Author Archives: hksar gov

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 10) seized about 20 000 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid water pipe tobacco with an estimated market value of about $11 million and a duty potential of about $45 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a container arriving in Hong Kong from Bulgaria declared to be carrying daily necessities. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected duty-not-paid water pipe tobacco in the container.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid tobacco commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

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

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (April 11) that, as at 4pm today, no additional case of measles infection has been recorded.    
 
     Regarding measles control measures implemented at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), a total of 41 persons received measles vaccination at the airport vaccination station as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8,068. As for blood test services, 90 blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results. A hotline (2125 1122) has been set up for public enquiries and operates from 9am to 5.45pm daily. As of 5pm today, the hotline had received a total of 3,095 enquiries.

     The vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 500 doses daily. Vaccination for eligible airport staff will be provided to the following target groups:

(1) Born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before, and with evidence of living with infants under 1 year old or living with pregnant women; or

(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).

     Details of evidence are as follows:

(a) Supporting documents for living with infants under 1 year old: for example birth certificate, discharge summary or vaccination card of the infant

(b) Supporting documents for living with pregnant women: for example, positive pregnancy tests or antenatal follow-up cards of the pregnant women

(c) Supporting documents for laboratory evidence: for example blood results from the DH’s measles serology test or any laboratory within the past 12 months

     The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station tomorrow are as follows:
 

Venue:	Multi-function Room, HKIA Tower (Level 5, Terminal 2)
Hours:	10am to 1pm 2pm to 6pm

     As for the blood test service, the DH will continue with the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff to identify those who need the measles vaccination. Blood test service will be provided daily to around 100 airport staff who were born in or after 1967, with priority to be given to staff belonging to target group (1).

     The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station tomorrow are as follows: 
 

Venue:	South side before the Immigration Hall at Level 3 of Terminal 2 (non-restricted area)
Hours:	10am to 1pm 2pm to 6pm

 
      “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,” a spokesman for the DH advised. read more

     A project manager, a site agent, a worker and a site safety officer were fined $5,000, $5,000, $5,000 and $8,000 respectively at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court today (April 11) for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (FIUO). The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department (LD).
      
     The prosecutions are taken out arising from the investigation of a fatal accident that happened on October 20, 2017, on a construction site in Tung Chung. In the course of investigation, the site project manager, the site agent and the worker failed to comply with the requirements made by Occupational Safety Officers (OSOs) of the LD for them to be examined and to sign a declaration of truth in relation to the accident investigation. Meanwhile, the site safety officer obstructed and delayed OSOs in the exercise of the powers conferred upon them by the FIUO.

     The LD’s spokesman said, “We will not tolerate any offence of failing to comply with a requirement made by an OSO under the FIUO, or obstructing or delaying an OSO in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by the FIUO, and will spare no efforts in prosecuting persons who defy the law.”
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 11) investigating an influenza B outbreak at a kindergarten in Sha Tin, and again reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.

     The outbreak involves 12 boys and nine girls aged 3 to 5 who have developed fever, cough and sore throat since April 1. Nineteen of them sought medical attention. Among them, two required hospitalisation and have been discharged upon treatment. All patients are in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of two students tested positive for influenza B upon laboratory testing.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the school to adopt necessary 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.

      “Although the winter influenza season has ended, 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. read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session before attending the special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee today (April 11):   Reporter: Will… read more