The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 7) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

                                    
     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS. 

     The Home Affairs Department has opened 19 temporary night heat shelters for people in need of the service.
 
     The shelters will be open until 8am tomorrow.
 
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
 
     The 19 temporary 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 functions 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.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 6) seized about 3 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $2.2 million in Mong Kok during an anti-dangerous drugs operation.

     Customs officers intercepted a man at a shopping plaza in Mong Kok yesterday and seized about 3 kilograms of suspected ketamine inside two carton boxes holding by him.  

     The arrested man, aged 27, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (June 8).

     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 the Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     Police are actively investigating an arson case in Wan Chai in the small hours of today (June 7). Police strongly condemn the unlawful behaviours and reiterate that no violent acts will be tolerated.

     At about 3.34am, officers from a patrolling police vehicle spotted a man holding an ignited glass bottle at the junction of Arsenal Street and Lockhart Road. When the police vehicle slowed down, the man threw the glass bottle towards the police vehicle. The ignited glass bottle landed next to the police vehicle. The man then boarded a black private car and fled.

     Officers of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau deployed at scene seized fragments of the glass bottle to conduct further examination.

     Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island is under way to arrest the offender and bring him to justice.

     Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 2860 7849 or 6658 0146.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 7) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented on Hong Kong Island on Sunday (June 9) to facilitate a public procession from Victoria Park to the Legislative Council Complex.
      
     At about 3pm, a public procession will be held at Victoria Park and depart from Victoria Park, travelling via Causeway Road westbound, Irving Street westbound, Pennington Street northbound, Yee Wo Street westbound, Hennessy Road westbound, Queensway westbound, across Queensway, Rodney Street, Harcourt Road westbound, Harcourt Road eastbound and Tim Mei Avenue northbound to terminate at the Central Government Offices.
 
     The special traffic arrangements will mainly include:

1. From about 1.30pm, the roads in the vicinity of Victoria Park and the Causeway Bay shopping area (such as Sugar Street and Jardine's Bazaar) will be closed in phases;

2. From about 2.45pm, westbound carriageways of Causeway Road, Yee Wo Street and Hennessy Road will be closed; and

3. From about 4pm, both directions of Queensway and Harcourt Road, Rodney Street, Drake Street, Tamar Street, the section of Des Voeux Road Central eastbound between Pedder Street and Queensway and the roads in the vicinity of the Central Government Offices will be closed.
 
     A total of 92 bus routes and 14 green minibus routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted, and one green minibus route will be temporarily suspended. In addition, the tram services between Tong Shui Road and Queensway will be suspended. The public transport operators will display notices to inform passengers of the temporary arrangements.

     Car parks within the affected areas will be suspended during the road closure period. Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the special traffic arrangements specified above will be towed away by the Police without prior notice.
      
     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty and Central will be significantly congested. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas. They should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion, and follow the instructions given by the Police.
      
     Members of the public who plan to go to the affected areas are advised to plan their routes early, allow more travelling time to cater for unexpected delay and use public transport services as far as possible, in particular railway services. Public transport commuters are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions, suspension and relocation of stops.
      
     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to be alert to the latest traffic news through the media.
      
     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are available at the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call 1823.