Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Sham Shui Po this afternoon (June 4) in which an 84-year-old woman died.

     At about 2.50pm, a medium goods vehicle (MGV) driven by a 33-year-old man was travelling along Castle Peak Road westbound. When approaching near the junction of Yen Chow Street and Castle Peak Road, it reportedly knocked down the 84-year-old woman who was crossing the road.

     Sustaining multiple injuries, the woman was certified dead at scene.

     The MGV driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers at 3661 9058 or 3661 9000.

     The Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development held its sixth meeting today (June 4) to continue to exchange views on the findings of the study on "Creating the Greater Bay Area of the Future – Opportunities for Hong Kong" (the Study) as well as on how Hong Kong may play a leading and active role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Members also deliberated on the heightened tension between China and the United States (US) and its impact on Hong Kong.

     Members discussed the recommendations of the Study and focused on key areas of particular relevance to Hong Kong, namely innovation and technology development, youth development, financial services, ecological conservation, talent and facilitation of movement of goods and people across the boundary. Members appreciated the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's proactive role in terms of the Chief Executive making visits to individual Mainland cities in the GBA, seeking support measures from the Leading Group for the Development of the GBA, arranging discussions and study trips for the relevant sectors and conducting joint promotion by the three Governments overseas. 

     "I fully agree with Members on the need for overall co-ordination and concerted efforts within the HKSAR Government. I am personally chairing a Steering Committee for the Development of the GBA, attended by all Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux, which has already met twice. At the working level, a dedicated GBA office will be established within the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau," the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said. 

     As regards the recent trade conflict between China and the US, members were briefed on the latest developments as well as what the HKSAR Government has done to mitigate and minimise the impact. Members noted that the trade dispute between China and the US is unlikely to be resolved in a short period of time and suggested that the Government should closely monitor the situation and provide timely assistance to the relevant sectors, particularly the small and medium enterprises.

     "The escalation of the China-US trade conflict will inevitably affect Hong Kong's economic outlook. The Government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to explore more opportunities for Hong Kong, leveraging on our unique advantages under the 'one country, two systems’. We will continue to actively forge more free trade agreements and investment agreements with our trading partners. In addition, we will actively attract foreign investors to Hong Kong, and grasp the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development, in order to diversify Hong Kong's economy," Mrs Lam said.

     "The Government will closely monitor the China-US trade conflict and various external headwinds and their repercussions on Hong Kong's economy. With our sound fundamentals and strong fiscal position, we stand ready to introduce further support measures to counter any external shocks in order to stabilise the economy and sustain employment as and when necessary. The Government will also continue to invest to further Hong Kong's economic development," the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, added.

     The Council is a high-level body to advise the Chief Executive on Hong Kong's future development and strategies for driving innovation. It gives advice on Hong Kong's strategic positioning in the global and regional contexts and directions of economic development with an aim of enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness and growth potential, provides guidance on evidence-based research and studies on related issues with a view to enhancing policy formulation to meet changing development needs, and advises on stakeholder engagement and public participation in the policy formulation and consensus building process.

     Police today (June 4) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwai Chung.
 
     Choi Yu-kwo, aged 43, went missing after he left a rehabilitation centre at Kwai Shing Circuit and was last seen on Tai Wo Hau Road on May 31 afternoon. Staff of the centre made a report to Police yesterday (June 3).     
 
     He is about 1.75 metres tall, 77 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue shorts and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9689 7445 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 4) investigating an influenza B outbreak at a primary school in Sham Shui Po, and reminded members of the public who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season that they can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza.

     The outbreak involves 28 boys aged 7 to 11 who developed fever, cough and sore throat since May 17. Among them, 27 sought medical attention and two required hospitalisation and have been discharged upon treatment. All are in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of four children tested positive for influenza B upon laboratory testing.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the school to adopt infection control measures against respiratory tract infections. The school has been placed under medical surveillance.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections, it is of prime importance that students with fever, regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms, should not be allowed to attend school. They should seek medical advice and avoid school till 48 hours after the fever has subsided. Schools should also measure and record students' body temperature properly."

     Schools are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks, which should be reported to the CHP for prompt follow-up.

     "The latest surveillance data showed that there has been a recent surge in local seasonal influenza activity. 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," the spokesman 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.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 4) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2019.

     In the first quarter of 2019, total port cargo throughput decreased by 10.1% compared with the first quarter of 2018 to 59.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 8.9% and 12.0% compared with the first quarter of 2018 to 37.0 million tonnes and 22.1 million tonnes respectively.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 0.9% in the first quarter of 2019. Within this total, inward port cargo increased by 0.2% compared with the preceding quarter, while outward port cargo decreased by 2.9% compared with the preceding quarter. The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorter-term comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends.

Port cargo

     Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 8.1% and 13.4% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the first quarter of 2018 to 37.4 million tonnes and 21.7 million tonnes respectively.

     Within inward port cargo, both imports and inward transhipment decreased by 8.9% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the first quarter of 2018 to 21.8 million tonnes and 15.2 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment decreased by 19.5% and 7.9% compared with the first quarter of 2018 to 7.1 million tonnes and 15.0 million tonnes respectively.

     The detailed port cargo statistics are summarised in Table 1.

     The main countries/territories of loading of inward port cargo and countries/territories of discharge of outward port cargo are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.

     Comparing the first quarter of 2019 with the first quarter of 2018, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-34.7%), Japan (-26.6%), the United States of America (-17.0%), Taiwan (-15.0%) and Korea (-11.7%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the Philippines (+14.4%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-29.8%), Singapore (-23.8%), Vietnam (-15.1%), Thailand (-14.4%), the mainland of China (-14.0%) and Japan (-13.6%).

     The principal commodities of inward port cargo and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.

     Comparing the first quarter of 2019 with the first quarter of 2018, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "coal, coke and briquettes" (-37.6%) and "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-10.4%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (-27.8%), "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (-27.3%), "pulp and waste paper" (-23.9%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (-12.6%) and "machinery" (-11.7%).

Containers

     In the first quarter of 2019, the port of Hong Kong handled 4.42 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 9.5% compared with the first quarter of 2018. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 9.1% and 11.4% to 3.76 million TEUs and 0.66 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 8.4% and 10.0% to 1.95 million TEUs and 1.82 million TEUs respectively.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 2.0% in the first quarter of 2019. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 0.6% and 3.5% respectively.

     In the first quarter of 2019, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 9.1% and 9.2% compared with the first quarter of 2018 to 2.65 million TEUs and 1.11 million TEUs respectively.

     Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 7.4% and 8.8% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the first quarter of 2018 to 0.59 million TEUs and 1.36 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 14.6% and 8.2% to 0.47 million TEUs and 1.34 million TEUs respectively.

     The detailed container statistics are summarised in Table 6.

     Port cargo and laden container statistics are compiled from a sample of consignments listed in the cargo manifests supplied by shipping companies and agents to the C&SD.

Vessel arrivals

     Comparing the first quarter of 2019 with the first quarter of 2018, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3.6% to 6 037, with the total capacity also decreasing by 3.3% to 95.8 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 9.3% to 34 417, with the total capacity also decreasing by 3.9% to 27.4 million net tons.

     The statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong are given in Table 7.

     Vessel statistics are compiled by the Marine Department primarily from general declarations submitted by ship masters and authorised shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.

Further information

     More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, First Quarter 2019". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp130.jsp?productCode=B1020008).

     For enquiries about port cargo and container statistics, please contact the Outward Processing and Shipping Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 or email: shipping@censtatd.gov.hk). For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section under the Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel: 2852 3661 or email: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).