The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 25) investigating a suspected outbreak of food poisoning affecting 18 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The suspected outbreak of food poisoning affected six males and 12 females aged 6 to 60, who developed abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting about six to 20 hours after consuming food bought from a food premises in Kwun Tong at a premises in San Po Kong on July 23.

     Two of them sought medical attention and one required hospitalisation. All affected persons are in stable condition.

     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

     The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
      
     Members of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) Building Committee today (July 25) inspected the Yuk Wo Court Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) project to learn more about the development.
      
     Yuk Wo Court is located at Au Pui Wan Street, Sha Tin. It is one of the six new HOS developments for sale in 2019, of which the application was closed on June 12, 2019. Balloting is to be held in August 2019.
      
     With a total site area of about 6 440 square metres, Yuk Wo Court comprises one 47-storey non-standard domestic block providing a total of 830 flats, with a saleable area of about 27.3 sq m to 43.0 sq m and a price range of about $1.73 million to $3.36 million.
      
     Members were briefed on the smooth progress of the project. The superstructure of the building has been completed, while around 60 per cent of architectural finishes have been completed. The Estimated Material Date is October 2020.
      
     Members were also briefed on the design challenges due to nearby roads and industrial buildings. The project team had to tackle the issues of view, noise and ventilation. Hence, acoustic fins are provided in some of the flats facing Au Pui Wan Street. The orientation of these flats is also adjusted to not face directly opposite industrial buildings and warehouses for better performance in noise mitigation. After the adjustment, a non-rectangular space, which could be used as a store room, is part of these flats.

     In addition, acoustic windows or acoustic balconies are adopted in some of the flats facing Fo Tan Road and Au Pui Wan Street for better performance in noise mitigation.
      
     Despite the relatively small size of the development, recreational facilities will be provided for the residents. There will be a landscaped garden, a communal sky garden and a children's play area.
      
     Yuk Wo Court is conveniently located within several minutes walking distance from Fo Tan MTR Station. There are also 38 private car parking spaces for residents, three private car parking spaces for visitors, eight motor-cycle parking spaces and 83 bicycle parking spaces within the development.
      
     During the visit, committee members were also briefed on the site safety measures in a highly constrained site.
      
     With its safety performance, the project has won a Merit Award, Building Sites (Public Sector) category in the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2018/2019, and a Joyful@Healthy Workplace Best Practices Award 2019 by the Occupational Safety and Health Council.

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive (designate) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Mr Eddie Yue, at media session today (July 25):

     I am very honoured to be appointed by the Financial Secretary as the next Chief Executive of the HKMA with effect from October. I would like to thank the Financial Secretary for the trust he has placed in me.

     I would also like to thank Norman for his guidance and encouragement over the years.

     To me, the appointment carries a special meaning. I have been with the HKMA since its establishment in 1993. In a sense, I grew up here. Together with my colleagues at the HKMA, we have been through many testing times. These valuable experiences will guide me through the challenges that lie ahead.

     We now face tremendous complexities and uncertain financial markets. To meet these challenges, I know I can count on the highly professional and efficient team at the HKMA, and the robust systems that we have put in place over the years.

     My colleagues and I will continue to uphold our principles of professionalism. We will strive to maintain Hong Kong's monetary and banking stability, and to manage the Exchange Fund prudently. We will work to further enhance the competitiveness of our financial sector and to strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. I will do my best to serve the people of Hong Kong.

     In the next two months or so, I will work closely with Norman to ensure a smooth transition in October.

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

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Norman Chan, at media session today (July 25):

     I welcome the appointment by the Financial Secretary of Mr Eddie Yue to succeed me as the next Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

     Eddie is the most experienced Deputy Chief Executive in the HKMA. Over the years he has made numerous contributions in different areas of HKMA's work. In particular, he helped the HKMA in making timely and effective responses after the eruption of the Global Financial Crisis, which enabled Hong Kong to sail through the Crisis largely unscathed. In recent years, he has made many achievements in areas under his supervision, namely reserves management, research, external affairs and financial market development. Given his competence, profound experience and vision, and extensive network in the financial field, both locally and externally, he is a very suitable person to lead the HKMA in achieving its missions and meeting the challenges in the years ahead.

     During the remainder of my term as the Chief Executive of the HKMA, I will work closely with Eddie to ensure a smooth transition.

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

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs launched a series of new promotional videos earlier this week to remind traders to comply with the fair trade provisions under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). The promotional videos also promote the message of "Be a Fair and Law-abiding Trader" to further safeguard consumer rights.

     With the story backgrounds set in the beauty, fitness and renovation industries, the new promotional videos convey the messages of trading integrity and smart shopping in a vivid style by depicting some common unfair trade practices cases. 

     The Assistant Commissioner (Intelligence and Investigation) of Customs and Excise, Ms Ida Ng, attended a press conference today (July 25) to introduce the promotional plans. Ms Ng said she hopes the newly produced videos can raise traders' awareness of acting as a fair and law-abiding trader in order to create a fair business environment. She also said that the videos remind consumers to shop smartly, stay alert and avoid falling into traps. 

     The new promotional videos will be broadcast through promotional platforms provided by public transport, commercial buildings, private residential buildings, social media and more during designated periods from July 22 to mid-September. They can also be viewed at Customs' webpage (www.customs.gov.hk/en/consumer_protection/trade_desc/unfair/common/index.html) or Customs' YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/channel/UCU-iB7YhTIjvm870F15F8aA).

     Customs reiterates that the TDO prohibits unfair trade practices deployed by traders against consumers, including false trade descriptions of services, misleading omissions, aggressive commercial practices, bait advertising, bait-and-switch and wrongly accepting payment. Since the amendment of the TDO on July 19, 2013, Customs has been effectively combating relevant offences through a number of successful convictions against unfair trade practices in different industries.

     Customs will continue its three-pronged approach, namely stringent enforcement, compliance promotion and public education and publicity, to safeguard consumer rights under the TDO.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).