The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 25) investigating an influenza A outbreak at a kindergarten in Yuen Long, and again reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.

     The outbreak at the AM and PM classes of the kindergarten involved 24 and 30 school children respectively, 24 boys and 30 girls aged 3 to 6, who have developed fever, cough and sore throat since February 22. All of them sought medical attention. Among them, five required hospitalisation and one of them was discharged following treatment. All patients have been in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of twelve children tested positive for influenza A upon laboratory testing.

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

     "The latest surveillance data showed that the local influenza activity has continued to decrease from the peak level in January but remained above the baseline threshold. We urge the community to continue heightening its vigilance against seasonal influenza. As young children are particularly affected in this influenza season, we appeal to parents who have not yet arranged vaccination for their children in this season to do so as soon as possible to strengthen their personal protection," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Apart from children, people aged 50 to 64 years, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses who have not yet received influenza vaccination this season are also urged to get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination. Medical advice should be sought promptly if influenza-like symptoms develop so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as early as possible to prevent potential complications. Parents and carers are reminded to render assistance in prevention, care and control for vulnerable people.

     Besides receiving seasonal influenza vaccination as early as possible for personal protection, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses. For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) jointly held the "Belt and Road: Hong Kong – IN" Sharing Session on Risk Management today (February 25).
 
     Around 220 participants comprising representatives from 10 state-owned enterprises (SoEs), local enterprises and professionals in insurance, account and consulting services, surveying, valuation and relevant consulting services, finance and investment, telecommunications technologies, engineering, construction and real estate development and manufacturing had in-depth exchanges and interactive discussions on the risks associated with investing in and operating Belt and Road projects, as well as on how Hong Kong's financing and professional services platforms could play a useful role in managing such risks. A business matching session was also featured. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and the Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the SASAC, Madam Zhang Jihui, spoke at the opening session of the event.
 
     Mr Yau said Hong Kong enjoys a multitude of advantages, especially in the professional services sectors. Hong Kong has a rich pool of internationally recognised talents with abundant experience in project financing and fundraising, legal services, dispute resolution, accounting, insurance, business consultancy, risk assessment and management, construction, architecture, transport and more. These professionals stand ready to offer world-class risk assessment, consultancy and management services to enterprises in mitigating risks associated in Belt and Road development.
 
     Mr Yau encouraged enterprises to make more use of Hong Kong's professional services platform to "go global". The Government is committed to promoting partnership between the professional services sector and enterprises, including initiating the Belt and Road Cross-Professional Advancement Programme, which is undertaken by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) with funding support from the Government's Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme. The Programme seeks to promote cross-profession collaboration with a view to better equipping Hong Kong professionals in meeting the challenges and grasping the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative.
 
     In addition, the Government has been actively promoting overseas the unique strengths of Hong Kong. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Government has been organising business and professional missions, comprising representatives from the business and professional services sector, young entrepreneurs and start-ups to visit Belt and Road related countries and regions to look for new business opportunities.
 
     The 10 SoEs joining the sharing session today were China National Petroleum Corporation, China Petrochemical Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, State Grid Corporation of China, China Guodian Capital Holdings Limited of the China Energy Investment Corporation, China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, COFCO Capital Investment Company Limited of the China National Cereals, Oils & Foodstuffs Corporation, China National Travel Service Group Corporation Limited, China General Nuclear Power Corporation, and China Merchants Group Ltd. Hong Kong enterprises and representatives of professional services associations joining the discussion panels included the Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law and former Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission, Dr Anthony Neoh; representative of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants Ms Loletta Chow; the Executive Director of the Marga Group (Myanmar), Mr Eliott Suen; and former Chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong Mr Ian Chung. The Director of Chinese Mainland Affairs of PolyU, Dr Laura Lo, took the opportunity to introduce the Belt and Road Cross-Professional Advancement Programme to the participants.
 
     Following the sharing session on the investment environment of overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones jointly held by the CEDB and the SASAC in August last year, today's sharing session presented another exchange opportunity for SoEs, Hong Kong enterprises and professional services sectors. The CEDB and the SASAC will continue to collaborate in promoting partnership and business matching for enterprises and professionals.

            

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 24) seized a batch of suspected smuggled dried seafood, including about 12 kilograms of dried abalone, 12.4kg of dried sea cucumber, 12.2kg of dried fish maw and 537 grams of bird nest, as well as a batch of suspected endangered species including 1.5kg of suspected ginseng and 315g of suspected manta ray gills at Lok Ma Chau Control Point, with a total estimated market value of about $240,000.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing private car at Lok Ma Chau Control Point yesterday afternoon and seized the batch of suspected smuggled dried seafood and endangered species inside the vehicle compartment. The 53-year-old male driver was arrested.

     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 Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.

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

  

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, visited the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing today (February 25).
 
     Ms Cheng met with Vice-presidents of the Supreme People's Court, Mr Luo Dongchuan and Mr Yang Wanming, respectively in the morning. She then met with the Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Xu Hong, in the afternoon. Matters relating to dispute resolution services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road related regions were discussed during the meetings.
 
     Ms Cheng will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (February 26).

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

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (February 27) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. The Government has advised the Clerk to LegCo that the Financial Secretary intends to present the Appropriation Bill 2019 and the Estimates for the year ending 31 March 2020 to the Council. When moving the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill 2019, the Financial Secretary will outline the 2019-20 Budget.
 
     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, all of which require written replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.