Press Releases

SFH on dust explosion incident in Taiwan and MERS

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme today (June 29):

Reporter: (On why the Government does not consider a total ban on the party spray.)

Secretary for Food and Health: We are very concerned about the explosion incident that happened in Taiwan. Unfortunately, there are at least five Hong Kong citizens suffering different degrees of burns and injuries in this incident. The Hong Kong Government and our medical system will do our best to provide appropriate service to them. Regarding reports about two proposed similar activities to be held in Hong Kong, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will consider the advice from several relevant government departments, including the Fire Services Department (FSD), before issuing licences for these activities. FSD will consider a chain of factors, including the scale and venue of the activity and the use of any combustible materials or structures, in order to reach an advice for FEHD.

Reporter: (On the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).)

Secretary for Food and Health: Regarding the MERS, today is the second consecutive day that Korea has reported zero confirmed cases. We started to count a total of 28 days from yesterday onward to confirm whether transmission in Korea has been terminated. We adopt a 28-day period, which is equal to two cycles of incubation period, because there are exceptional cases with incubation period longer than the usually reported 14 days. Secondly, there are also other factors that we need to consider including whether there are any people who have contracted the illness but have not developed symptoms severe enough to be diagnosed as a case. Taking all these factors into account, we consider that it is more prudent to use two cycles of incubation period as a standard.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Monday, June 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:48

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