Press Releases
SFH on new novel coronavirus and amendment regulation to regulate export of powdered formula
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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