Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 16) seized about 1.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.7 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kharkiv, Ukraine yesterday. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside the false compartment of her hand-carry suitcase. The woman was then arrested.

     The arrested woman, aged 35, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 18).

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

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

  

     Hong Kong Customs today (July 17) arrested a female director and a saleslady of a beauty parlour suspected of having applied a false trade description to beauty service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a saleslady of a beauty parlour had falsely claimed it would arrange an interest-free instalment for a customer in settling the payment for the beauty service procured. The consumer later discovered that the company did not arrange the instalment payment. She had to make an arrangement with the bank on her own and needed to pay the additional handling fee and interest.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested two women aged 36 and 39.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested women have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     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).

     The Information Services Department (ISD) is taking part in this year's Hong Kong Book Fair from today (July 17) to July 23 under the theme "The Joy of Reading Comes Naturally".
 
     More than 70 government titles are on sale at the fair, with most of them being sold at discounts of 25 per cent or below. A number of specially priced books are also on sale including the "Hong Kong Culture Snapshot" series (Chinese version only) and "The Temple Gardens of Hong Kong", with discounts ranging from 60 to 85 per cent.
 
     A book entitled "Climate Change and Biodiversity in Hong Kong" jointly published by the Hong Kong Observatory and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department earlier this year is also on sale at the fair. Presenting the concept of climate change and its impacts on biodiversity through beautiful photos and simple messages, the publication aims to raise public awareness on climate change issues and promote concrete actions to mitigate climate change and to conserve biodiversity.
 
     Customers buying publications at the ISD booth may pay in cash or with Octopus, and will receive a souvenir in return.
 
     To help save the environment, plastic bags will not be handed out at the booth. Purchasers are asked to bring their own carry bag.
 
     The ISD booth is located at Stall D38 in Hall 1A of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

          

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 17) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza B infection, and reminded members of the public who have not yet received a seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season that they can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza.
 
     The case involves an 8-year-old boy with underlying illnesses, who has presented with fever and convulsion since July 14. He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department at Caritas Medical Centre for medical attention on July 15 and was admitted on the same day. He was subsequently transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further management yesterday (July 16).
 
     His respiratory specimen tested positive for influenza B virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza B infection complicated with encephalopathy. He is now in serious condition.
 
     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had not received seasonal influenza vaccination for the current season and had no travel history during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far.
 
     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
 
     "The latest surveillance data showed that the local seasonal influenza activity in the past few weeks was higher than that in early May. Members of the public aged 6 months or above (except those with known contraindications) who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "Meanwhile, the public should continue to adopt strict personal, hand and environmental hygiene practices against respiratory illnesses and other infectious diseases," the spokesman added.
 
     The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express for more information.

A woman who went missing in Kwai Chung was located.

Pang Chui-ying, aged 31, went missing after she left a rehabilitation centre on Wo Yi Hop Road on July 14 afternoon. Staff of the centre made a report to Police in the small hours of July 15.

The woman returned to her rehabilitation centre on July 15 evening. She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.