Opening remarks by USTL at Hong Kong International Aviation Academy Graduation Ceremony 2024
Following are the opening remarks by the Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, at the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy Graduation Ceremony 2024 today (November 29):
Simon (President of the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, Mr Simon Li), Nicolas (Vice President of the National School of Civil Aviation of France, Mr Nicolas Cazalis), Christile (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mrs Christile Drulhe), Vivian (Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mrs Vivian Cheung), distinguished guests, fellow graduates and family members, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is with great honour and pleasure that I stand before you today at this prestigious graduation ceremony organised by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy.
Today, we gather to celebrate a significant milestone of our graduates, a testament to your hard work and dedication to the aviation industry. I am particularly delighted to witness this occasion, as it not only marks the culmination of your learning journey but also heralds the beginning of a promising future for each of you in the aviation industry. Your achievements are a source of pride for your families, your instructors, and indeed, for all of us who are committed to contribute to the advancement of the aviation industry in Hong Kong.
I believe that this is an exciting time for you to join the aviation industry, especially with the commissioning of the Three-Runway System (3RS) of Hong Kong International Airport yesterday. The 3RS is not just an infrastructure project; it is a visionary step which aims to enhance our airport's competitiveness by significantly increasing the annual handling capacities of our airport to 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo by 2035.
The 3RS will create a wealth of career opportunities across various sectors of aviation, from air traffic management and airport operations to engineering, customer services and beyond. As graduates of the Academy, you are uniquely positioned to seize these opportunities. Your rigorous training and education have equipped you with the skills, knowledge, and resilience needed to thrive in this dynamic and rapidly evolving industry. These attributes are essential as we navigate the complexities of the aviation sector and strive for continuous improvement.
This is the first time we have our graduates from different levels of programmes in one ceremony, which perfectly demonstrates the Academy's efforts in providing various programmes to meet the career needs of aviation professionals, industry newcomers and young people. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Academy for its commitment to nurturing talents for the aviation industry of Hong Kong and the region since its establishment in 2016; and also the National School of Civil Aviation of France (ENAC) for your collaboration and support to the Advance Master programme over the years which helps nurture aviation management talents coming from not only Hong Kong but also Mainland China and various Belt and Road countries. I believe that the Academy, and its strong alliance formed with ENAC, will continue to provide staunch support to Hong Kong's development as a prominent international aviation hub.
In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you and your family members on this remarkable achievement. Your dedication and commitment have paid off, and today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your lives. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and look forward to seeing the incredible impact you will make in the Hong Kong aviation industry and beyond.
Thank you.
Opening remarks by USTL at Hong Kong International Aviation Academy Graduation Ceremony 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CHP investigates case of Legionnaires' disease in United Christian Hospital
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 29) investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) in United Christian Hospital (UCH).
The male patient, aged 75 with underlying illnesses, was first admitted to the UCH on October 5. After being transferred to Haven of Hope Hospital on October 9, he was re-admitted to UCH on November 12. He developed desaturation and pneumonia on November 23. His condition deteriorated and he eventually succumbed on November 25.
His sputum specimen tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 DNA upon laboratory testing. As the patient had been admitted to UCH throughout the incubation period, it was initially suspected to be a nosocomial infection.
"Epidemiological investigations with the UCH are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any. Relevant water samples and environmental swabs have been collected from potential sources for laboratory testing," a spokesman for the CHP said.
The CHP and the UCH are working together in tracing contacts including staff and in-patients in the relevant ward, and those identified will be put under medical surveillance. The CHP has provided health advice against LD to staff and in-patients, including those with weakened immunity who should use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing. The CHP has immediately requested suspension of affected outlets in the ward until installation of effective water filters against legionella at the concerned outlets. The water supply system of the subject ward will be disinfected urgently. The investigation is ongoing.
Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus which support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
Immunocompromised persons should:
Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.
The public should observe the health advice below:
Observe personal hygiene;
Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:
Wear gloves and a face mask;
Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.
The public may visit the CHP'sLD page, theCode of Practice for Prevention of LDand theHousekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Managementof the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP'srisk-based strategyfor prevention and control of LD.
