A company was fined $12,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (June 14) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
           
     The courts heard that in August 2016, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Pat Heung in Yuen Long. The OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.
           
     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The company responsible for operating the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
           
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.
           
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     In his visit to Kwun Tong District today (June 14), the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, toured the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) Headquarters and the financial technologies (Fintech) innovation lab eXellerator to get a better grasp of the public and private efforts in spurring innovation and technology (I&T).
 
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Kwun Tong District Council, Dr Bunny Chan, and the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Steve Tse, Mr Yang first visited the EMSD Headquarters. The Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Tai Tak-him, gave a brief account of I&T application in enhancing EMSD services, pushing forward smart city development and supporting commercialisation of research and development (R&D) results of local enterprises.
 
     The EMSD introduced a plan at the end of last year to turn its Headquarters Building and related facilities into a testing ground. Start-ups and universities can make use of this testing ground to field-test electrical and mechanical-related and energy efficiency-related I&T projects. Projects' effectiveness and performance will be measured and verified with a view to promoting their development.
 
     In collaboration with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the EMSD has organised the Innovative Technology Day since 2017. Representatives from start-ups of the Incu-Tech Programme, government departments and public organisations are invited to exchange views on driving realisation of R&D results. Early this year, the EMSD established the Innovation Office and launched the E&M InnoPortal. The platform facilitates matching amongst government departments, public organisations, universities and start-ups to enhance their services through I&T applications and accelerate commercialisation of research outcomes of local universities.
 
     A number of project demonstrations were shown to Mr Yang, including:
 
(1) The Remote Monitoring System developed in-house by the EMSD to monitor traffic lights, and pumping and lighting systems for underpasses and subways;
(2) A smart thermostat for central air-conditioning systems developed by a team from the City University of Hong Kong with funding support from the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities;
(3) Passive light-emitting diode lighting technology developed by a team from the University of Hong Kong;
(4) Video analytics on passenger flow for lift operation optimisation developed by a start-up engaged via the E&M InnoPortal; and
(5) The Safematics Smart Safety System supported by the Public Sector Trial Scheme.

      This was followed by a visit to the Fintech innovation lab eXellerator in Standard Chartered Tower. Designed and run by co-working space operator WeWork, eXellerator brings together different departments of the bank, clients and start-ups to enhance user experience with Fintech. Mr Yang called for collaboration between eXellerator and the Cyberport Fintech community. Citing Cyberport as the largest Fintech cluster in Hong Kong with over 250 Fintech start-ups, Mr Yang said he believed that promising solutions could be found there.
 
     Before concluding the district visit, Mr Yang met with members of the Kwun Tong District Council to listen to their views on I&T development.

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 14) investigating a case of invasive meningococcal infection, a communicable disease transmitted by direct contact with droplets from carriers or infected persons.

     The case involves a 60-year-old woman, with underlying illnesses, who has presented with fever, vomiting and diarrhoea since June 11. She sought medical treatment from the Accident and Emergency Department (A&ED) of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 12 and passed away at the A&ED on the same day.

     Her blood sample tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lived alone and had no travel history during the incubation period. The CHP's investigation is continuing. The case was also referred to the Coroner for investigation.

     "Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, from infected persons. The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, and is commonly three or four days," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The clinical picture may vary. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis).

     Meningococcaemia is characterised by sudden onset of fever, intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache and stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or a rash. It can cause brain damage or even death. The brain damage may lead to intellectual impairment, mental retardation, hearing loss and electrolyte imbalance. Invasive meningococcal infections can be complicated by arthritis, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the posterior chamber of the eye or chest infection.

     Meningococcal infection is a serious illness. Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics.

     To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures:
 

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharge in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately;
• Avoid crowded places;
• Avoid close contact with patients who have fever or severe headache;
• Travellers to high-risk areas may consult doctors for meningococcal vaccination; and
• Travellers returning from high-risk areas should seek medical advice if they become ill and should discuss their recent travel history with their doctor.

    
     The public may visit the CHP's website for more information on meningococcal infection.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Director General of the Department of Culture of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Yiyang; and the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Ms Mok Ian-ian, attended the 19th Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Co-operation Meeting in Hong Kong today (June 14). About 100 delegates including officials and representatives of relevant arts and cultural authorities and organisations from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao also joined the meeting.
      
     In his concluding remarks, Mr Lau said that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to support local arts groups to perform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, and has reserved $140 million to support Hong Kong arts groups and artists in making cultural exchanges in the Bay Area over the coming five years. The cultural co-operation among the three places will become more vibrant in the future, he said.
      
     The three places have made progress in various areas of co-operation. In the performing arts, various performers of unconventional Cantonese music, "crossover" music and jazz will begin to tour around the Bay Area from autumn 2018. As for museums, the three places will continue to support International Museum Day and the Muse Fest HK, and will organise student exchange activities such as the Youth Internship Programme at the Palace Museum. Regarding professional training, the three places will continue to organise the Greater Pearl River Delta Conservation Training Workshop this year to enhance professional conservation skills. In the coming year, the three places will also continue to strengthen co-operation in the areas of public libraries, intangible cultural heritage, and cultural and creative industries for the further development of relevant services and the cultural sector.
      
     The Department of Culture of Guangdong Province, the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR have established a cultural framework within the Greater Pearl River Delta region. An agreement on cultural co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao was signed in August 2003 and five working groups have been set up to implement and follow up on the recommendations for co-operation in different areas.
          
     The five working groups met yesterday afternoon (June 13) to discuss specific topics, namely exchanges for performing artists and co-organisation of cultural programmes, co-operation in public libraries and cultural information, co-operation in museum services, intangible cultural heritage, and co-operation in cultural and creative industries.    

        

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (June 15) for duty visits to Bordeaux and Paris in France as well as Noordwijkerhout in the Netherlands from June 16 to 21.
 
     Mr Yau will first visit Bordeaux on June 16, where he will meet with Government officials and explore further co-operation in wine-related education and manpower training between Hong Kong and Bordeaux.
 
     Mr Yau will then proceed to the Netherlands on June 17. He will meet with Dutch trade officials to exchange views on trade-related issues in Noordwijkerhout on June 18.
 
     Mr Yau will depart for Paris in the evening on June 18 to join part of the Chief Executive’s visit programme to France and attend seminars on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.
 
     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on June 21. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.