Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ7: Health control measures at immigration control points

Following is a question by the Hon Michael Mak and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (December 17):

Question:

To prevent the cross-boundary spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, health control measures have been implemented at various immigration control points. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the health control facilities currently installed in various control points;

(b) whether it has conducted surprise checks to ensure strict enforcement of the health control measures by frontline staff at various control points;

(c) of the respective numbers of travellers who refused to complete and return health declaration forms and those who refused to undergo health checks since March this year; how these cases were handled; and

(d) of the number of complaints received from travellers regarding the health control measures?

Reply:

Health screening measures are implemented at all border Control Points (BCPs) for all incoming passengers. These measures also apply to all travellers leaving Hong Kong via the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), seaports, or the Hung Hom Station (HHS). The health screening measures include health declaration and body temperature screening. If a traveler declares sick or shows signs of fever, he or she would be further assessed and, when necessary, referred to public hospitals for further medical examination.

(a) Medical posts have been established in all BCPs, where temperature screening devices are installed. Over 300 Overhead Infrared Temperature Scanners have been installed in various land and sea BCPs; and 13 sets of Infrared Fever Screening System have been installed at the HKIA and HHS.

(b) Department of Health (DH) staff at BCPs stand ready to assist travellers and, when necessary, to remind them to comply with the health screening measures. A mechanism has been put in place to ensure the quality of the health screening measures. Supervisors are on site at all BCPs to monitor the operation of the health check measures and conduct surprise checks to ensure the health screening procedures are being properly carried out by frontline staff. The Health Declaration Forms collected are regularly sampled and checked by DH staff to ensure the procedure protocols set out by DH have been properly followed for cases where travellers declare sick. Experience so far indicates that the staff have been adhering to these protocols.

(c) Travellers are generally cooperative in complying with the health screening measures. There were only a few passengers who were reluctant to cooperate initially. However, after explanation and persuasion by DH staff, they eventually complied with the health screening measures.

(d) Since March 2003, over 66 million travellers had undergone health screening at BCPs. So far, DH had received 19 complaints related to health screening measures, procedures and communication with staff.

Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2003
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