The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) has launched its 2019 Chinese New Year celebrations in countries under its purview by holding events in the Nordic countries of Finland and Sweden as well as in the UK.

     The London ETO greeted the Year of the Pig with Chinese New Year receptions in Bristol in the UK onJanuary 15; Helsinki in Finland on January 23; and Stockholm in Sweden on January 29. All of the events were well attended by guests including representatives of the government, business and academic sectors, and the events in Finland and Sweden featured musical performances by Hong Kong musicians to promote the musical talents of Hong Kong.

     The New Year celebration in Bristol featured a speech bythe Director-General of London ETO, Ms Priscilla To and a festive Lion Dance performance. Ms To briefed the guests on the latest developments in Hong Kong, including the most recent initiatives of the Government in promoting development in the innovation and technology and maritime sector, and encouraged companies in Bristol and the west of the UK to partner with Hong Kong to venture into the vast Mainland China and Asian markets. The Mayor of the West of England, Mr Tim Bowles, also joined the reception to celebrate Chinese New Year with the guests.

     Prior to the reception, London ETO, in partnership with Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organised a seminar about business opportunities in Hong Kong.The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips opened the seminar and spoke on the business opportunities in Hong Kong arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(Bay Area)Development, as well as the Hong Kong Government's focus and policies on different sectors, including innovation and technology. Two panel discussions followed, featuring speakers from companies who were doing business in Hong Kong, who shared their personal experiences, as well as speakers from supporting organisations such as the UK Department for International Trade and the China Britain Business Council. Ms To closed the seminar by reinforcing the development opportunities and urged UK companies to grasp these opportunities.

     At the Chinese New Year celebration luncheon in Helsinki and the reception in Stockholm, Ms To shared with the guests the latest updates about Hong Kong, updating them about the vibrant development of the innovation and technology sectors as well as the creative industries in Hong Kong. She encouraged Finnish and Swedish companies to make use of the platform provided by the newly established Nordic Innovation House to gain access to the Hong Kong, Mainland China and Asian markets, highlighting the opportunities arising from the Bay Area Development and the Belt and Road Initiatives. The celebrations also featured performances by young Hong Kong musicians from the Ponte Orchestra, a youth orchestra in Hong Kong.

     Other key speakers at the luncheon at Helsinki included the Regional Director Europe of the HKTDC, William Chui; the Vice Chairman of the Finland-Hong Kong Trade Association, Mr Harri Kekkonen; the Managing Director Finnair Cargo, Janne Tarvainen; and the Chief Executive Officer of Claned, Mr Vesa Perälä. The reception in Stockholm featured an interview with Princess Birgitta of Sweden, who has been a patron of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Sweden for 15 years, as well as a panel discussion on business opportunities in Hong Kong. Speakers include the Chief Executive Officer of European Business of MTR Corporation, Mr Jeremy Long. The Chinese Ambassador to Sweden, Mr Gui Chongyou, also attended the event and praised Hong Kong for being a vibrant and creative city, following his visit to Hong Kong in December 2018.

     The Chinese New Year celebrations in Helsinki and Stockholm were co-organised by the London ETO, the HKTDC and local business associations, namely the Finland-Hong Kong Trade Association and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Sweden.

     The London ETO will be holding further Chinese New Year celebration programmes in other countries under its purview in February and March.

            

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is very concerned about the incident in which a man fell into a lift shaft at Block 8 of Chevalier Garden in Ma On Shan today (February 2). The EMSD has commenced an investigation into the incident with the Police.

     The EMSD was notified by the Police of the incident at about noon and deployed staff to the site immediately for investigation. The preliminary investigation revealed that the lift concerned is functioning properly and all landing doors of the lift concerned are intact. The incident is suspected to be related to the unauthorised opening of the landing door of the lift. The EMSD and the Police will continue to carry out in-depth investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident. 

     As a precautionary measure, the lift concerned is under thorough inspection by a registered lift engineer to confirm it is in safe working condition before resuming operation. The EMSD has also arranged the registered lift contractor to carry out inspection to 40 other passenger lifts in the same residential estate to ensure their safe operation. The inspection is expected to be completed by tomorrow. The EMSD will provide on-site supervision.

     Correctional officers at Tong Fuk Correctional Institution on Lantau Island stopped a fight among persons in custody today (February 2).

     At 10.55am today, two male persons in custody, aged 38 and 39 respectively, were found fighting in the workshop. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the fight and called for reinforcement.

     During the incident, one of the persons in custody sustained injury to his head and face while the other sustained injury to his head, shoulder, hand etc. Both were not required to be referred to a public hospital after receiving examination and treatment from the institution Medical Officer.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The two persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of theft.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 2) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection.

     The case involves a 6-year-old boy with good past health, who has presented with fever, cough and runny nose since January 31 and developed convulsion yesterday (February 1). He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital for medical attention yesterday and was admitted. He was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital today for further management.
 
     His nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy. He is now in a serious condition.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had not received seasonal influenza vaccination for the current season and had travelled to Shenzhen during the incubation period. His parents developed upper respiratory tract infection symptoms recently and have sought medical attention. Both are in a stable condition and no hospitalisation is required.
 
     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
  
     "While the percentage that tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses among the respiratory specimens received by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch has slightly decreased in the past week, we expect that the local influenza activity may remain at an elevated level for some time. 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.

     Hong Kong Customs today (February 2) arrested two salesmen of a ginseng and dried seafood shop in Mong Kok suspected to have applied a false trade description in the sale of Chinese Cordyceps, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that salesmen of a ginseng and dried seafood shop in the district claimed that the Chinese Cordyceps was selling at a specific price. After the goods were ground, the salesmen revealed that the Chinese Cordyceps was priced per mace. The price was 10 times different from the expected.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested two men, aged 25 and 57.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs inspection and enforcement will be stepped up with the coming ahead of the Lunar New Year.

     Customs reminds 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 person who in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any goods 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).