The Civil Aid Service (CAS) today (November 18) held the Civil Aid Service Band Review-cum-Motor Cycle Demonstration Team (MCDT) 55th Anniversary Show at its headquarters. The Permanent Secretary for Security, Mrs Marion Lai, officiated at the launch ceremony, which was also attended by members and cadets of the CAS, and representatives of various government departments and youth uniformed groups.

     Over 100 members from the CAS Band and the MCDT participated in the entertaining show. The programme, which included a performance of musical works from East and West by the band, a stately march and a motorcycle stunt show, offered impressive and exciting audio-visual entertainment for the audience.

     The CAS Band is a professional marching band that has performed at various large events over the years. The MCDT was established in the early 1960s to strengthen the driving skills of motorcycle messengers and enhance their operational efficiency. Over years of development, the MCDT continues to sharpen its cycling skills and create new performance skills including seesaw, dragon dance and clown bike.

    The CAS is now recruiting members who strive to serve the community. Persons interested in joining can visit the CAS website(www.cas.gov.hk/eng/adult_recruitment.html) or call 3651 9383 or 3651 9375 for more details.

            

      The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, had in-depth discussions with the leaders of other economies at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2018 Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea today (November 18) on how to ensure inclusive development in the face of new economic situation and digital future.

     In the morning, Mrs Lam and the leaders of the other economies were briefed by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde, on the current global and regional economic situation. At the AELM that followed, Mrs Lam said that amid an increasingly digital economic environment, governments should ensure that people from all walks of life can share the benefits of economic development through good governance and proactive policies and that to this end, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has invested heavily in education in recent years to ensure the adaptability of the next generation to social changes and enhanced medical and social welfare services to take care of the people in need.

     Noting that Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy under "One Country, Two Systems", she said that the city will continue to leverage its advantages to promote international free trade, including expanding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) network. Hong Kong will also contribute to the national Belt and Road Initiative, including sharing with the emerging countries along the Belt and Road Hong Kong's rich experience in city management to help their capacity building.

     At the AELM Working Lunch, Mrs Lam pointed out that the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the work on youth development and women empowerment to enhance social inclusiveness. On youths, the HKSAR Government is keen to enhance the creativity and problem-solving ability of young people through improvement to education as well as provide more career choices for them and broaden their global horizons. On the aspect of women, the HKSAR Government's priority is to retain women in the workforce. She expressed the hope to create a favourable environment so that youths and women have more room for development and participation in policy making.

     During a break at the meetings, Mrs Lam met separately the leaders of Australia and Vietnam.

     At her meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Scott Morrison, Mrs Lam said that with the close ties of the people and enterprises between Hong Kong and Australia, she was pleased that negotiations on a FTA and an Investment Agreement were successfully concluded a few days earlier and that she believes that the business and economic relations between the two places will be taken to a new level.

     At her meeting with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Mrs Lam thanked him for his support to enhance collaboration between the two places and said that bilateral relations can be further boosted in tourism and student exchanges.

     At the margins of the meetings, Mrs Lam also expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe, for the support and hospitality extended to her by the Japanese government during her official visit to the country last month. She said that the trip is fruitful and that she is confident that collaboration between Hong Kong and Japan in various areas can be further enhanced.

     In addition, Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Prayut Chan-o-cha, for the huge amount of work he has done in the past year for the establishment of Hong Kong's new Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, Thailand and said she plans to officiate at the opening of the Office in person early next year.

     Mrs Lam will meet with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr Peter O'Neill, tomorrow morning (November 19) and then depart for Hong Kong.

                  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Pok Oi Hospital (POH) announced a serious untoward event today (November 18).

     A patient was admitted to a Medicine & Geriatrics ward of POH on November 12. Upon admission, the patient was unwell and could not clearly communicate with the doctor about the medication arrangement. The doctor prescribed the medicine according to the private drugs brought by the patient, including the continuation of an immunosuppressant Tacrolimus.

     â€‹Two days later (November 14), the patient expressed that the dosage of immunosuppressant was different from the prescription before admission. The doctor thus stopped administering the immunosuppressant and arranged blood investigation. Reassessment confirmed that the patient, after admission, had taken 4 doses of immunosuppressant, the dosage of which being five times the patient's usual dosage before admission. After review of the clinical condition, blood result and consultation with relevant expert, the patient was found to have no remarkable change clinically and was in stable condition. The doctor has already amended the dosage and the clinical team will continue to monitor the patient closely.

     The POH has immediately reported the incident to Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A review panel will be formed for thorough investigation to avoid a similar incident in the future. The hospital has already explained the incident to the family and expressed an apology. The patient relation officer will continue to follow up and provide necessary support to the patient and the family.

Police today (November 18) laid a holding charge against three men, aged from 29 to 40, jointly with one count of manslaughter.

The three men were arrested on November 16 in suspected connection with a manslaughter case happened in Tin Sum on the same day in which a 42-year-old man died.

The case will be mentioned at Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (November 19).

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, will lead a delegation of 11 Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to Beijing and Hangzhou tomorrow (November 19) for a national studies course and visit programme.

     The trip will reinforce delegation members' understanding of the major national policies and the future development of the Mainland, and strengthen working relations and exchanges between officials from both places.

     The delegation will attend a course at the Chinese Academy of Governance in Beijing, and proceed to Hangzhou on November 22 to study the experience in promoting innovation and technology as well as smart city development there.

     The delegation will depart Hangzhou for Hong Kong on November 24.