The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, met with the President of the France-China Friendship Group of the National Assembly of France, Mr Buon Huong Tan, Vice Presidents of the National Assembly Ms Carole Bureau-Bonnard and Mr Hugues Renson, and three members of the National Assembly at Government House this afternoon (March 13). The Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Alexandre Giorgini, also attended the meeting.

     Mrs Lam said she was pleased to meet again with Mr Tan and members of the National Assembly. She welcomed their visit after making the invitation during her trip to France last June, so that they could learn about Hong Kong's latest developments. Mrs Lam said her visit to France last year was a great success. Aside from meeting the France-China Friendship Group of the National Assembly of France, she also called on the French Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and people from different sectors to highlight Hong Kong's advantages and development opportunities, thus laying the foundation for further collaboration between Hong Kong and France. She said she believed that the visits and exchanges made in Hong Kong by members of the National Assembly in the coming few days would help strengthen the links between the two places and offer co-operation in further areas.

     Noting that one of the major events in her trip to France last year was to attend the joint promotion seminar on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area co-organised by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, Mrs Lam said she was pleased to learn that people from the French political and business sectors had a strong interest in this key national development strategy. Pointing out that the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was promulgated last month, she said Hong Kong will play a vital role, especially in leveraging its advantages to establish an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub in the Greater Bay Area. Adding that France has some of the world's top universities and a solid foundation in scientific research, she expressed the hope that Hong Kong would continue to strengthen co-operation with France in I&T to jointly seize the huge opportunities presented by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In addition, she said that Hong Kong is striving to strengthen its role as a cultural hub and she looks forward to enhancing co-operation in culture and arts with France.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 13) investigating a case of invasive meningococcal infection, a communicable disease transmitted by direct contact with droplets from carriers or infected persons.

     The case involves a 29-year-old man with good past health, who had presented with fever, vomiting, headache and neck pain since March 9. He was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre on March 11 and was subsequently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for further management on the same day. His clinical diagnosis was septic shock. The patient is now in a stable condition.

     His blood specimen tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had travelled to Shenzhen during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. The CHP's investigation is continuing.

     "Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, from infected persons. The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, and is commonly three or four days," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The clinical picture may vary. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis).

     Meningococcaemia is characterised by sudden onset of fever, intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache and stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or a rash. It can cause brain damage or even death. The brain damage may lead to intellectual impairment, mental retardation, hearing loss and electrolyte imbalance. Invasive meningococcal infections can be complicated by arthritis, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the posterior chamber of the eye or chest infection.

     Meningococcal infection is a serious illness. Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics.

     To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures:
 

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with a tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharges in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately;
• Avoid crowded places;
• Avoid close contact with patients who have fever or severe headache;
• Travellers to high-risk areas may consult doctors for meningococcal vaccination; and
• Travellers returning from high-risk areas should seek medical advice if they become ill and should discuss their recent travel history with their doctor.

     
     The public may visit the CHP's website for more information on meningococcal infection. 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 13) investigating a case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection, and again urged the public and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.

     The case involves a 1-month-old baby boy with good past health, who has presented with fever since March 8. He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
on March 8 and was admitted for further management on the following day. The patient has all along been in a stable condition.

     His cerebrospinal fluid specimen tested positive for EV upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was meningitis.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no recent travel history. His mother had developed sore throat since March 7. She sought medical attention and had recovered. Other home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. Investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, the public should be vigilant and observe the following preventive measures:
 

• Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet and changing diapers;
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Maintain good ventilation; and
• Thoroughly clean toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

     Children suffering from EV infection should stay at home and avoid contact with other children until they have recovered.

     The public may visit the CHP's page on hand, foot and mouth disease and EV71 infection for more information.

     Express Service Company Limited and its two directors were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and annual leave pay to an employee and defaulting on the sum awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The company and its directors earlier pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts and were sentenced today (March 13). The company was fined a total of $26,500, while its directors were each sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, suspended for two years. The company and its director were also ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about $160,000.

     The company failed to pay one employee his wages and annual leave pay as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company also failed to pay the employee the awarded sum of about $160,000 within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award. The two directors were convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.  

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages and termination payments to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO and the awarded sums according to the LT or Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," a spokesman for the LD said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (March 13) visited North District. She visited North District Hospital (NDH) and Luen Wo Hui Market to get a better understanding of healthcare and municipal services in the district and met with members of the North District Council (NDC).
 
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the NDC, Mr So Sai-chi, and the District Officer (North), Mr Chong Wing-wun, Professor Chan visited NDH to learn about the development plan of the hospital and take the opportunity to exchange views with front-line healthcare professionals.
 
     The expansion of NDH is one of the projects in the first 10-year Hospital Development Plan. The scope of the works comprises the construction of a new hospital building and renovation and redevelopment of the existing building, which is expected to provide around 1 500 additional in-patient and day beds as well as extra space, with a view to meeting the operational needs and service development.
 
     "We hope the project can improve the situation of insufficient space of hospital buildings and outdated designs as well as strengthen the services of the Accident and Emergency Department, rehabilitation and the infirmary to cope with the long-term healthcare needs of residents in New Territories East," she said.
 
     In addition, Professor Chan visited Luen Wo Hui Market and was briefed by staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on the improvement works of the market including improving the ventilation system and overhauling the restrooms and the false ceiling of the Cooked Food Centre. 
      
     "The Government has been enhancing the environment of public markets with appropriate measures. Apart from carrying out routine maintenance, the FEHD has gradually commenced improvement works for a number of existing public markets, aiming at enhancing the facilities and providing a pleasant shopping experience for the public."
 
     Professor Chan also met with NDC members to exchange views on medical and environmental hygiene issues in the district.