or the Payment by Phone Service (PPS), or by
post addressed to the Director of Accounting Services, P O
Box 8000, GPO, Hong Kong, or in person at any of the
following offices:
(a) The Treasury Headquarters Collection and Payment
Office, Immigration Tower, first floor, 7
Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong;
(b) The Central Sub-Treasury, Central Government
Offices (West Wing), 11 Ice House Street, Hong
Kong;
(c) The North Point Sub-Treasury, Max Share Centre,
first floor, 373 King's Road, Hong Kong;
(d) The Sai Wan Ho Sub-Treasury, Eastern Law Courts
Building, ground floor, 29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan
Ho, Hong Kong;
(e) The Yau Ma Tei Sub-Treasury, Kowloon Government
Offices, fourth Floor, 405 Nathan Road, Kowloon;
(f) The Kowloon City Sub-Treasury, Man Sang
Commercial Building, first floor, 348-352 Prince
Edward Road West, Kowloon;
(g) The District Office at Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po,
North, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan or Kwai
Tsing.
Demand notes for rates and/or government rent for the
1st Quarter 1998 have been issued. If these demand notes
have not been received, payers may bring along relevant
demand notes for any previous quarter to any of the
Treasury collection offices listed at (a) to (f) above,
where replacement demand notes may be obtained and payment
can be conveniently made.
If there are no relevant demand notes for any
previous quarter, payers may make inquiry by telephone
(2881 1033) or by fax (2577 6066). They may also inquire
in person at the Accounting and Billing Division of the
Rating and Valuation Department, Hennessy Centre, 23rd
floor, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Non-receipt of the demand note does not alter the
requirement that the rates and/or government rent must be
paid on or before January 31 this year and unless so paid,
the amount payable may be subject to a surcharge of five
per cent under the provisions of the above-mentioned
ordinances. A further surcharge of 10 per cent may be
levied on the outstanding amount (including the five per
cent surcharge) which remains unpaid six months after the
due date.
Payers who recently submitted a valid direct debit
authorization should note that payment should still be
made by other means as stipulated in the demand note
unless the wording "PAYMENT TO BE MADE BY AUTOPAY" is
shown on the demand note in which case their payment of
rates and/or government rent will be made by direct debit
to their bank accounts on January 31. In this connection,
payers should ensure that there are sufficient funds in
their bank accounts to meet the payments on the due date.
To avoid the possible inconvenience of queuing,
payers are urged to settle payment using autopay under
which payers' bank accounts will only be debited on the
due dates or using the Payment by Phone Service (PPS).
Application forms for autopay are obtainable from Treasury
collection offices, district offices of the Home Affairs
Department and all major banks in Hong Kong or by
telephoning 2881 1033. For additional information
regarding PPS, please call 9000 0222 329.
End