The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (July 16) reported that the suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) pending results on July 15 has tested negative upon preliminary testing for MERS Coronavirus.

     Hong Kong Customs today (July 16) alerted members of the public to the potential hazards posed by a type of magnetic robot toy. They are advised not to let children play with this toy to ensure their safety. Test results indicate that the magnetic component parts of the toy could pose a potential risk of intestinal blockage to children.

     Customs officers earlier conducted a test-buy operation and purchased the toy from a souvenir shop for safety testing by the Government Laboratory. Results revealed that the magnetic strength of the toy's small magnetic component parts as well as small releasable magnets exceeded the upper limit as specified in related toy safety standards and would pose a potential risk of intestinal blockage if swallowed by children.

     Customs officers today seized a total of 200 pieces of the magnetic robot toy from the souvenir shop's retail spots and warehouse. Investigation is ongoing. 

     Under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to manufacture, import or supply unsafe toys or children's products. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.

     â€‹Members of the public may report information relating to unsafe toys or children's products suspected to be unsafe via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart for Beijing on the evening of July 18 to attend the signing ceremony of the Fifth Protocol to the Arrangement between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income. The ceremony will be held the next day.

     Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon of July 20. During his absence, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, will act as Financial Secretary. 
     

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs mounted an operation codenamed "Sunny" in early July to combat smuggling of illicit heat-not-burn (HNB) products into Hong Kong, seizing about 1 million suspected illicit HNB products with an estimated market value of about $3 million and a duty potential of about $2 million. The seizures took place at Chek Lap Kok, Tung Chung, Sheung Shui and Sham Shui Po respectively.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted a number of incoming passengers arriving from Japan at Hong Kong International Airport in early July and seized about 200 000 suspected illicit HNB products from their personal baggage. Six male passengers and five female passengers were arrested.

     Customs officers also stepped up patrols downtown. Nine men and five women were arrested in Chek Lap Kok, Tung Chung, Sheung Shui and Sham Shui Po and about 800 000 suspected illicit HNB products were seized.

     Through the entire operation so far, Customs has arrested 15 men and 10 women, aged between 20 and 62, while detaining one private car suspected to be connected with the case. Customs believes that an HNB products smuggling syndicate was smashed.

     The investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any HNB products containing tobacco in content is also dutiable goods subject to the control of the DCO. Any person who imports, possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may call the Customs' hotline at 2815 7711 to enquire whether a specific tobacco or smoking product is under the regulation of the DCO. They may also report any suspected violation of the DCO to Customs' 24-hour hotline at 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 16) for people in need of the service.
 
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
 
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
 
     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate
Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their function as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 20 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.