Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ12: Healthcare support services provided by Government in response to lead in drinking water incident

Following is a question by the Dr Hon Helena Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (January 20):

Question:

The Government indicated in December last year that it would provide medical support for persons affected by the incidents of excessive lead content in drinking water and found to have borderline raised blood lead levels. For instance, the Department of Health (DH) would conduct lead exposure assessments for all of those persons who had been tested to have borderline raised blood lead levels, and would perform preliminary developmental assessments for children aged under 12 among such persons (preliminary developmental assessments). DH would then take follow-up actions according to the assessment results. In addition, the Hospital Authority would arrange health evaluations for children aged 12 or above, adults, pregnant women and lactating women with borderline raised blood lead levels (health evaluations), and would take follow-up actions according to the evaluation results. Nonetheless, some persons affected by the incidents have relayed to me that the Government has yet to give a detailed account of such medical support. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the details of the aforesaid preliminary developmental assessments, including the assessment tools used; the results of the assessments conducted, including the respective numbers of children assessed as having no developmental problems at the present stage and those showing symptoms of developmental delay; the details of the medical support provided by DH for those children who have shown symptoms of developmental delay; and

(2) of the details of the aforesaid health evaluations; the details of the results of the evaluations conducted as well as the follow-up work undertaken?

Reply:

As institutions accountable for public health, the Food and Health Bureau, the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) fully understand the public's concerns regarding the effects of excessive lead in drinking water on human's blood lead level. In this regard, upon the release of the latest blood test results, we strive to disseminate the information to the public through press conferences or press releases on the same day. At the same time, the DH also informs the citizens whose blood lead levels are below the reference value to make them relieved. Whenever we announce the blood test results, we also, without disclosing any personal data, provide the range of blood lead levels (including the highest and lowest readings) of those citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels; statistics by groups of the concerned citizens belonged to; as well as the information of concerned public rental housing estates or schools.

According to established measures under the care plan, the DH will perform lead exposure assessment for all citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels, and will arrange preliminary developmental assessment if they are children aged under 12. The HA will arrange health evaluation and follow-up for citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels who are children aged 12 or above, adults, pregnant women or lactating women, and arrange ongoing blood lead level monitoring for those persons with borderline raised blood lead levels.

(1) Based on the blood test results, the DH will arrange preliminary developmental assessment for children with borderline raised blood lead levels at the Child Assessment Service (CAS) or the Student Health Service (SHS). For early identification of developmental problems, the assessment team will first obtain information from parents on their children's development, behaviour and learning, and assess the motor skills, cognitive function, language and communication ability, self-care and behavioural aspects etc. of the children through taking medical history, reviewing school reports, conducting clinical observation and using developmental assessment tools.

Child development is a continuous process which may change as the child grows. Therefore, child development requires continuous monitoring. With respect to the current incident, we offer preliminary developmental assessment for the affected children, and will arrange follow-up depending on the situations of individual children. Children identified with developmental problems will be referred to appropriate rehabilitation services, such as training, special education support, and medical follow-up. Children with no development problem detected will receive continuous monitoring through developmental surveillance at the Maternal and Child Health Centres or the SHS.

As of January 8, 2016, the DH arranged preliminary developmental assessment for 126 children with borderline raised blood lead levels. Among them, 83 children had no developmental problem detected at this stage, and 33 children required reassessment. Another 10 children were found to have symptoms of developmental delay and they have been referred to appropriate rehabilitation services for follow up.

(2) The HA conducts health evaluation for relevant individuals with blood lead level slightly exceeding the reference values. The content of the health evaluation includes:

(a) explanation of the blood lead level results, and provision of health education and counselling on the effect of lead on human bodies;

(b) review of the lead exposure assessment and clarification of any other suspected sources of lead exposure;

(c) provision of information sheet on blood lead level assessment and on the effects of lead on lactation;

(d) blood pressure measurement; and

(e) arranging blood lead level review tests for individuals concerned in about three months' time. As for pregnant women, antenatal consultation will be arranged within two weeks and blood lead level review test within one month.

The results of the health evaluation indicate that none of the citizens with borderline raised blood lead levels have imminent health risks. The HA will, having regard to the result of the blood lead level review tests, continue to follow up as appropriate.

Ends/Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:12

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