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Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 12) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The delegation of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB) led by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, today (March 11, Copenhagen time) and began their visit to Nordic countries.
 
     In the morning, Mr Chan and the delegation called on the Danish Maritime Authority to learn about the latest developments and the way forward of the maritime industry in Denmark, and explore collaboration opportunities for the two places.
 
     At around noon, the delegation had lunch with representatives from the Global Maritime Forum, a Copenhagen-based international not-for-profit foundation dedicated to promoting the global development of the maritime industry. Mr Chan thanked the Forum for hosting its inaugural annual summit in Hong Kong last year and expressed the hope that both sides would continue to work closely in the future.
 
     In the afternoon, Mr Chan and the delegation met with representatives from Danish Ship Finance and the Danish Maritime Fund to learn about the development of the ship finance industry in Denmark and the Nordic region, and to promote Hong Kong's ship leasing business and other high value-added maritime services.
 
     Mr Chan and the delegation then held a roundtable meeting with the Baltic and International Maritime Council, Danish Shipping and the Danish Shipbrokers Association to discuss global maritime issues of mutual interest and to promote Hong Kong's strengths as an international maritime centre.

        

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) supported the participation of Hong Kong films in nine film festivals in Europe in 2018/19, most recently at the CinemAsia Film Festival 2019 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, held from March 5 to 10.  

     Speaking at the closing ceremony of the CinemAsia Film Festival on March 10 (Amsterdam time), the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau, said the vibrant atmosphere of Hong Kong, with its Eastern heritage and Western influences, creates an environment that encourages creativity and diversity.  

     Hong Kong films have gained increasing recognition from the international film industry over the years, with young talents on the rise. First-time film director Jun Li's film "Tracey", which was screened at the CinemAsia Film Festival 2019, has been nominated in nine categories, including the Best New Director category, in the upcoming 38th Hong Kong Film Awards.   

     Miss Chau remarked that Jessey Tsang's film "The Lady Improper", which would be screened that evening in its European premiere, contained a fine performance by Charlene Choi, who has been nominated for the Hong Kong Film Awards in the Best Actress category.  

     "I am delighted that filmmakers behind three Hong Kong films screened in the Festival, Mary Stephen, Jessey Tsang and Jun Li, are able to be here tonight.  Mary Stephen, one of Hong Kong's most distinguished editors and directors, also gave a masterclass at the Festival," Miss Chau said, adding that the Festival also screened the Dutch premiere of Stanley Kwan's "First Night Nerves".

     The CinemAsia Film Festival 2019 in Amsterdam was the last of nine film festivals supported by HKETO, Brussels in 2018/19. The other festivals were the 2018 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in Brussels, Belgium; the 5th Dragon Film Festival in Florence, Italy; the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy; the Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic, Spain; the Salento International Film Festival in Tricase, Italy; the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Thessaloniki, Greece; the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in Sitges, Spain; and the Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. Apart from supporting Hong Kong films screening in these film festivals, which were well received by European audiences, HKETO, Brussels also hosted networking receptions and/or supported the organisation of exchange sessions or masterclasses in these film festivals to provide valuable opportunities for Hong Kong filmmakers to discuss and exchange filmmaking experience and skills with European filmmakers.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
     
     The Hospital Authority (HA) made the following announcement today (March 11) in response to the acceptance of the HA's salary adjustment proposal by the representatives of supporting staff:

     The HA welcomes the acceptance of the salary adjustment proposal by the supporting staff representatives. The HA will submit the proposal to the HA Board for deliberation and endorsement before seeking funding support from the Government for implementation on April 1, to retain serving staff and recruit new staff to help relieve front-line workload.

     The HA expresses gratitude to supporting staff for their dedication in taking care of patients and to the staff representatives for supporting the HA's work in the interest of patients at large. The new salary adjustment proposal is an 8 per cent pay rise across the board for all Patient Care Assistants, Operation Assistants and Executive Assistants (PCAs, OpAs and EAs) covering both new recruits and serving staff. At present, there are about 25,000 PCAs, OpAs and EAs in total working in public hospitals.
      
     The HA will continue to maintain close communication with supporting staff (including Healthcare Assistant) on measures to attract and retain staff.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (March 11) endorsed a licensed drug wholesaler, Hind Wing Co Ltd (Hind Wing), to recall four products, involving seven batches, containing losartan from the market as a precautionary measure due to the potential for an impurity in the products.
 
The affected products are:  

 
     Through its surveillance system, the DH noted that Health Canada (the Canadian regulatory authority) is advising that multiple lots of losartan-containing products are being voluntarily recalled because of the potential for an impurity, N-Nitroso-N-methyl-4-aminobutyric acid (NMBA). NMBA is a potential human carcinogen.
 
     Losartan-containing products are prescription medicines used to treat hypertension. According to Hind Wing, the affected batches of the above products have been supplied to private doctors and pharmacies.
 
     "So far, the DH has not received any adverse reactions related to the above affected products," a DH spokesman said.
 
     Hind Wing has set up a hotline (2541 5731) to answer related enquiries. The DH will closely monitor the recall.
 
     The spokesman advises that patients who are taking the above products should not stop taking the medicines, but should seek advice from their healthcare professionals for appropriate arrangement.