Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected cases of drug trafficking on August 2 and 3 in which about one kilogram of suspected cannabis buds and about 2.2 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $1.42 million in total were seized at the Hong Kong International Airport.
      
     In the first case, Customs officers inspected an air mail parcel from the United States on August 2 and seized about one kilogram of suspected cannabis buds from a carton box inside.
      
     Subsequent to follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (August 4) arrested a 17-year-old man in Kowloon City who is suspected to be involved in the case. The arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
      
     In the second case, a female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Nairobi, Kenya via Dubai, United Arab Emirates in the afternoon on August 3. Upon examination of her check-in baggage, Customs officers seized about 2.2 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine in chocolate look. The seized drug carries an estimated market value of about $1.2 million.

     The woman, aged 29, was arrested immediately and has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 6).
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     Students and teachers at Po Leung Kuk HK Taoist Association Yuen Yuen Primary School dressed up as their favourite literary characters to discover the joys of reading.

     News.gov.hk interviewed the students and the school's principal to see how they are fostering a strong reading culture.

     The story appears on news.gov.hk today (August 5) in text and video format.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, will lead a delegation to Guangzhou, Zhongshan and Shenzhen tomorrow (August 6) to enhance exchanges and co-operation in medical and healthcare field in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area (Bay Area) with a view to proactively tapping the opportunities in the region.

     Jointly organised by the Food and Health Bureau and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, the visit will focus on the "development of private hospitals and medical institutions in the Bay Area" and the "healthcare manpower training in the Bay Area". Apart from visiting local hospitals and medical institutions, the delegation will also attend a seminar in Guangzhou where they will exchange views with healthcare representatives in the Bay Area.

     Professor Chan said, "The exchanges and co-operation in the medical and healthcare field are increasingly closer among the cities in the Bay Area. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government fully supports private hospitals and private healthcare sectors in Hong Kong to develop in the Bay Area, and will assist in the sustainable healthcare manpower training in the Bay Area, in a bid to promoting healthcare development in the region.

     "This delegation comprises about 100 members including representatives from private hospitals, private healthcare facilities, healthcare professional associations, medical training institutions and healthcare professionals. I believe that the visit will help delegates build up a communication platform in the Bay Area and lay a solid foundation for future development."

     Officials accompanying Professor Chan during the visit include the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, and the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Leung Pak-yin.

     Professor Chan will return to Hong Kong on August 8. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health.

     The Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary heat shelters today (August 5) as the Very Hot Weather Warning (VHWW) is in force.
 
     The shelters will be closed at 10pm if the VHWW is cancelled before 4.30pm. Otherwise, the shelters will be open until 8am tomorrow.
 
     For further information, please call the department's enquiries hotline on 2835 1473.
 
     The 18 temporary heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern/Wan Chai –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (August 5) will be cancelled.