The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, will lead a delegation to Shanghai and Seoul, South Korea tomorrow (September 5) to exchange views with medical and health officials of the two places on the development of traditional oriental medicine and Chinese medicine hospitals. They will also visit a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Shanghai and traditional medicine hospitals in Seoul.
 
     Professor Chan said, "Hong Kong is pushing forward the development of the first Chinese medicine hospital. I hope to make reference to the experience of the Mainland and South Korea in developing traditional oriental medicine, including scope of service, management mode, manpower training and scientific research, gathered from this visit in a bid to ensure that the services of our Chinese medicine hospital will meet the needs of Hong Kong people."
 
     Professor Chan will visit the Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and meet with officials of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning shortly after arriving in Shanghai tomorrow.
 
     The delegation will proceed to Seoul, South Korea on Thursday (September 6). During their stay in South Korea, the delegation will visit the Association of Korean Medicine, the National Medical Center, the Kyung Hee University Oriental Hospital at Gangdong and the National Rehabilitation Center. Professor Chan will also call on officials of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea and meet with Hong Kong people living there.
 
     The delegation will comprise the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Elizabeth Tse; the Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, Dr Cheung Wai-lun; and representatives of the Food and Health Bureau and Hospital Authority. Members of the Chinese medicine hospital's user group will also join the visit.
 
     Professor Chan will return to Hong Kong in the evening on September 7. The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health during her absence. 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 4) investigating a case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection, and again urged the public and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.

     The case involves a 5-month-old baby boy with good past health, who has presented with fever, cough and runny nose since August 29. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on August 30 and was admitted for further management in the small hours on the following day. The patient has all along been in a stable condition and was discharged yesterday (September 3).

     His cerebrospinal fluid specimen tested positive for EV upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was meningitis.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no recent travel history. His mother had recent history of upper respiratory tract infection, while his elder sister had fever since August 29. Both sought medical attention and had recovered. Other home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. Investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, the public should be vigilant and observe the following preventive measures:
 

• Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet and changing diapers;
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Maintain good ventilation; and
• Thoroughly clean toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

     Children suffering from EV infection should stay at home and avoid contact with other children until they have recovered.

     The public may visit the CHP's page on hand, foot and mouth disease and EV71 infection for more information.

     A cement plant of China Concrete Company Limited located in Sha Ling did not properly cover the materials for making concrete, resulting in the dispersion of a large amount of fine dust which caused air pollution. The company was convicted and fined $8,000 by Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 4) for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO).

     Environmental Protection Department (EPD) officers conducted an inspection this March at the cement plant concerned. It was suspected that the plant illegally stacked up a pile of aggregates and sand at the open space inside the plant, which violated the requirements stipulated in the specified process Licence. The licence stated that aggregates should be properly stored and provided with appropriate cover. The pile of materials, covering an area of about 13 metres by 3m, generated a large amount of fine dust and caused air pollution in the surrounding environment. After investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the cement plant in accordance with the APCO.

     Cement handling plants are classified as specified processes under the APCO. They are required to obtain a licence from the EPD and should comply with relevant dust control requirements. Aggregates should be stored in the structure, with the top sheltered and its three sides enclosed with rigid walls, and its entrance should be covered with a dust curtain and have water spraying installed, so as to prevent the fine dust from dispersing by wind. If licence holders fail to observe licence conditions, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. Upon second or subsequent conviction, a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island this Thursday (September 6).

     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 9.30am until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Queen’s Road West;
– Whitty Street;
– Chiu Kwong Street;
– Des Voeux Road West;
– Praya Kennedy Town;

– Hill Road; and
– Po Tuck Street.

     Vehicles may not be permitted to access or leave car parks along the route during the road closure period.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     A cleaning contractor and one of its staff members illegally deposited some 20 bags of rubbish at Tat Fuk Road in Tuen Mun this February. They were fined a total of $10,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 4) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).

     In February, a member of the public witnessed someone unloading about 20 bags of rubbish with bad odour from a garbage truck at Tat Fuk Road in Tuen Mun, seriously affecting environmental hygiene. The member of the public reported the case to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and provided photos taken during the incident to assist the EPD's investigation. With the licence plate information, the EPD was able to trace the cleaning contractor and the staff member involved. The department subsequently prosecuted them in accordance with the WDO after collecting sufficient evidence.

     It is unlawful to dispose of waste in public places or on the roadside. The EPD spokesman reminded cleaning companies and their staff that they should dispose of waste properly in accordance with the law. Under the WDO, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment for depositing waste in a public place.

     The spokesman encouraged members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness any illegal disposal of waste from vehicles. They can record videos or take photos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111 to help combat illegal dumping.