Category: MIL-OSI

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DH’s Special Care Dental Services Coordinating Committee holds first meeting (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH’s Special Care Dental Services Coordinating Committee holds first meeting       
     The newly established SCDSCC is co-chaired by the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and a member of the Specialty Board in Community Dentistry of the College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong, Dr Frankie So. Non-official members include representatives from local universities, the dental profession, the healthcare sector, allied health professions and distinguished community members with extensive experience and profound knowledge in relevant fields (see Annex for the list of members).
      
     The SCDSCC reviewed the strategies for public SCD services and the overall oral health condition of the Hong Kong population. Members also discussed how to better address the needs of targeted population groups.
      
     “Oral health is an integral part of general health. In December 2024, the Government released the final report of the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care and the corresponding action plan, adopting the strategy to promote prevention-oriented primary oral healthcare among citizens across all age groups while providing essential dental care services for underprivileged groups in particular. It targets underprivileged groups who have difficulties in accessing dental care, namely those with financial difficulties, persons with disabilities or special needs and high-risk groups, to receive essential dental services (including preventive and curative oral health and dental care services) through the public system or subsidy programmes. The Chief Executive proposed to bolster public and subsidised dental services in the 2025 Policy Address to enhance oral health education, oral hygiene instructions, risk assessments, and more in the community. Our target is to implement the strategy that emphasises prevention, early identification, and timely intervention of dental diseases with the objective of retaining teeth, thereby achieving oral and general health of the public,” said Dr Lam.
      
     “The Government established the SCDSCC to promote synergy between the Government and the industry, precisely define the scope of SCD services and ensure that the services can meet the specific needs of the targeted groups. The SCDSCC will also monitor, evaluate and review existing public SCD services, including identifying the gaps and challenges in the current service model in order to formulate long-term strategies for enhancing SCD services for the specific groups. Additionally, we will advise on workforce planning and strategies for dental education with respect to SCD services and provide guidance on establishing Special Care Dentistry as a formally recognised specialty in Hong Kong,” he added.
      
     According to the latest Report of the Oral Health Survey by the DH, the proportion of non-institutionalised older persons aged 65 to 74 with no teeth significantly dropped from 5.6 per cent in 2011 to 0.9 per cent in 2021, while their number of “teeth in mouth” increased from 19.3 to 22.8 in parallel. This survey also found more remaining teeth in those aged 65 years or above who are long-term care (LTC) users, and a smaller proportion of them had complete tooth loss when compared to the same population groups in 2011. However, untreated decayed teeth were found in more than half of the LTC users, and the cleanliness of their teeth and prostheses was a concern. Therefore, the importance of daily oral care must also be promoted to their carers. The majority of LTC users required modifications in the provision of dental treatment due to their complex medical conditions. Enhanced training for dental professionals to support the future development of primary oral healthcare and SCD services is therefore crucial.
      
     Dr Lam expressed gratitude to all SCDSCC members for contributing valuable insights from their diverse areas of expertise to improve the oral health and quality of life of specific groups, providing the Government with valuable information.
      
     The appointments of the SCDSCC members are effective from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2027, for a term of two years.
Issued at HKT 17:11

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Labour Department investigates fatal work accident in Kai Tak

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Labour Department investigates fatal work accident in Kai Tak      
     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.
Issued at HKT 17:20

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Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office stages roving exhibition at universities to showcase Greater Bay Area opportunities

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office stages roving exhibition at universities to showcase Greater Bay Area opportunities 
     A spokesman for the Office said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government proactively aligns with the 15th Five-Year Plan, deeply engages in the development of the GBA, and better integrates into and serves the overall national development. The Government of the HKSAR attaches great importance to youth development and has continued to introduce a number of policy measures in various areas to support Hong Kong young people in grasping opportunities for internships, employment and entrepreneurship in the GBA, and encourage them to realise their aspirations on a bigger stage.
 
     This year’s roving exhibition kicked off today at Youth Square, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and the Education University of Hong Kong. The exhibition offers rich information including the introduction of policy measures in different areas of the GBA, support programmes and facilitation arrangements for Hong Kong young people, various on-the-ground support services provided by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre as well as diversified channels for obtaining the latest practical information about the GBA, to help young people seize the numerous opportunities in the GBA.
 
     The roving exhibition has received venue support from the eight universities and the Civic Education Resource Centre of Youth Square. Details on the exhibition are as follows:
 

Exhibition period# Open from 9am to 6pm (closed on public holidays).
* Valid staff card, student card or registration is required for entry to the campus. Please refer to the specific regulations of each campus.
Issued at HKT 14:45

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Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2026 
     This year, the full and half marathon races will start at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. The full marathon race will route through major road sections including Nathan Road (from Granville Road to Argyle Street), Argyle Street, Lin Cheung Road, West Kowloon Highway, Stonecutters Bridge, Nam Wan Tunnel, Ting Kau Bridge, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Tsing Kwai Highway, the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC), Connaught Road West flyover, Lung Wo Road, Expo Drive, Hung Hing Road, Lockhart Road, Percival Street, Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street and Sugar Street, and finish at Victoria Park. The half marathon race route will follow that of the full marathon race from the starting point at Nathan Road to Lin Cheung Road with the turning point at Tsing Kwai Highway and then rejoin the full marathon race route at West Kowloon Highway.
 
     As for other races, the starting point will be set at different locations on Hong Kong Island, while all the finishing points will be set at Victoria Park. The 10-kilometre race will start at the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) near the exit/entrance of Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel (CWBT) and run along the IEC eastwards to the turning point near Oi Tak Street and then return to the finishing point. The 10-kilometre wheelchair race will start at Wan Chai Sports Ground and route through Hung Hing Road, Expo Drive, Lung Wo Road and Central Ferry Piers area and then return to run along Lung Wo Road, Hung Hing Road, Marsh Road, Lockhart Road and Hennessy Road heading for the finishing point. The Wheelchair Trial and Leaders Cup will also start at Wan Chai Sports Ground and route through Hung Hing Road and Marsh Road and then rejoin the 10-kilometre wheelchair race route heading for the finishing point.
 
     According to the arrangements for the full and half marathon race routes, temporary closures of major road sections and their vicinities in the Yau Tsim Mong area will be implemented extensively, including (i) the whole section of Nathan Road (in both directions) between Salisbury Road and Gascoigne Road, (ii) the northbound carriageway of Nathan Road between Gascoigne Road and Argyle Street, (iii) the westbound carriageway of Argyle Street between Nathan Road and Tong Mi Road, and (iv) the slip road from Lin Cheung Road southbound to Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section). The above road sections will be reopened at or before about 10.30am in phases, subject to the progress of the races. At the same time, public transport services in this area will also be subject to extensive adjustments. Members of the public heading to this area are advised to use railway services.
 
     Moreover, since the full marathon will use the Kowloon-bound carriageways of Cheung Tsing Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel as the race route, vehicles on Lantau Link (Tsing Ma Bridge) heading to Kowloon will be diverted to use North West Tsing Yi Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Tsing Tsuen Road, Tsuen Wan Road, Kwai Chung Road, Cheung Sha Wan Road and Lai Chi Kok Road. It is anticipated that traffic congestion along North Lantau Highway, Tsing Ma Bridge and the vicinity of North West Tsing Yi Interchange may occur.
 
      The above road closures will not affect vehicles travelling from Hong Kong Island/Kowloon/New Territories East to Hong Kong International Airport and Lantau Island. Vehicles from the New Territories West to the airport and Lantau Island could travel via Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel. Due to the closure of the Kowloon-bound carriageway of Ting Kau Bridge, vehicles travelling via Tuen Mun Road or Tai Lam Tunnel to the airport and Lantau Island will be diverted to use Tsuen Wan Road, Tsuen Tsing Interchange, Tsing Tsuen Road, Tsing Tsuen Bridge and Tsing Yi North Coastal Road to enter Tsing Ma Bridge.
 
     During the races, the Kowloon-bound tube of the WHC will remain open, while the Hong Kong-bound tube of the WHC will be temporarily closed from 0.45am on Sunday till about 1.15pm, subject to the progress of the races. Motorists travelling from Kowloon West to Hong Kong Island are advised to use the Cross-Harbour Tunnel or Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC). For the race routes in Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Street eastbound will be temporarily closed to serve as a race route. Most of the public transport services operating along Yee Wo Street (in the direction of North Point) will be diverted to use Percival Street, Leighton Road and Pennington Street during the closure period.
 
     According to the arrangements for the 10-kilometre race, both bound carriageways of the IEC between Victoria Park Road and Shau Kei Wan, and the CWBT linking to and from the IEC will be closed from 1.15am on Sunday in phases, and traffic will be diverted via appropriate alternative routes such as Connaught Road Central, Gloucester Road, King’s Road, Shau Kei Wan Road, etc. Traffic to and from the EHC will be diverted to the Sai Wan Ho or Kornhill exit/entrance. Depending on the progress of the races, different sections of the CWBT will be reopened in phases to minimise the impact on traffic. Upon the anticipated reopening of the IEC before noon, the section of the CWBT between Central and North Point will be reopened, while the Wan Chai North exit from and entrance to the CWBT will be closed for most of the race time.
 
     In connection with the road closure arrangements, starting from 11.15pm on Saturday until the reopening of the roads, 220 daytime bus routes and 34 daytime green minibus (GMB) routes will be subject to suspension, truncation or diversion, and the stopping points concerned of the affected bus and GMB services will be relocated accordingly in phases. Also, 49 overnight bus routes and six overnight green minibus routes to be affected by the road closures will be subject to the associated service adjustments. These affected bus routes include the cross-harbour routes and bus services operating in the following areas:
     
Hong Kong Island – bus routes operating along the IEC, the CWBT, in Central and Western District, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay areas;
     
Kowloon – bus routes operating along Nathan Road, Lin Cheung Road, Argyle Street, Shanghai Street, Jordan Road and Yau Tsim Mong areas; and
 
New Territories – bus routes operating along Ting Kau Bridge, Cheung Tsing Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel.
     
     The following bus termini and public transport interchanges on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon will be suspended:
 
Hong Kong Island – Tin Hau Station Public Transport Interchange, Expo Drive East Bus Terminus, Central Ferry Piers Bus Terminus and Whitfield Road Bus Terminus; and 
     
Kowloon – China Ferry Terminal Public Transport Interchange and Star Ferry Bus Terminus.
     
     To enable participants in the full/half marathon and 10-kilometre races that start in the early morning to go to Tsim Sha Tsui or Causeway Bay, the first departures of eight rail lines of MTR services will be advanced suitably on Sunday, with the first departures on the Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line (Sheung Shui to Admiralty) to be operated at 3.25am. In addition, 28 special bus routes will also be operated to serve participants going to Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay on Sunday.
 
     During the road closure period, bus stops, taxi stands, taxi pick-up/drop-off points, public light bus/GMB stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks within the closed roads and their vicinities may be suspended subject to the situation.
 
     The commencement time of the pedestrian precinct on Lockhart Road, East Point Road and Great George Street in Causeway Bay will be postponed to 3pm on Sunday subject to the road reopening situation in the vicinity of Causeway Bay.
     
     Members of the public and tourists heading for Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station of the Airport Express Line, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, China Ferry Terminal or Ocean Terminal are advised to plan their journeys early to avoid any delays caused by road closures and traffic diversions.
 
     The TD anticipates that the traffic at various locations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories will be more significantly congested when compared with normal Sundays, including:
      
     Hong Kong Island – King’s Road, Shau Kei Wan Road, Victoria Park Road, Leighton Road, Hennessy Road, Gloucester Road, Queensway, Connaught Road Central, Aberdeen Tunnel (Wan Chai bound) and Central Ferry Piers areas;
     
     Kowloon – Nathan Road and its vicinity, Argyle Street, Wylie Road, Gascoigne Road flyover, West Kowloon Corridor and Cross-Harbour Tunnel (both bounds), with a higher chance of long traffic queues along Gascoigne Road flyover and West Kowloon Corridor; and
     
     New Territories – Lantau Link (Kowloon bound) and North West Tsing Yi Interchange.
     
     Motorists should avoid driving to the above affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, they should exercise patience and drive with care, and follow the instructions of the Police on-site.
 
     Members of the public should plan their journeys early and use alternative routes to avoid delays, and take railway services as far as possible. Public transport users are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions and changes of stop locations.
 
     Other ad-hoc traffic and public transport measures, including adjusting the extent of road closures, traffic diversions, alterations and suspensions of public transport services, may be implemented by the Police on-site at short notice depending on the actual traffic and crowd conditions. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news through the media.
 
     For information about the above special traffic and transport adjustments, members of the public may browse the TD’s website at www.td.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:58

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LegCo House Committee and Finance Committee elect Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LegCo House Committee and Finance Committee elect Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen 
     The nomination period for the offices of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Legislative Council House Committee (HC) and the Finance Committee (FC) for the 2026 session closed at 5pm today (January 12).
 
     There is only one valid nomination each for the offices of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the two Committees, therefore:Issued at HKT 17:42

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Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kai Tak today

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kai Tak today 
     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the use of mobile cranes for lifting operation at site concerned. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”
 
     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
 
     To prevent workers from being struck or trapped by loads when engaged in unrigging process, the LD reminds employers to (i) ensure that the place supporting the loads is secure; and (ii) formulate proper unrigging methods for detaching lifting gear so as to prevent displacement of the objects in the course of unrigging operations.
 
     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
 
     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
 
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
 
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. 
Issued at HKT 23:58

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