Police today (November 12) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sheung Shui.

     Zhou Yu-lun, aged 72, went missing after he was last seen in MTR Sheung Shui Station on November 8 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.    

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 72 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short straight black hair. He was last seen wearing a grey long-sleeved polo shirt with red and white stripes, dark-coloured trousers, yellow sports shoes and carrying a green recycling bag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or 6273 5787 or email to rmpu-ntn@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Department of Health (DH) today (November 12) conducted an operation against the sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products labelled in Japanese, during which a 31-year-old woman was arrested for suspected illegal sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 poisons.
 
     Acting upon a public complaint, unregistered pharmaceutical products labelled in Japanese were found being offered for sale via a social media platform. Two products that did not bear Hong Kong pharmaceutical product registration numbers were seized during today's operation.
 
     One of the products is a cold and flu medication labelled in Japanese. It is believed to contain tranexamic acid, dihydrocodeine and methylephedrine, which are all Part 1 poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (PPO)(Cap 138). Tranexamic acid is used in the treatment of haemorrhage and can cause gastrointestinal disturbances, and inappropriate use may cause cerebral thrombosis. Dihydrocodeine is an opioid analgesic used as a cough suppressant and for pain relief, and its side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness. Methylephedrine is used for nasal congestion and cough, and it may cause tachycardia, anxiety, restlessness and insomnia.
 
     The other product is named Eve Quick DX and is believed to contain the Part 1 poison ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain relief with side effects including gastrointestinal bleeding.
 
     The DH's investigation is ongoing.
 
     According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Part I poisons should be sold at pharmacies under the supervision of registered pharmacists. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
 
     Members of the public should not buy or consume unregistered pharmaceutical products as they may not comply with the safety, efficacy and quality requirements. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". People should seek advice from healthcare professionals before taking medications. They should not purchase medicines overseas and resell them in Hong Kong.
 
     People who have purchased the above products should stop using them and consult healthcare professionals for advice if they are feeling unwell. They can submit the products to the DH's Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.

  

    Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, at a media session after officiating at the award presentation ceremony and exhibition of the 5th Bauhinia Cup calligraphy and painting competition for youths from the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao today (November 12):
 
Reporter: Can you explain the investigation progress relating to the Think International Academy?
 
Secretary for Education: We have carried out an inspection last Friday and found that there is an operation of a school without registration and our approval. So immediately we asked them to stop the operation, and the next step that we have to do is to find school places for those students affected.
 
Reporter: But the leasing agreement (for the premises on which the said unregistered school operated) was started two years ago. Why did it take two years to unfold the event?
 
Secretary for Education: As I said, we have carried out the inspection last Friday, and from that we found that there is an operation of a school without registration. That is why we stopped them immediately, and you will see that in these two days they have agreed that they will stop the operation. And so we have to find places for the students.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for Papua New Guinea in the evening on November 15 to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2018 Economic Leaders' Meeting and other related meetings in Port Moresby. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will accompany the Chief Executive and take part in some of the meetings.
 
     The theme of this year's APEC meeting is "Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future", with discussions focusing on how APEC embraces new challenges in the digital age under three priorities, namely improving connectivity and deepening regional economic integration, promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, and strengthening inclusive growth through structural reform.
 
     Before attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on November 18, Mrs Lam will attend the Women Political Leaders Roundtable, a discussion session of the APEC CEO Summit, the Dialogue with APEC Business Advisory Council, the Informal Dialogue with Pacific Island Leaders and the Gala Dinner hosted by the organiser for participating leaders on November 17.
 
     Mrs Lam will leave Papua New Guinea on November 19 and return to Hong Kong the next day. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (November 12) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, and that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From November 4 to 10, one community-acquired LD case was reported. The female patient, aged 75 with underlying illnesses, lives in Tower 2, Metro Town, 8 King Ling Road, Sai Kung District.

     "Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     As of November 10, 92 LD cases had been reported in 2018. In 2017 and 2016, there were 72 and 75 cases respectively.

     "Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems leading to stagnant water; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels," the spokesman said.

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus which support breathing. People may get infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Immunocompromised persons should:

1. Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
2. Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
3. If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

     The public should observe the health advice below:
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute the infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

     1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
     2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
     3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
     4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
     5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     The public may visit the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.