The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (February 19) visited Sai Kung District to learn about the services provided by the general out-patient clinic and hygiene condition at the local market. She also met with the members of the Sai Kung District Council.
 
     Accompanied by the Chairman of Sai Kung District Council, Mr George Ng, and the District Officer (Sai Kung), Mr David Chiu, Professor Chan first visited the Mona Fong General Out-patient Clinic in Sai Kung to view its services and facilities. She also took the opportunity to explore how to make better use of the clinic's space and provide additional facilities, so that it can offer optimal medical services to better suit the needs of the community.
 
     She said, "Most of the clinics under the Department of Health (DH) were built several decades ago, therefore the facilities as well as the environment are ageing. Starting from 2019/20, we will carry out renewal and improvement works at the clinics under the DH by phases to ensure that people can receive quality medical services in a comfortable environment."

     Professor Chan later visited Sai Kung Market to see its hygiene condition and examine the feasibility of installing elevators, escalators and additional air-conditioning systems.
 
     She said, "The Budget last year earmarked $2 billion to implement the Market Modernisation Programme, which has commenced. The Government is conducting a comprehensive review of the existing public markets with a view to improving the relevant facilities, enhancing the markets' environment and providing better municipal facilities and services to the public."
 
     Concluding the visit, Professor Chan met with members of Sai Kung District Council to listen to their views on various healthcare and environmental hygiene issues.

            

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Godda district, Jharkhand state, India, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the district with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
      
     A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong currently has an established protocol with India for import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. No poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from India last year.
      
     "The CFS has contacted the Indian authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 18) seized about 30 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $6.2 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Vancouver, Canada, yesterday evening. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected cannabis buds was found concealed inside his two suitcases. The man was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 36, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 20).

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Customs also reminds that cannabis and tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Ordinance. Importation of products (including food and drinks) containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of food and drinks.

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

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (February 19):
 
     An 85-year-old male patient in a male medical convalescent ward in KH was confirmed as carrying Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on February 10. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened the patients who had contact with the index patient. Three more male patients (aged 75 to 82) were confirmed as being VRE carriers without any symptoms of infection. Three of them are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition. The remaining one passed away due to his underlying disease.
 
     Infection control measures at the ward concerned have already been stepped up according to the prevailing guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close medical surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     A company was fined $16,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (February 19) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in July last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).

     The OLA officers found that the exit route had been obstructed. Also, the club's staff failed to show the registered drawing upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 12 and 17 of the CoC were breached.

     The company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.