HA apologizes over baby scalding

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow blamed human error for the scalding of a 3-month-old baby boy while he was bathed by a nurse at Princess Margaret Hospital Friday.

Hospital Authority Chief Executive Shane Solomon apologized for the mishap. He said a panel was set up Monday to investigate the incident and the probe would take about six weeks. He said the committee will study ways to prevent similar accidents from happening in future, such as using thermometers to measure bath water temperatures.

The nurse, who was placed on leave after the incident, will resume work tomorrow but in a different ward, Solomon said.

No smoking for open-air transport

Under Secretary for Food and Health Gabriel Leung said at a Legislative Council meeting Monday that open-air public transport facilities may be designated non-smoking areas commencing December 1, depending on results of public consultation.

The government will begin consultation at district councils from next month, he added.

Public transport facilities with superstructures, such as covered bus terminuses, were designated no-smoking area from September 1 last year.

Learner-diversity needs unmet

A survey among kindergarten teachers indicated dissatisfaction with the level of learner diversity education in Hong Kong.

Of the 500 kindergarten teachers polled by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the average grade given by the teachers on Hong Kong's learner diversity education measures is 2.6 on a scale of one to five.

The DAB estimated that some 5 percent of the pre-primary children have special learning needs, including gifted children and those with dyslexia.

One in three teachers said in the survey answers that they don't know or are unsure about how to identify children with special needs.

More aid set for drought victims

Additional grants totaling HK$11.4 million from the Disaster Relief Fund have been approved for three organizations to undertake relief projects for drought victims in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan.

The Salvation Army will get a grant of HK$6.74 million, the Amity Foundation, HK$3.42 million and the Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry HK$1.24 million.

The grants are a further disbursement to the HK$124.2 million approved earlier for government authorities of Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan, the Amity Foundation and World Vision, bringing the total amount of grants to HK$135.6 million.

Bands, choirs recruit youths

The Music Office is recruiting new youth members for its 16 bands and orchestras and two choirs. The goal is to enhance the music proficiency of young people through systematic music training.

Besides weekly rehearsals, members may also participate in cultural activities and concerts, and broaden their horizons by collaborating with mainland and overseas musicians.

Musicians aged 25 or under, who have attained the required musical standard, may apply. The application deadline is April 30.

China Daily

(HK Edition 04/13/2010 page1)