Press Releases

SFH on MERS and licence application for holding events

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme today (July 3):

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

Secretary for Food and Health: We continue to be very concerned about the development of the outbreak of MERS in Korea. Earlier, no new confirmed cases have been reported for four consecutive days. However, new cases were found in the past two days again, with one case reported yesterday and today respectively. Therefore, there may be a need for us to reset the observation and surveillance (period). We may have to wait until there is no report of new cases, and then start to monitor for a period of two cycles of incubation period, i.e. 28 days.

Reporter: (On application for a licence to hold events involving the use of coloured powder.)

Secretary for Food and Health: The application is still being considered by several departments, basing on their technical and professional expertise. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will consider issuing a licence until all the relevant departments have given their professional advice and the safety of this particular event is testified.

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

Ends/Friday, July 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:59

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