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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending the spring gathering of the Hospital Authority this evening (February 22):
Secretary for Food and Health: I would like to talk on two major areas. Firstly, the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, Dr Leung Ting-hung, yesterday had a meeting with experts of the Hospital Authority to discuss new measures that we would rely on to guard Hong Kong against possible invasion of the new novel coronavirus causing severe respiratory infection. Up to this moment, the World Health Organization has accumulatively received reports of 13 confirmed cases of infection with the new novel coronavirus, including a cluster of three cases in the United Kingdom which demonstrated evidence of human to human transmission. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen surveillance and control measures to prevent infection outbreak in Hong Kong. They have decided that the early number of cases (of infection) would be isolated in the infectious diseases block of the Princess Margaret Hospital. This arrangement is in line with Hong Kong's overall strategy of preventing severe outbreak of infectious diseases.
The second topic I would like to discuss is the supply of formula milk powder. The Executive Council has approved our proposal to amend the subsidiary legislation under the Import and Export Ordinance this afternoon. A gazette notice has just been published and the newly amended legislation will take effect on March 1, 2013. With effect on that day, there will be a prohibition of export of formula powder for infants and young children under 36 months, except for those who have properly applied for an export permit. I would like to stress that the mechanism of application of export permit only applies to those bona-fide merchants or companies which are operating usually in the importing and re-exporting of such infant formula. It would not apply to individual members in the community. In addition, there will be an (exemption) allowance for personal use. For every individual aged 16 or above, there will be an allowance of 1.8 kg, roughly equal to two cans of powdered formula. Why does the (1.8 kg) allowance not apply to persons who are below the age of 16? The reason is that we would not like children getting involved in parallel trading activities. I would like to reiterate that this particular measure is a very exceptional measure to ensure that Hong Kong parents and their babies would have adequate supply of infant formula.
Reporter: (On supply of infant formula)
Secretary for Food and Health: Before the Lunar New Year, the Government had already implemented a number of measures. Over the period before and after the Lunar New Year, these measures have been proved to be effective in terms of combating the relevant parallel trading activities as well as ensuring the supply of infant formula to Hong Kong parents. But we are concerned that after the Lunar New Year, the parallel traders might come back. Therefore, in the long run, we considered that the only effective means to ensure Hong Kong parents and their babies could have adequate supply of formula milk powder is to amend this particular piece of legislation.
Reporter: There is an unconfirmed report saying that a patient transferred from Yan Chai Hospital to Queen Mary Hospital last night was under Police's escort. It was because it is a confirmed case of new novel coronavirus infection. Can you comment on that case?
Secretary for Food and Health: I cannot comment on that case and cannot confirm that particular case. Up to this moment, Hong Kong does not have a confirmed case of new novel coronavirus infection.
Reporter: Are there any suspected cases?
Secretary for Food and Health: Earlier on, two or three months ago, there were patients who developed respiratory symptoms and had a history of travel to the Middle East. They had been tested and were confirmed being negative for the new novel coronavirus.
Reporter: (On infection with new novel coronavirus)
Secretary for Food and Health: There are a lot of patients with upper respiratory symptoms at any time. They are continuously being assessed by our medical doctors. If a possible cause for the symptoms cannot be found, they might consider testing the patients against the novel coronavirus. What I can say is that there is no confirmed case and also no seriously suspected case in Hong Kong at this moment.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, February 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:54
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