Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Wednesday, February 4, 1998
CONTENTS
========
1. CE meets two political parties
2. CE expresses deep concern over fire
3. Assistance to fire victims
4. Wan Chai bus crash victims awarded $269,177
5. Health advice as cholera cases reported
6. London Office holds spring reception
7. Update on avian flu
8. Blanket distribution for street sleepers
9. Speedpost acceptance network to be extended
1. CE meets two political parties
******************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, met
representatives of the Citizens Party and the Hong Kong
Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood
respectively today (Wednesday) to listen to their views on
a wide range of subjects, from budgetary and monetary
issues to housing and land policies.
Mr Tung said that the Government fully understood the
people's feelings towards the changing economic conditions
as a result of the Asian financial turmoil.
"We will carefully take into account the views
received from political parties, professional and
community organisations in finalising the 1998-99 Budget
proposals," he said.
"There are two major considerations when drawing up
the Budget proposals," Mr Tung said. "First, we will
continue to adopt a prudent fiscal policy which has served
us well. The 1998-99 Budget is the first Budget after the
reunification and it is vital that we would not give
people a wrong impression that we have strayed from our
prudent fiscal policy."
"Secondly, the Government will invest in a series of
infrastructural development projects which will sustain
and sharpen Hong Kong's competitiveness and stimulate our
economy," he added.
While noting that the Citizens Party was supportive
of the linked exchange rate system, Mr Tung reiterated
that the Government was confident and able to maintain the
linked rate system and saw no reason for changing it.
On the land and housing policy, Mr Tung pointed out
that the Government was committed to ensuring that
sufficient land was made available to meet the community's
long-term demand for housing.
"The Government's key housing goals are to help all
households to gain access to affordable housing and to
encourage home ownership," he said.
Mr Tung reiterated that the Government did not wish
to see wide fluctuations in property prices. "These are
not conducive to home ownership or stability in our
banking system," he said.
"The Hong Kong Monetary Authority had recently
provided a $10 billion credit facility to the Hong Kong
Mortgage Corporation, giving it the necessary financial
backing to proceed with its mortgage purchase plan. This
will provide banks with additional liquidity and make it
easier for home buyers to obtain mortgages.
"We will also expedite the introduction of the Home
Starters Loan Scheme," he said.
On education and the workforce, Mr Tung stressed that
the Government would seek to provide an environment that
would give residents equal and fair chances to compete and
stand on their own.
"To achieve this, improving our education system is a
vital factor among other efforts.
"The Government has been investing, and will continue
to invest, heavily in education. In fact, one-fifth of
the Government's recurrent expenditure goes to education.
We will also seek to ensure that the education system will
be responsive to changing needs," he said.
On environmental protection, Mr Tung said that the
Government would ensure that consideration of how to
sustain and enhance the environment was built into
strategic planning and policy making.
"Improving the quality of the environment is as vital
as economic growth to improving our quality of life.
"Hong Kong needs to provide a quality environment if
we were to retain local talent and attract talent from
overseas in order to sharpen our competitive edge and
enable our businesses and economy to grow," he said.
End
2. CE expresses deep concern over fire
***********************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, expressed deep
concern about the No. 3 alarm fire in Kwun Tong this
(Wednesday) morning which resulted in four deaths and a
number of injuries. He also extended his regards to
families of the victims and the injured.
Mr Tung said: "The Fire Services Department has set
up an investigation team to look into the cause of the
fire and the reason for the large number of casualties.
"Our priority now is to provide medical treatment for
the injured and assistance to the affected households.
"The Security Bureau and relevant departments are
pitching their efforts to follow up on the case."
End
3. Assistance to fire victims
**************************
Various government departments have provided
assistance to people affected by the No. 3 alarm fire at
Shung Yan Street today (Wednesday), the Deputy Secretary
for Security, Ms Chang King-yiu, said.
"The Home Affairs Department (HAD) has already
designated the Sau Mau Ping (Central) Community Hall to be
a temporary shelter for the victims while the Social
Welfare Department (SWD) has provided food and blankets to
the affected occupants staying in the Hall.
"The SWD and Housing Department have registered the
affected victims at scene and will provide necessary
assistance to them," she said.
A hotline 2379 4731 has also been set up at the
United Christian Hospital (UCH), where people injured in
the fire were staying, to answer enquiries from the
public. The Police have also set up a hotline 2709 8337
to handle enquiries relating to the fire.
The No. 3 fire, in which four people died and nine
people injured, broke out this morning on the first floor
of On Hing Building at 13 Shung Yan Street, Kwun Tong.
All the injured people were sent to UCH for treatment.
"We are all saddened by this incident. It underlines
that the threat of fire is still with us," Ms Chang said.
"It also calls for concerted efforts on the part of
the Government and the community to tackle this threat to
protect our lives and properties," she said.
Ms Chang said the Government have been taking steps
in developing the legislative framework to require old
buildings to upgrade their fire safety installations to
modern standards.
"We introduced the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises)
(Amendment) Bill 1998, which extends the scope of the Fire
Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance to pre-1987
commercial buildings, into the Provisional Legislative
Council on January 21, 1998; and aim to have the Bill
enacted within this legislative session," she said.
The Fire Services Department (FSD) will be starting
next week a territory-wide survey of the some 60,000
private non-commercial buildings.
"The department will inspect the general conditions
of the fire services installations of the buildings and
compile a priority list of buildings according to their
relative fire safety conditions and standards for follow-
up actions," she said.
The Buildings Department will also conduct a sample
survey of old commercial/residential composite buildings
focusing on their building fire safety and common
irregularities and deficiencies.
"We will also take into account the findings and
recommendations of the two surveys and consider
legislative proposals and other improvement measures for
non-commercial buildings," Ms Chang said.
As for On Hing Building which is a
commercial/residential composite building, Ms Chang said
the Building Management Co-ordination Team of Kwun Tong
District Office will approach the owners of the building
and provide assistance in improving the general fire
safety of their building.
Meanwhile, FSD is conducting an investigation into
the cause of fire and the circumstances leading to the
multiple casualties while the Electrical and Mechanical
Services Department will look into any possible electrical
faults and will submit its findings to FSD.
The Buildings Department has carried out
investigation which confirmed the structural safety of the
building. The department is arranging emergency repairs
to the smoke lobby doors and to clear obstruction in exit
routes.
"The Police is also making investigation into the
cause of the fire," Ms Chang said.
End
4. Wan Chai bus crash victims awarded $269,177
*******************************************
The Social Welfare Department has awarded $269,177
from the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) Fund
to 21 victims of the serious bus crash in Wan Chai last
Friday (January 30).
The families of a woman and a couple who were killed
in the accident were granted a total of $208,575 while the
injured victims were awarded amounts ranging from $2,152
to $7,955.
The department is now processing applications from
the other 23 victims.
A spokesman for the department said today (Wednesday)
that the TAVA scheme is aimed at providing prompt
financial assistance to traffic accident victims or their
dependents, regardless of the means of a family or the
fault element in the accident.
"Beneficiaries under the scheme will retain the right
to make claims for legal damages or compensation from
other sources in the usual way.
"However, those who receive other damages or
compensation relating to the same accident are required to
repay the amount of assistance already received from the
TAVA scheme.
"But in any case, the amount repaid will not exceed
the amount of damages or compensation awarded," the
spokesman said.
Enquiries about the scheme should be made to the
department's TAVA Section at Room 3020, 30th floor, Wu
Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, or on
telephone number 2834 7472.
End
5. Health advice as cholera cases reported
***************************************
The Department of Health today (Wednesday) advised
the public to be on guard against cholera and other food-
borne diseases by observing good personal, food and
environmental hygiene.
The public are strongly advised to clean and cook
food, particularly shellfish, thoroughly before
consumption.
The health advice followed the confirmation of two
local cholera cases yesterday and today. They involved
two elderly males aged 76 and 77 living in Wong Tai Sin
and Kwun Tong respectively.
The two patients developed painless diarrhoea on
January 28 and 30 respectively. Both are now being
treated at Princess Margaret Hospital. Their conditions
are stable.
A department spokesman said: "Both patients did not
have history of travelling outside Hong Kong during the
incubation period.
"While sources of suspected food were being traced,
detailed investigation revealed that both patients had
history of exposure to cockles which were inadequately
cooked.
"None of the home contacts reported any gastro-
intestinal symptoms and their homes were disinfected."
Cholera is an endemic disease in Hong Kong. The two
new cholera cases are the first two local cholera cases
reported this year. Including an imported case reported
in early January, there are three cholera cases so far
this year. The annual number of cholera cases from 1994
to 1997 were 56, six , four and 14 respectively.
To prevent cholera and other gastro-intestinal
infections, the spokesman advised the public to take the
following precautionary measures:
* Wash hands with soap after visiting toilet and
before preparing or eating food;
* Observe good environmental hygiene and keep
kitchen and cooking utensils clean;
* Clean and cook food, especially meat and
shellfish, thoroughly before consumption;
* Store properly all perishable food not meant for
immediate consumption;
* Leftover food should be reheated thoroughly before
consumption; and
* All garbage and waste should be stored in a
covered container before disposal.
End
6. London Office holds spring reception
************************************
The Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and
Trade Office in London , Mr John Tsang, told guests at a
spring reception today (Wednesday) that the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region had made a solid and
impressive start.
More than 500 guests attended the reception to mark
the Lunar New Year, the first to be celebrated as an SAR
of the People's Republic of China.
Said Mr Tsang: "Traditionally, this time of the year
is reserved for thanksgiving, and we have, indeed, a great
deal for which we in Hong Kong are grateful.
"We had a calm and orderly transition last year. We
weathered successive waves of a tumultuous financial
storm. We also controlled the spread of a potentially
dangerous avian flu."
Although as part of the global village, Hong Kong is
not immune to external shocks, it has coped well with the
volatility of the past few months.
"I can confidently say that the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region has made a solid and impressive
start.
"And to better prepare ourselves for the future, we
are making good use of the current period of consolidation
and adjustment to fine-tune our systems, to reinforce our
strong fundamentals and to sharpen our competitive edge.
"As we enter the new millennium, we have also renewed
our commitment to continue building a fair and open
society for all," said Mr Tsang.
End
7. Update on avian flu
*******************
The Department of Health (DH) announced today
(Wednesday) that there were no new cases of influenza A
(H5N1) today.
The total number of cases stands at 18 confirmed
cases.
The conditions of these cases remain the same as of
yesterday (Tuesday).
End
8. Blanket distribution for street sleepers
****************************************
In view of the cold weather, the Social Welfare
Department will mobilise staff to distribute blankets to
street sleepers throughout the territory this (Wednesday)
evening.
This is the fourth blanket distribution exercise in
this winter. In the past three exercises, a total of
1,388 blankets were distributed.
Elderly people are also advised to take great care
during the cold spell.
The departmental hotline 2343 2255 will be manned by
social workers over the night to help those in need.
End
9. Speedpost acceptance network to be extended
*******************************************
The Postmaster General, Mr Robert Footman, announced
today (Wednesday) that with effect from next Monday
(February 9), Speedpost items can be posted at all post
offices except the three mobile post offices and those
offices on the outlying islands as well as in the Sha Tau
Kok restricted area.
With the extension of the Speedpost acceptance
network, the total number of Speedpost acceptance offices
will be increased from 49 to 117.
"As an international courier for urgent documents and
packages, Speedpost will have the largest number of local
acceptance points in Hong Kong," Mr Footman said.
"Customers will find Speedpost is just around the
corner. They can enjoy a more convenient courier service
by taking their Speedpost packages to any post office with
a 'Speedpost Accepted Here' sign.
"This enhancement reflects Hongkong Post's continuous
effort to provide better service and to meet the changing
needs of our customers," he added.
End
