Hong Kong Customs today (January 23) arrested a male director of a money changer suspected of having applied a false trade description to the remittance service supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that three branches of a money changer in Sham Shui Po and Cheung Sha Wan made false claims to customers that they would remit money to bank accounts designated by customers, but then failed to provide the service accordingly.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 47-year-old man.

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

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer 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 the Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     To encourage persons in custody to quit smoking, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) last year for the first time joined the "Quit to Win" Contest organised by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH), the University of Hong Kong (HKU) School of Public Health and the HKU School of Nursing. A launch ceremony was held last October, and several persons in custody who participated in the contest have now been confirmed as having quit smoking by the organisers. They were presented with certificates at an award presentation ceremony at Stanley Prison today (January 23) in recognition of their success in quitting smoking.
      
     The Executive Director of COSH, Ms Vienna Lai, and the Chairman of the Phoenix Charitable Foundation, Dr Alan Lee, were official guests of the ceremony. Also at the ceremony, 12 persons in custody re-read their statement of commitment to kick the smoking habit and talked about their successful experience of quitting smoking. They also shared their prizes and happiness with family members.
      
     Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Lai said, "This is the first time COSH has implemented a smoking cessation programme with the CSD. The success rate is 80 per cent and the results are encouraging. It is not easy to quit smoking and resist the temptation, especially when withdrawal symptoms appear. Successful quitters deserve to be praised. The committee looks forward to continuing to work with the CSD to promote the benefits of smoke-free living and encourage more persons in custody to quit smoking."
      
     A person in custody, Simon (false name), said, "I smoked for 30 years. With the support of CSD staff and love from my wife and children, I decided to quit smoking. After I was admitted to prison I became a burden to my family. I hope that I can quit smoking successfully to show my determination to start anew after release. I also want to give the prizes I won from this programme as a Lunar New Year gift to my family for their continued support."

     Twelve participating female persons in custody at Lo Wu Correctional Institution who have been confirmed as having quit smoking also re-read their statement of commitment to kick the smoking habit at a similar ceremony today.
      
     The CSD is committed to ensuring a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment. For the health of persons in custody, the CSD has actively supported the Government's policy of tobacco control to help them quit smoking.

     The Lands Department announced today (January 23) that the tender for a site, New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6551 at Kai Tak Area 4C Site 3, Kai Tak, Kowloon, has been awarded to the highest tenderer, Well Capital (H.K.) Limited (parent company: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited), on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $11,260 million.

     The tenderers, other than the successful tenderer, in alphabetical order, with the name of the parent company where provided by the tenderer in brackets, were:
 
(1) Ausino Investments Limited (Kingboard Investments Limited);
(2) Great Rainbow Investments Limited (CK Asset Holdings Limited);
(3) Infinite Sun Limited (Wheelock Properties Limited, New World Development Company Limited, Henderson Land Development Company Limited, Chime Corporation Limited, Empire Development Hong Kong (BVI) Limited and China Overseas Land & Investment Limited);
(4) Norminster Limited (Kerry Properties Limited); and
(5) Tin Wah International Limited (K. Wah International Holdings Limited and Sino Land Company Limited).

     New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6551 has a site area of about 10 956 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding office, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes. The minimum gross floor area is 36 155 sq m and the maximum gross floor area that may be attained is 60 258 sq m.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 23) investigating an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in a primary school in Kwun Tong, and again urged the public, schools and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.
 
     The outbreak affected 20 boys, aged 6 to 11, who have developed oral ulcers, rash on hands or feet and fever since January 11. All of them sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. All patients are in a stable condition.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit to the school and advised the management on necessary infection control and preventive measures. The school has been put under medical surveillance. Investigations are ongoing.

     "HFMD is common in children while adult cases may also appear. It is usually caused by enteroviruses (EVs) such as Coxsackie virus and EV71. It is clinically characterised by maculopapular rashes or vesicular lesions occurring on the palms, soles and other parts of the body such as the buttocks and thighs. Vesicular lesions and ulcers may also be found in the oral cavity. Sometimes patients present mainly with painful ulcers at the back of the mouth, namely herpangina, without rash on the hands or feet," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "HFMD occurs throughout the year. While the disease activity is usually higher from May to July, a smaller peak may also occur from October to December. As young children are more susceptible, parents should stay alert to their health. Institutional outbreaks may occur where HFMD can easily spread among young children with close contact," the spokesman added.

     To prevent HFMD, members of the public, and especially the management of institutions, should take heed of the following preventive measures:
 

• Maintain good air circulation;
• Wash hands before meals and after going to the toilet or handling diapers or other stool-soiled materials;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and oral discharges properly;
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as furniture, toys and commonly shared items with 1:99 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 99 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes, and then rinse with water and keep dry. For metallic surfaces, disinfect with 70 per cent alcohol;
• Use absorbent disposable towels to wipe away obvious contaminants such as respiratory secretions, vomitus or excreta, and then disinfect the surface and neighbouring areas with 1:49 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 49 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes and then rinse with water and keep dry. For metallic surfaces, disinfect with 70 per cent alcohol;
• Children who are ill should be kept out of school until their fever and rash have subsided and all the vesicles have dried and crusted;
• Avoid going to overcrowded places; and
• Parents should maintain close communication with schools to let them know the latest situation of the sick children.

 
     The public may visit the CHP's page on HFMD and EV71 infection and Public Health Advice for Play Facilities for more information.

     A man and three women were fined $10,000 each at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (January 23) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that between July and September last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected four suspected unlicensed guesthouses on Argyle Street, Kimberley Road, Reclamation Street and Yen Chow Street in Kowloon. During the inspections, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented rooms in these guesthouses on a daily or hourly basis.
      
     According to the OLA's records, these guesthouses did not possess licences under the Ordinance on the days of inspection. The man and the women responsible for operating and managing the premises were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
      
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.
           
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".