The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 18) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality in South Africa, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said no poultry meat or poultry eggs were imported from South Africa in the first six months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the South African 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.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (September 18) chaired a co-ordinating meeting on dengue fever to review the latest situation on dengue fever, conduct risk assessment and follow up on the Government's mosquito prevention and control work.
 
     Professor Chan said, "A total of 29 confirmed local dengue fever cases have been recorded so far this year. No additional case has been confirmed in Hong Kong since September 4. It is believed that the situation has been put under control. The Government will remain vigilant and review the impact of Typhoon Mangkhut on mosquito control measures. Government departments will strengthen the anti-mosquito work under their purview in the hope of preventing the occurrence of further dengue fever cases.
 
     "Co-operation and support from all sectors of the community are crucial to curb the spread of dengue fever. Members of the public should maintain personal hygiene and take anti-mosquito measures at home. Owing to the heavy rain that accompanied the typhoon, the public should clear up stagnant water, rubbish and disused articles as soon as possible to thoroughly remove mosquito breeding grounds."
 
     In the wake of the passage of the typhoon, the Government will assess mosquito infestation in Lion Rock Park and the follow-up work before deciding on the date for re-opening the park.
 
     Since the occurrence of several local confirmed dengue fever cases from mid-August, the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) and the relevant departments conducted several co-ordinating meetings. The Government’s interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee also held two special meetings to strengthen the departments' co-ordination and co-operation on mosquito control work, and continued their efforts to implement the territory-wide All-out Anti-mosquito Operation.
 
     Starting this month, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has released additional results for the Area Ovitrap Index for Aedes albopictus (AOI) in two more stages to keep the public abreast of the latest situation of mosquito infestation and enhance the function of the ovitrap indices in enabling people to stay alert. The FEHD will also continue to announce the monthly AOI of various areas in Hong Kong to give the public a monthly overview of the infestation level of mosquitoes to facilitate timely implementation of corresponding mosquito prevention and control measures. As the typhoon affected the survey of the ovitrap index, only one stage of the ovitrap index will be available in September.
 
     In view of the implementation of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operation by the FEHD in all districts, the FHB allocated extra funding of $4 million to the FEHD to facilitate the additional anti-mosquito work to be carried out by the District Environmental Hygiene Offices, as well as to strengthen the co-operation with the environmental hygiene committees of the District Councils to eradicate the black spots of mosquito breeding grounds in the districts immediately.
 
     The FEHD conducted fogging operations at a total of 4 752 locations over the territory and cleared 39 558 existing and potential mosquito breeding places between August 15 and September 17. With regard to the situation in Wong Tai Sin and on Cheung Chau, the FEHD and relevant departments have reported the progress of the anti-mosquito work in response to this outbreak of dengue fever to the Wong Tai Sin and Islands District Councils on August 24 and September 3 respectively.
 
     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the dengue fever pages of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and its Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the FEHD's Guidebook on Control and Prevention of Mosquito Breeding for more information. 
 
     Government bureaux, departments and organisations attending the meeting were the FHB, the Department of Health, the FEHD, the Hospital Authority and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

  

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (September 18) attended in Tianjin the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as the Summer Davos forum, and took part as a guest speaker in the forum's session on China's bay area economy.

     He said at the bay area economy session that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has great development potential, given its enormous economic scale, its advanced manufacturing base, and the many leading innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises it houses.

     He added that Hong Kong, being the international financial centre as well as the most cosmopolitan city and offering the best professional services in the Bay Area, can become the premier listing and fund-raising location for Mainland enterprises. Hong Kong will also seize the opportunity and complement other cities in the Bay Area in building an international I&T hub that draws talents, research and development institutes and enterprises.

     This morning, before attending the forum, Mr Chan met with the Vice-President of the European Commission for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, Mr Valdis Dombrovskis.

     Mr Chan pointed out at the meeting Hong Kong's commitment to developing financial technology as well as I&T. He said that given its strength and strategic location, Hong Kong will play an important role in the Bay Area, and encouraged overseas enterprises to leverage on Hong Kong to explore the vast business opportunities offered by the Bay Area.

     This evening, joined by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, Mr Chan called on the Vice Mayor of Tianjin Municipality, Mr Zhao Haishan, to exchange views on forging closer Hong Kong-Tianjin collaboration. 

     Tomorrow (September 19), Mr Chan will continue to attend the Summer Davos forum and depart for an official visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in the evening.

     The Summer Davos forum is a global summit on innovation, science and technology to promote entrepreneurship in the global public interest. This year, the three-day forum has the theme of "Shaping Innovative Societies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution".

    

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, officiated at the opening ceremony of the exhibition "Through Thick and Thin: 150 Years of the Hong Kong Fire Services" today (September 18).
 
     The Hong Kong Fire Brigade was formally established in 1868. To mark the 150th anniversary of the Hong Kong Fire Services this year, the exhibition displays historical artefacts including a wooden fire truck, badges and valuable photos dating back to late 19th century. Through video and interactive games, members of the public can review the history and development of fire and ambulance services in Hong Kong.
 
     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee said the Fire Services Department (FSD) has gradually grown from a fire brigade formed by volunteers in the early years into a 10 000-strong professional team today. Throughout the years, the department has been going through ups and downs with Hong Kong people, safeguarding the city with the mission of "Serving with courage, passion and commitment".
 
     "The FSD stays united and firm in serving the people of Hong Kong, displaying exemplary bravery and determination even in circumstances of extreme danger. The distinguished professionalism of the fire and ambulance crews and their commitment to providing high quality and highly efficient emergency services are deeply appreciated," he said.
 
     Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Director of Fire Services, Mr Li Kin-yat, and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li.
 
     The exhibition "Through Thick and Thin: 150 Years of the Hong Kong Fire Services" is jointly presented by the FSD and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will run from tomorrow (September 19) until October 22 at the lobby, 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of History. Admission is free.

      

     Co-productions have laid a vital foundation for China’s film industry to "go global". "Chinese Film Panorama 2018" has selected 12 films co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong or foreign countries to showcase the development of co-production films in Chinese cinema. Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the South China Film Industry Workers Union, "Chinese Film Panorama 2018" will be held from October 18 to November 30 at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall, the Lecture Halls of the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Science Museum.
 
     The opening film, "Where Has Time Gone?" (2017), is co-directed by Chinese director Jia Zhangke and filmmakers from Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa – the first co-production involving the BRICS countries. It consists of five short films made by the five directors using different angles to present the passage of time. The film won the "Golden Silkroad" Media Honor Special Jury Award at the 4th Silk Road International Film Festival.
 
     In the early 1980s, Chinese-Japanese co-production "The Go Masters" (1982) set a precedent in international co-production involving Chinese cinema. Telling the story of Chinese go master Kuang Yishan and Japanese go master Matsunami, the film suggests that true friendship can triumph over national barriers. The film won the Grand Prix of the Americas at the Montreal World Film Festival 1983, the Special Award at the 3rd Golden Rooster Awards and Best Feature Film of The Ministry of Culture in 1982. Also centring on friendship beyond national boundaries, "Hanoi, Hanoi" (2006) is a collaboration between China and Vietnam, featuring a young Chinese woman setting off on her trip to Hanoi to search for the herbalist store of her ancestor. The film won Best Feature Film and Best Actress at the Golden Kite Awards 2006.
 
     The opportunities in the Mainland's film industry have attracted Hong Kong filmmakers, with numerous notable co-productions between the two places. Stanley Kwan's "Red Rose White Rose" (1994) is an adaptation of Eileen Chang's novel, telling of a love triangle between an upright man (Winston Chao), his wife (Veronica Yip) and his friend's wife (Joan Chen). The film was a multiple winner at the 31st Golden Horse Awards, including Best Leading Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Art Direction. Starring Gong Li, Tony Leung and Sun Honglei, "Zhou Yu's Train" (2003) is a film about a ceramic worker who is torn between two men as well as between her desire and her ideals. The film won Best Director, Best Actor and Favourite Actress of Students’ Choice Award at the 10th Beijing College Student Film Festival. Adapted from the novel by Zhang Ling, Feng Xiaogang's "Aftershock" (2010) follows a mother and a daughter who are separated by the Tangshan earthquake and reunite many years later due to the Wenchuan earthquake. The film won Best Art Direction and Best Music at the 28th Golden Rooster Awards, Best Actress at the 5th Asian Film Awards and other awards.
      
     "A Wedding Invitation" (2013), featuring Bai Baihe and Eddie Peng, is a Chinese rom-com by Korean director Oh Kihwan filled with Korean-style drama and fun. In another co-production between China and South Korea, "Miss Granny" (2015), an old lady becomes an attractive young girl (Yang Zishan) after walking into a photography studio and is then pursued by a music producer (Chen Bolin) and her grandson (Lu Han). The film won Best Actress of China Movie Channel Media Award at the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival and Favourite Actor of Students' Choice Award at the 22nd Beijing College Student Film Festival.        
 
     With a team of elites from China, Italy and the United Kingdom, renowned Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor" (1987) tells of the legendary life of the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Puyi, in which the cast including John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole gives a memorable performance. The film won nine awards at the Academy Awards in 1988 including Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium). Chinese-American co-production "Pali Road" (2016) is a romantic suspense that follows a young doctor, played by Michelle Chen, whose life becomes unfamiliar after a traffic accident. The film won Best Actress and Best Cinematography at the 32nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and Best New Director at the 12th Chinese American Film Festival.
 
     Directed by French director Philippe Muyl, "The Nightingale" (2014) resonates with feelings about the countryside, and features a grandfather setting off on a journey to his homeland with his little granddaughter in order to fulfil the wish of his deceased wife. The film won Best Feature Film for Children at the 54th Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth, Best Picture Award and Best Actor Award at the 1st China Australia International Film Festival. Based on the novel of the same title by Jiang Rong, "Wolf Totem" (2015) is also a Chinese-French co-production. As well as providing spectacular action scenes of wolves, the film suggests that wolves are as valuable and wise as humans. The film won Best Film and Best Art Direction at the 30th Golden Rooster Awards, Best Director of Tiantan Award at the 5th Beijing International Film Festival and other awards.
 
     "Where Has Time Gone?" is in Portuguese, Russian, Hindi, English and Putonghua; "The Go Masters" is in Japanese and Putonghua; "Hanoi, Hanoi" is in Vietnamese and Putonghua; "The Last Emperor" and "Pali Road" are in English and Putonghua; while the other films are in Putonghua. All films have Chinese and English subtitles.
 
     Tickets priced at $55 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en_US/web/fpo/programmes/2018cfp/index.html.