The second Annual Meeting of the Tourism Federation of Cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was held in Hong Kong today (June 12). Around 40 representatives from the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, the Macao Government Tourism Office and the tourism departments of the nine Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing, attended the meeting to exchange views on tourism development within the region.
 
     The Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Joe Wong, is the rotating Chairman of the Federation's second Annual Meeting. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Wong said, "With the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area announced in February 2019, I hope Hong Kong can leverage the opportunities brought about by the development of the Greater Bay Area to deepen co-operation with other cities in the region for mutual benefits."
 
     He added, "The Outline Development Plan expressly supports Hong Kong in developing into an international tourism hub, a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism, as well as a diverse tourism platform. Leveraging on Hong Kong's rich tourism resources and well-established transport infrastructure, we can take up the role as the international tourism hub in the Greater Bay Area, attracting more overseas tourists to visit Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area via Hong Kong, thereby promoting the overall tourism development in the region."
 
     Mr Wong said that the meeting was fruitful with representatives from different places reaching a consensus to continue strengthening co-operation amongst each other. Collaboration measures include pursuing more facilitating measures for tourists travelling within the Greater Bay Area, strengthening co-operation in market regulation and publicity and promotion, and supporting the trade in developing more multi-destination products.
 
     The Federation was jointly established by the tourism departments of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions as well as the nine Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area in December 2017, with a view to promoting tourism co-operation and development within the region. The Federation's advisory unit and secretariat are the national Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province respectively.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 12) investigating a case of measles infection.

     The case involves a 25-year-old woman with good past health, who has developed fever since June 7 and rash since June 10. She sought medical advice from general practitioners on June 10 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department at United Christian Hospital (UCH) on the same day. She was admitted to UCH today.

     A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She is in a stable condition and reported to have received measles vaccination. She had no travel history during the incubation period and the communicable period.

     According to the patient, she did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. Her home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.
 
     Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patient visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.

     A spokesman for the DH said, "Those who might have had contact with the patient during the period of communicability are urged to observe if they have developed measles-related symptoms, and to seek medical treatment immediately if such symptoms appear. If they need to visit any health care facilities during the period of medical surveillance, they should also report whether they have symptoms and prior measles exposure history to the healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities concerned to prevent any potential spread."

     The spokesman explained that measles is a highly infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It can be transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons, and, less commonly, by articles soiled with nose and throat secretions. A patient can pass the disease to other persons from four days before to four days after the appearance of skin rash.

     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," the spokesman advised. 

     "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Members of the public who are planning to travel to places with high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received measles vaccination during childhood. The history of measles vaccination in Hong Kong is available in the CHP's measles thematic page. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles are urged to consult their doctor for advice on vaccination at least two weeks before departure," the spokesman said.
  
     Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
 

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of rash to prevent spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

     For more information on measles, the public may call the 24-hour health education hotline 2833 0111 or visit the CHP's measles thematic page. For outbreak news of measles outside Hong Kong or the latest travel health advice, please visit the website of DH's Travel Health Service.

At about 8am today (June 12), a large number of protestors gathering around Legislative Council Complex suddenly dashed to Lung Wo Road and Harcourt Road, obstructing traffic and occupying the roads. They even surrounded and damaged cars and police vehicles, causing danger to people on board.

Protestors set up multiple layers of barriers on the road, lifted up bricks on the pavement and demolished railings to form road barriers. Protestors blocked and occupied roads around Admiralty including Lung Wo Road, Tim Mei Avenue, Harcourt Road and Gloucester Road, causing severe traffic congestion. They also used violent measures to storm the Legislative Council Complex.

Protestors repeatedly charged the police cordon line, performing life threatening acts including setting fire, using sharpened iron poles and bricks to attack police officers at scene. Police had to escalate the use of force after repeated warnings were ignored.

Police strongly condemned these violent acts. Police urge the public not to enter the vicinity of Admiralty. Protestors gathering in Admiralty and Central at present should stop charging Police cordon line immediately and leave as soon as possible.

Police reiterate that any acts endangering public order and public safety will not be tolerated. Police will take resolute actions to restore social order and protect public safety.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     Under Rule 14 (3) of the Rules of Procedure, the President of the Legislative Council has decided that the Council meeting of June 12 will not be held today.  Announcement will be made once the President determines the time of the meeting.

     A Government spokesman said today (June 12) that a riot broke out in the Admiralty area, with protesters causing serious obstruction to major trunk roads and great inconvenience.

     The spokesman said a number of protesters had used very dangerous weapons and a high level of violence. They have repeatedly charged at police officers, leading to an increasingly chaotic situation. The Government calls on the persons at the location to leave immediately for their own safety. Other members of the public should not go to the Admiralty area. The spokesperson also urged protesters who were blocking the carriageways to release certain traffic lanes immediately to allow the passage of emergency vehicles and let traffic resume as soon as possible.

     The spokesman added that Hong Kong people enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. However, protesters assembling at the scene must comply with the laws of Hong Kong and maintain social order, remain calm and exercise restraint, leave the scene peacefully. The Police will take appropriate actions if there are any illegal acts.