as 95K flats forecast By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The projected private flat supply for the next three to four years is 95,000 units, 2,000 more than the previous estimate. The Transport & Housing Bureau today said there were 10,000 unsold units in completed projects at the end of March. There were 60,000 units under construction, excluding those pre-sold by developers, and 25,000 units from disposed sites where construction can start any time. The number of flats under construction in the first quarter was 900, while the number of units completed for the period was 4,200. Click here for details. Full Article
as Gov't unveils employment measures By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The Government will launch a series of measures to retain and create jobs to prevent massive layoffs amid record levels of unemployment and underemployment for the first three months of the year. The seasonally adjusted unemployment and underemployment rates have soared recently due to the severe blow dealt by the COVID-19 epidemic to Hong Kong’s economy. With reference to the practice of some overseas governments in providing wage subsidies to employers and following the funding approval by the Legislative Council Finance Committee, the Government will launch the $81 billion Employment Support Scheme (ESS) as soon as possible. The scheme will provide time-limited financial support to employers to retain workers who will inevitably be made redundant due to the downturn in business. The provision of subsidies for employers, together with other relief measures and loan arrangements under the Anti-epidemic Fund and the 2020-21 Budget will help businesses stay afloat and retain jobs to prepare for a quick recovery once the epidemic is over. Except for the Government, statutory bodies and government-funded organisations whose employees' salaries are not affected by the epidemic, employers who have been making Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions or have set up Occupational Retirement Schemes will be eligible for the ESS. Employers joining the scheme have to provide an undertaking not to implement redundancies during the subsidy period and spend all wage subsidies from the Government in paying wages to their employees. Wage subsidies provided under the ESS are calculated based on 50% of wages in a specified month subject to a wage cap of $18,000 per month for six months. Payment will be made in two tranches, with the first payout no later than the end of June to subsidise employers to pay employees' wages from June to August. After approval of the application, the number of employees on payroll shall not be less than the number of employees in March and the wage subsidies applied by employers must be used fully for employees' wages. Under the ESS, self-employed people who have contributed to the MPF from January 1, 2019 to March 31 will be granted a one-off subsidy of $7,500. The scheme is expected to benefit over 260,000 employers who have been making MPF contributions or have set up Occupational Retirement Schemes for 1.7 million employees, and about 215,000 self-employed people. Employers and employees in the catering, construction and transport sectors that are not covered by the MPF will be taken care of by sector-specific schemes. Regarding job creation, the Government has earmarked $6 billion to create about 30,000 time-limited jobs in public and private sectors in the coming two years for people of different skills and academic qualifications. This is in addition to more than 10,000 civil service job openings for replacing retirees and filling new posts to be created in the 2020-21 Estimates, and about 5,000 short-term interns for young people. In the second half of the year, the Labour Department will raise the ceiling of the on-the-job training allowance payable to employers under the Employment Programme for the Elderly & Middle-aged, the Youth Employment & Training Programme and the Work Orientation & Placement Scheme to further encourage employers to hire seniors, youngsters and the disabled. The department plans to launch a pilot scheme in the second half of the year to encourage these people to undergo and complete on-the-job training under the above-mentioned employment programmes through the provision of a retention allowance. A time-limited unemployment support scheme will be launched through the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme at the same time to provide timely and basic financial support to the unemployed who may not be covered by the ESS. To maintain Hong Kong's economic vibrancy and relieve the financial burden of the public under the epidemic, the Government has introduced the largest package of relief measures to date, including the one-off relief measures in the Budget costing $120 billion and two rounds of measures under the Anti-epidemic Fund totalling $287.5 billion. This accounts for about 10% of Hong Kong's gross domestic product, the Government added. Full Article
as Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and Chronic Kidney Disease By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2008-01-01 Sarah TomaselloJan 1, 2008; 21:19-25Articles Full Article
as Commentary: Why Was Inhaled Insulin a Failure in the Market? By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2016-08-01 Jacob OleckAug 1, 2016; 29:180-184Pharmacy and Therapeutics Full Article
as Is Massage Useful in the Management of Diabetes? A Systematic Review By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2001-10-01 Jeanette EzzoOct 1, 2001; 14:Articles Full Article
as Hypoglycemia After Gastric Bypass Surgery By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2012-11-01 Ekta SinghNov 1, 2012; 25:217-221From Research to Practice Full Article
as Diabetes Control in Thyroid Disease By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2006-07-01 Jennal L. JohnsonJul 1, 2006; 19:148-153Articles Full Article
as Preparing to Prescribe Plant-Based Diets for Diabetes Prevention and Treatment By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2012-02-01 Caroline TrappFeb 1, 2012; 25:38-44Nutrition FYI Full Article
as Case Study: Cognitive Impairment, Depression, and Severe Hypoglycemia By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2006-10-01 John ZrebiecOct 1, 2006; 19:212-215Clinical Decision Making Full Article
as Thyroid Disease and Diabetes By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2002-07-01 Jul 1, 2002; 15:Patient Information Full Article
as DASH Eating Plan: An Eating Pattern for Diabetes Management By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2017-05-01 Amy P. CampbellMay 1, 2017; 30:76-81From Research to Practice Full Article
as Case Study: A Patient With Type 2 Diabetes Working With an Advanced Practice Pharmacist to Address Interacting Comorbidities By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2003-01-01 Peggy YarboroughJan 1, 2003; 16:Case Studies Full Article
as The Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: Beyond BloodPressure and Lipids By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2008-07-01 Betsy B. DokkenJul 1, 2008; 21:160-165From Research to Practice/Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Full Article
as Case Study: A Patient With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes and Complex Comorbidities Whose Diabetes Care Is Managed by an Advanced Practice Nurse By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2003-01-01 Geralyn SpollettJan 1, 2003; 16:Case Studies Full Article
as Mask production subsidies reassigned By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau today announced that the subsidy quota for three mask production lines have been reassigned. Three production lines, previously approved under the Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme, have withdrawn from the scheme, the Government said. The subsidy quota concerned has been allocated to SDL Skin (Asia), Safeguard HK and SwissTech. SDL Skin (Asia) has been approved for obtaining a subsidy for a second production line and is expected to supply an average of 1.6 million masks every month to the Government. The production line may receive a subsidy of up to $1 million. Safeguard HK has been approved for obtaining a subsidy for one production line and is expected to supply an average of 500,000 masks to the Government every month. The production line may receive up to $2 million. SwissTech has been approved for obtaining a subsidy for one production line and is expected to supply an average of 2 million masks every month to the Government and produce a further 1 million masks on average monthly for the local market. The production line may receive up to $3 million. It is estimated that when all 20 subsidised lines under the scheme are in full production, they will collectively supply 33.85 million masks to the Government and a further 7.15 million to the local market monthly. The companies which withdrew from the scheme were CareHK and Shang Manufactory. The Government did not sign agreements with or make disbursements to these firms. Full Article
as Trainline launches AI disruption alerts for Google Assistant By www.techworld.com Published On :: Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:20:00 GMT The coach and rail journey app has launched a new AI voice app for automated disruption alerts Full Article
as John Lewis Partnership selects four startups to reduce plastic waste By www.techworld.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Oct 2018 09:00:00 GMT The partnership will join hands with four UK startups as it hopes to reduce plastic waste as part of its retail tech initiative, JLAB Full Article
as Tech unicorns ask chancellor for access to emergency loans By www.techworld.com Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 08:17:00 GMT The 'unicorn letter', sent by some of the best-funded private technology companies in the country, asks the chancellor to form an urgent taskforce to give them access to government-backed lending schemes during the pandemic Full Article
as Furloughed workers offered free JavaScript courses By www.techworld.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 11:37:00 GMT Companies with large numbers of furloughed workers are offering staff an introductory course in JavaScript coding, thanks to the European coding bootcamp, Codeworks. Full Article
as CusMask safe for use: Alfred Sit By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The CuMasks have undergone strict testing and certification processes before the product will be distributed to help people combat the COVID-19 virus, Secretary for Innovation & Technology Alfred Sit said today. Mr Sit’s remarks came amid public concerns over the safety of the free reusable face masks that the Government plans to distribute to all Hong Kong citizens. Addressing reporters after attending a radio programme this morning, Mr Sit said: “The product has gone through a very comprehensive and clear testing and certification process. “The product can fully comply with the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) F2100 Level 1 requirement, so that the product can fully meet the need of protecting our people from COVID-19. “I have to emphasise that this whole process must be done by proper laboratories and that’s what we have done.” Mr Sit noted that a dedicated website on the CuMask has been set up that contains information on the testing reports of the masks. “For those people who may not have a complete understanding about our product, they may go to our website so that they can see the reports and certificates. “I fully hope this product can help our people to combat COVID-19.That’s what we would like to do." Full Article
as "Mathematics and the Family Tree of Sars-Cov-2," the May Feature Column by Bill Casselman By www.ams.org Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 EST Full Article
as Hershberger Named 2020 AMS Mass Media Fellow By www.ams.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EST The AMS is pleased to announce that Scott Hershberger has been chosen as the 2020 AMS Mass Media Fellow. Scott studied mathematics and physics at Washington University in St. Louis and will graduate in May 2020. He will be working at Scientific American this summer. The Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows program is organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This program is designed to improve public understanding of science and technology by placing advanced undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate science, mathematics and engineering students in media outlets nationwide. The fellows work for ten weeks over the summer as reporters, researchers, and production assistants alongside media professionals to sharpen their communication skills and increase their understanding of the editorial process by which events and ideas become news. Now in its 45th year, this fellowship program has placed more than 700 fellows in media organizations nationwide as they research, write, and report today’s headlines. The program is designed to report science-related issues in the media in easy-to-understand ways so as to improve public understanding and appreciation for science and technology. For more information on the AMS Mass Media Fellowship, visit the website. Full Article
as Advances in Representation Theory of Algebras By www.ams.org Published On :: David J. Benson, University of Aberdeen, Henning Krause, University of Bielefeld, and Andrzej Skowronski, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Editors - A publication of the European Mathematical Society, 2013, 378 pp., Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-3-03719-125-5, List: US$98, Institutional Member: US$78.40, All Individuals: US$78.40, EMSSCR/9 This volume presents a collection of articles devoted to representations of algebras and related topics. Dististinguished experts in this field... Full Article
as Lecture Notes on Cluster Algebras By www.ams.org Published On :: Robert J. Marsh, University of Leeds - A publication of the European Mathematical Society, 2014, 122 pp., Softcover, ISBN-13: 978-3-03719-130-9, List: US$36, All AMS Members: US$28.80, EMSZLEC/19 Cluster algebras are combinatorially defined commutative algebras which were introduced by S. Fomin and A. Zelevinsky as a tool for studying the dual... Full Article
as Classification and Identification of Lie Algebras By www.ams.org Published On :: Libor Snobl, Czech Technical University, and Pavel Winternitz, Centre de Recherches Mathematiques, and Universite de Montreal - AMS | CRM, 2014, 306 pp., Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-8218-4355-0, List: US$124, All AMS Members: US$99.20, CRMM/33 The purpose of this book is to serve as a tool for researchers and practitioners who apply Lie algebras and Lie groups to solve problems arising in... Full Article
as Classical Mechanics with Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control: An Intuitive Introduction By www.ams.org Published On :: Mark Levi, Pennsylvania State University - AMS, 2014, 299 pp., Softcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-8218-9138-4, List: US$42, All AMS Members: US$33.60, STML/69 It is hard to imagine a more original and insightful approach to classical mechanics. Most physicists would regard this as a well-worn and settled... Full Article
as The Joys of Haar Measure By www.ams.org Published On :: Joe Diestel, Kent State University, and Angela Spalsbury, Youngstown State University - AMS, 2013, 320 pp., Hardcover, ISBN-13: 978-1-4704-0935-7, List: US$65, All AMS Members: US$52, GSM/150 From the earliest days of measure theory, invariant measures have held the interests of geometers and analysts alike, with the Haar measure playing an... Full Article
as Operator-Valued Measures, Dilations, and the Theory of Frames By www.ams.org Published On :: Deguang Han, University of Central Florida, David R. Larson, Texas A&M University, Bei Liu, Tianjin University of Technology, and Rui Liu, Nankai University - AMS, 2013, 84 pp., Softcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-8218-9172-8, List: US$65, All AMS Members: US$52, MEMO/229/1075 The authors develop elements of a general dilation theory for operator-valued measures. Hilbert space operator-valued measures are closely related to... Full Article
as Semiclassical Standing Waves with Clustering Peaks for Nonlinear Schrodinger Equations By www.ams.org Published On :: Jaeyoung Byeon, KAIST, and Kazunaga Tanaka, Waseda University - AMS, 2013, 89 pp., Softcover, ISBN-13: 978-0-8218-9163-6, List: US$71, All AMS Members: US$56.80, MEMO/229/1076 The authors study the following singularly perturbed problem: (-epsilon^2Delta u+V(x)u = f(u)) in (mathbf{R}^N). Their main result is the... Full Article
as An artificial 'tongue' of gold to taste maple syrup By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (University of Montreal) A chemistry professor at Université de Montréal has developed a new test using gold nanoparticles to establish the flavour profile of maple syrup and help producers evaluate its quality. Full Article
as Extreme ultraviolet imaging displays potential to enhance study of Alzheimer's disease By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (University of Southampton) Scientists have published highly detailed images of lab-grown neurons using Extreme Ultraviolet radiation that could aid the analysis of neurodegenerative diseases. Full Article
as Inhibiting thrombin protects against dangerous infant digestive disease By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (University of South Florida (USF Health)) A new preclinical study by researchers at the University of South Florida Health (USF Health) Morsani College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers promise of a specific treatment for NEC, a rare inflammatory bowel disease that is a leading cause of death in premature infants. The team found that inhibiting the inflammatory and blood-clotting molecule thrombin with targeted nanotherapy can protect against NEC-like injury in newborn mice. Full Article
as Real-time visualization of solid-phase ion migration By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (University of Science and Technology of China) Researchers from University of science and technology of China has shed new lights on the topic of solid-phase ion migration. Researchers demonstrated a unique in-situ strategy for visualizing the dynamic solid-phase ion migration between nanostructures with nanogap at the atomic scale. The research article entitled "Real-Time Visualization of Solid-Phase Ion Migration Kinetics on Nanowire Monolayer" was published in Journal of the American Chemical Society on April 29th. Full Article
as Research found a new way to make functional materials based on polymers of metal clusters By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (University of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto) Researchers at the universities of Jyvaskyla and Xiamen discovered a novel way to make functional macroscopic crystalline materials out of nanometer-size 34-atom silver-gold intermetallic clusters. The cluster material has a highly anisotropic electrical conductivity, being a semiconductor in one direction and an electrical insulator in other directions. The research was published in Nature Communications on May 6, 2020. Full Article
as Shedding new light on nanolasers using 2D semiconductors By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Arizona State University) Cun-Zheng Ning, a professor of electrical engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, and collaborators from Tsinghua University in China discovered a process of physics that enables low-power nanolasers to be produced in 2D semiconductor materials. Understanding the physics behind lasers at nanoscale and how they interact with semiconductors can have major implications for high-speed communication channels for supercomputers and data centers. Full Article
as Surfaces that grip like gecko feet could be easily mass-produced By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Georgia Institute of Technology) The science behind sticky gecko's feet lets gecko adhesion materials pick up about anything. But cost-effective mass production of the materials was out of reach until now. A new method of making them could usher the spread of gecko-inspired grabbers to assembly lines and homes. Full Article
as New simple method for measuring the state of lithium-ion batteries By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz) Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM) in Germany have presented a non-contact method for detecting the state of charge and any defects in lithium-ion batteries. Full Article
as Young Scientist prize for Lancaster physicist By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Lancaster University) Lancaster University's Dr Samuli Autti has been awarded a Young Scientist Prize 2020 by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. The prestigious prize, awarded only once every three years, was made by the Low Temperature Commission of the IUPAP. Full Article
as Koszul duality for Iwasawa algebras modulo ???? By www.ams.org Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2020 07:34 EDT Claus Sorensen Represent. Theory 24 (2020), 151-177. Abstract, references and article information Full Article
as No new COVID-19 cases reported By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The Centre for Health Protection announced that as of 4pm today, no new COVID-19 cases have been recorded, leaving the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong at 1,040 so far. The centre again urged members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people in their daily lives to minimise the risk of infection. People should go out less and avoid social activities such as having meals out or other gatherings to minimise the risk of coronavirus clusters emerging in the community. As the COVID-19 situation remains severe and the number of cases reported around the world continues to rise, people are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as well as maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that there are currently 142 patients under isolation and that 920 patients have been discharged upon recovery. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. Full Article
as Some anti-epidemic measures eased By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 (To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.) Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said because Hong Kong has not reported a local COVID-19 case for over two weeks and imported cases are low, some anti-epidemic measures can be lifted. During a press conference, Mrs Lam outlined that unlike some European countries, Hong Kong did not need to go into lockdown to contain the spread of the disease. “Hong Kong has never gone into a stage of a complete city lockdown. In some of the European countries where they practise a city lockdown, residents are simply not allowed to leave their homes, except for some very essential purposes. But we have never adopted that practice. “And in fact, many renowned experts are now trying to study our situation - why does Hong Kong succeed in keeping the confirmed cases at a low level without drastic measures like a complete city lockdown. And I do think that is a very interesting topic for further research.” Mrs Lam noted that the Government had adopted the “suppress and lift” strategy under which restrictions are implemented and lifted in accordance with the infection situation. “The strategy that Hong Kong has been adopting - and advocated by some of our experts - is what we call a ‘suppress and lift strategy’. “So in light of the number of confirmed cases and likelihood of the spread of the disease in the community, we will have to suppress in order to make sure that there will be no surge in the number of confirmed cases as we have seen in some neighbouring regions. “When the situation of the infection stabilises, that is the time for lifting, that is, loosening a bit so that society can operate more normally, especially for the businesses and for individuals’ behaviour.” The Chief Executive said the Government still needed to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely, even though it was in the stage of lifting restrictions. “We are now right in the stage of lifting because we have not had a local case for 16 days already and the number of imported cases is very, very low. “We are now quite confident that the system of testing and holding that we have put in place for all arrivals from overseas would enable us to control the number of imported cases. So this is a time for lifting and this afternoon we have announced a number of lifting measures. “If the situation continues to stay at the current level - no local cases, very few imported cases - then at the end of the 14-day period, that is May 22, of course that would be the time for more relaxation.” Mrs Lam added that if a local case suddenly surfaced, Hong Kong may have to go back to some suppression measures, which was why the Government had to monitor the situation closely so it could take the necessary and pertinent response measures. Full Article
as CE explains relaxation of measures By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 (To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.) The relaxation of anti-epidemic measures is a step in the right direction, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today. Mrs Lam made the statement at a press conference this afternoon. She said the Government will relax the requirement limiting group gatherings in public places to a maximum of four people. Starting from Friday, up to eight people can gather in public places. "So raising the number from four to eight for the catering business and also for the prohibition against group gatherings under Cap 599G is not an exact science, but this is a step in the right direction of relaxation. "Maybe in another 14 days’ time we will raise the number of eight to 10, to 12, to 15 and so on." Regarding bars and pubs, Mrs Lam said these venues will be able to reopen but the Government will put in place requirements to prevent physical interactions. "We have decided that perhaps to strike a pragmatic balance is to allow them to reopen for business but to put in far more stringent requirements." Such requirements include no live music, band performances or dancing in bar premises. "That would be another way to keep the social distance and prevent as much as possible physical interactions." Click here for the latest measures. Full Article
as Class resumption date set By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 (To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.) Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung today said the Government is confident that classes can resume on May 27. Mr Yeung made the statement at a press conference this afternoon. He said: “We are not announcing class resumption right away. We are giving advance notice of about three weeks for all the stakeholders to get prepared for the school resumption.” The Government will continue to monitor the situation during this period and adjust the school resumption plan if necessary, he added. "At this stage we are still pretty confident that we should be able to resume classes on May 27." Full Article
as Masks for the needy ensured By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 (To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.) Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said that Hong Kong’s needy and disadvantaged will receive masks as part of the Government’s new mask distribution programme. Mrs Lam made the announcement during a press conference this afternoon and explained that millions of donated masks will also be distributed to those in need. “I have outlined six measures to distribute masks freely to the people of Hong Kong, and of course in so doing, we will take special account of the disadvantaged, the elderly and street sleepers. “So apart from being a member of the Hong Kong population, they will receive reusable masks. They will receive disposable masks. We have this mask distribution program together with a large number of non-governmental organisations, charity groups and self-help groups. “So we will continue to work with them to distribute another three million masks, which were donated to us.” Mrs Lam emphasised that should there be a shortage of masks set aside for the needy, the Government will use its own supply to cover the shortfall. “I am announcing that if we run out of donated masks, but there is still a need from this disadvantaged groups, we will use the government masks - the masks that we procured which are supposed to be for our own use - and share these with the needy groups in society. “That's a way to ensure that, in a public health situation that we are now in, the needs of the disadvantaged groups will be fully taken care of.” In addition to distributing donated masks, the Government announced other measures on mask supplies that include handing out single-use and reusable masks to all Hong Kong residents and students in need. Such measures also call for increasing the supply of masks to staff of elderly homes and cleaning workers employed by the Government's outsourced service contractors, as well as providing masks to private medical practitioners. Full Article
as Gov’t to distribute reusable masks By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The Government will distribute free reusable face masks to all Hong Kong citizens, the Innovation & Technology Bureau announced today. The CuMask, made with six layers and special ergonomic features, was developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles & Apparel. Two of its layers contain copper which is capable of immobilising bacteria, common viruses and other harmful substances. The mask complies with the American Society for Testing & Materials F2100 Level 1 Standard in terms of particle and bacterial filtration efficiency, resistance to penetration by synthetic blood, and flammability and pressure resistance. It is also reusable for up to 60 washes. The bureau said, except for babies and infants, all holders of valid Hong Kong identity cards are eligible to obtain a mask. Citizens can register online from 7am tomorrow till June 6. Each registration can cater for a maximum of six persons. Upon successful registration, the mask will be delivered to the door by Hongkong Post within two weeks. Primary and kindergarten students will each be given two masks, which will be delivered directly to children's schools. Parents do not have to register. The Government has also arranged to deliver over 140,000 of the masks to residential homes and social welfare institutions for their distribution to those including elderly and the homeless. Click here for registration details. Full Article
as 1.38m registered for CuMask By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The Innovation & Technology Bureau announced that as of 3pm today, the CuMask online registration system had received over 500,000 registrations, covering close to 1.38 million registrants in total. The bureau also responded to reports concerning the purpose of information collection and security of the registration system. It noted that information provided by citizens in obtaining the masks will not be used for other purposes and that the Government will ensure the retention period of the personal data is no longer than the time required for the purposes for which the data is used. The bureau pointed out that the registration system for masks operates on the Government's private cloud to ensure the stability and security of the system. In order to prevent intrusion and data leakage, multiple security measures have been put in place in compliance with the Government Information Technology Security Policy & Guidelines. These measures include a firewall, intrusion detection, anti-bot technology and installation of the latest anti-virus software with regular updates of virus definitions. The service has also passed an information security risk assessment and audit before launch. The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data has been consulted on the system's personal data processing arrangements. The system has also passed an independent third-party privacy impact assessment to ensure that the relevant service and system comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. The bureau further explained that citizens need to provide their Hong Kong identity card number and date of birth for the registration system to match data with the Immigration Department’s system. The process will be used to ascertain whether the registrant is a Hong Kong resident and check against any duplicated registrations. The local mobile number serves as a way to receive SMS messages on registration results and delivery, while the name and local address of the main registrant serves to verify whether the address exists and for arranging delivery. The bureau emphasised that the purposes of information collection have been clearly displayed on the front of the registration page for citizens to browse before registration. Meanwhile, the bureau clarified the online rumours regarding the manufacturer of CuMask, noting that the CuMask is not manufactured by the Sun Hing Knitting Factory Limited nor Nan Fung Group. The procurement of raw materials, coordination of production, sterilisation and packaging of the CuMask are being handled by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles & Apparel, it said. The bureau expressed regret about the rumours. Full Article
as No new COVID-19 cases reported By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The Centre for Health Protection announced that as of 4pm today, no new COVID-19 cases have been recorded, leaving the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong at 1,040 so far. The centre again urged members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people to minimise the risk of infection. People should go out less and avoid social activities such as having meals out or other gatherings to minimise the risk of coronavirus clusters emerging in the community. As the COVID-19 situation remains severe and the number of cases reported around the world continues to rise, people are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as well as maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that there are currently 127 patients under isolation and that 932 patients have been discharged upon recovery. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. Full Article
as CE inspects CuMask production By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 Chief Executive Carrie Lam inspected one of the CuMask production sites in Tsuen Wan today and expressed gratitude to those manufacturing the reusable masks for Hong Kong residents to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. She chatted with the staff and noted that many of them are retired textile industry workers who have re-joined the production workforce to combat the virus. Mrs Lam praised them for their commitment to serving the community and thanked them for their hard work. The masks produced in the workshop will be delivered to a clean workspace for sterilising with ozone and packing before distribution. There is no need to wash the mask before it is used for the first time. In the face of the tight supply of masks amid the epidemic, the Government set aside funds to subsidise projects on technology applications of reusable masks under the first round of the Anti-epidemic Fund. The CuMask complies with the American Society for Testing & Materials F2100 Level 1 standard and can be washed up to 60 times. It can also be used for a longer period after replacing the filter. Mrs Lam said she is pleased to note that CuMask is well received by the public and the registration process has been very smooth. “CuMask is a home-grown scientific research achievement with local application. The whole process has involved co-operation between the Government, industry, academia and the research sector and is an outstanding example of the use of technology to improve people’s lives. “It will also help solve the problem of the supply of face masks during an epidemic in the long run. I highly commend all the people who have participated in the relevant work and I am fully confident in the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.” Mrs Lam appealed to the public to make use of the registration quota of up to six people to minimise delivery resources and enhance efficiency. She added that relevant departments will deliver the masks as soon as possible. Full Article
as 2m registered for CuMask By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The CuMask online registration system received over 720,000 registrations, covering two million registrants in total on the first day of registration on May 6, the Innovation & Technology Bureau announced today. The bureau said the response is overwhelming and it is encouraged to see support for local invention. "Our thanks go to support from all sides, including the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles & Apparel (HKRITA) which has been commissioned to oversee the project, the Crystal International Group Limited which is responsible for the production, the Novetex Textiles Limited in Tai Po Industrial Estate for providing clean room for sterilisation, The Mills and the TAL Apparel Limited for lending premises to set up workshops as well as the frontline workmen for their hard work over the past few months. “This unrivalled challenge cannot be met without their joint efforts and the collaboration of the industry and our team,” the bureau stated. The bureau commissioned the HKRITA to oversee the CuMask project in order to meet the imminent needs for masks in Hong Kong. It pointed out that the Government Stores & Procurement Regulations do allow direct purchase to be made under extreme urgency. The whole procurement process was conducted in accordance with the Government's procurement regulations and procedures and with confirmation that the conditions under the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization could be met. The bureau further explained that in February and March this year, the Government contacted various suppliers of reusable masks. However, most stated that they had either stopped production, did not have enough stock, were unable to export materials due to export control, or unable to produce testing certification. The epidemic at that time was serious and the supplies of anti-epidemic items were becoming scarce. Hong Kong did not have any raw materials or production lines. Taking into account the aggressive procurement actions of anti-epidemic items by different countries, export control and suspension of production lines all over the world, the Government had to consider urgently the feasibility of manufacturing reusable masks that would be up to standard for use by the whole community. On reviewing the reusable mask developed by the HKRITA, the Government considered that the design of the mask and materials used could meet the requirement, as there were supporting certifications proving its compliance with relevant international standards. As for mass production, it depends on the availability of supply of raw materials. Having wide network in the industry, the HKRITA was able to acquire quality raw materials within a short period and put production lines in place. The Government therefore commissioned the HKRITA to oversee the coordination of production through direct purchase with a view to supplying reusable masks to all Hong Kong residents as soon as possible. The bureau added the HKRITA is a non-profit-making R&D centre fully subsidised by the Government, with most of their R&D projects funded by the Innovation & Technology Fund. The HKRITA oversees the CuMask project on a non-profit-making basis. All expenses will be reimbursed to the HKRITA on the basis of actual spending. People concerned with the effectiveness of the CuMask may browse the website for testing reports and patent information. Full Article
as 4 new COVID-19 cases reported By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 The Centre for Health Protection today announced it is investigating four additional confirmed COVID-19 cases. The newly reported cases involve four males aged between 11 and 47. All of them travelled during the incubation period. Epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. The centre again urged the public to maintain an appropriate social distance from other people as much as possible to minimise the risk of infection. People should go out less and avoid social activities such as having meals out or other gatherings to minimise the risk of outbreak clusters emerging in the community. As the COVID-19 situation remains severe and the number of cases reported around the world continues to rise, people are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as well as maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that there are currently 120 patients under isolation and that 944 patients have been discharged upon recovery. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. Full Article