The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (March 7) that interim measures will be implemented to allow Australian horses to race in Hong Kong. The arrangement is intended to minimise the impact of the suspension of direct horse export from Hong Kong to Australia, in place since October, 2017.

     The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) completed an assessment of the arrangement in Hong Kong today. As agreed between the AFCD and the DAWR, Australian horses are allowed to race in Hong Kong under agreed biosecurity conditions that will permit the horses to be exported back to Australia.
 
     The interim arrangement will be effective from March 12, 2019.

     Hong Kong Customs today (March 7) arrested a salesman of a ginseng and dried seafood shop suspected of engaging in unfair trade practices involving misleading omission in the sale of ginseng fruit and Herba Dendrobii, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a salesman of a ginseng and dried seafood shop in Causeway Bay had misled a customer to believe the unit price of ginseng fruit and Herba Dendrobii was calculated per tael. After the goods were ground, the salesman revealed that they were priced per mace. The charged amount was 10 times different from expected.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 20-year-old man.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase products from reputable shops. Consumers should also be cautious about the unit price and ask for more information, including the total price of the goods selected, before making a purchase decision.

     Under the TDO, any trader who engages in a commercial practice that omits or hides material information and as a result causes, or is likely to cause, an average consumer to make a transactional decision commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 7) investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at a primary school in Fanling, and hence reminded the public and management of institutions to maintain personal and environmental hygiene against AGE.

     The outbreak involves 14 boys and six girls aged 6 to 8, as well as a female staff member, who have developed vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever since March 5. Among them, nine sought medical attention and none required hospitalisation. All patients have been in a stable condition.

     Officers of the CHP conducted a site visit and provided health advice to the staff of the school concerning proper and thorough disinfection, proper disposal of vomitus, and personal and environmental hygiene. The school has been put under medical surveillance.

     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP advised members of the public to take heed of the following preventive measures against gastroenteritis:
 

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating, after using the toilet or after changing diapers;
• Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus or faecal matter, and wash hands afterwards;
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water). Wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Pay attention to food hygiene;
• Use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked;
• Drink boiled water; and
• Do not patronise unlicensed food premises or food stalls.

     The public may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Health Education Hotline (2833 0111) for more information.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Subcommittee on Public Health and Municipal Services (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 will hold its first meeting tomorrow (March 8) at 10.45am in Conference Room 3 of the LegCo Complex.  During the meeting, members of the Subcommittee will elect a Chairman and meet with the Government.

     Correctional officers at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution stopped a fight among persons in custody yesterday (March 6).

     At 6.54pm yesterday, four male persons in custody, aged 27 to 52, were found fighting in a dining hall. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the fight and called for reinforcement.

     During the incident, one of the persons in custody sustained an injury to his eye and was referred to a public hospital for further examination and treatment after receiving treatment from the institution Medical Officer. The remaining three persons in custody did not sustain any injury.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The four persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offences of fraud, conspiracy and trafficking in a dangerous drug.