The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 1) investigating a food poisoning outbreak related to the consumption of wild mushrooms, and urged the public not to pick and eat wild mushrooms.
 
     The patients are two women aged 49 and 21 who developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea two to three hours after consuming wild mushrooms at home on July 23. Both were admitted to Yan Chai Hospital on the same day. They remained in a stable condition and have been discharged.

     Initial investigations revealed that the wild mushrooms consumed by the patients were picked near Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun on July 21. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.
 
     "Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms like profuse sweating, hallucination, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," he added.
 
     "If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.

     A total of 70 photographs showing buildings and the streetscape of Nathan Road in the mid-1970s have been uploaded to the website of the Government Records Service (GRS) today (August 1). Members of the Hong Kong community are invited to view the pictures and take a walk down memory lane.
 
     "This set of photos brings back the collective memories of Nathan Road in the mid-1970s. We hope they can promote the appreciation of archival records," a GRS spokesman said.
 
     The photographs were taken for recording the road conditions of the construction sites of the Mass Transit Railway from Prince Edward Station to Tsim Sha Tsui Station in the 1970s. They were transferred from the Lands Department. Some landmark buildings and household names, such as the Astor Theatre, Tai Lin and Bargain, which have faded out now reappear in these photographs. One can compare today's economic vibrancy of Nathan Road with that in the 1970s.
 
     Members of the public can view these photographs at the Educational Resources Portal (www.grs.gov.hk/en/educational_resource_portal.html) under the GRS' website. 
 
     The Educational Resources Portal contains topical guides, digitised holdings, online exhibitions and other resources for learning and teaching. It provides a resource-rich and easily accessible platform for web users to get to know the development of Hong Kong.

        

     Two Indian illegal workers, each holding a recognisance form, were jailed at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (July 31).

     Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators received a referral from the Hong Kong Police Force to further investigate an illegal employment case in May. Enforcement officers arrested two male Indian illegal workers, aged 28 and 25, who were found doing renovation work in a shop in Yuen Long. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants.  

     The two illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. They pleaded guilty to the charges and were each sentenced to 16 months and three weeks' imprisonment.

     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
      
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
      
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase, and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.

     The Water Supplies Department announced today (August 1) that owing to salt water pumping station maintenance works, the flushing water supply to some premises in Kowloon will be suspended from 9am to 6pm on August 4.

     The suspension will affect all premises in the area bounded by Sai Yee Street, Yim Po Fong Street, Wylie Road, Gascoigne Road, Chatham Road South, Hong Chong Road, Salisbury Road, West Kowloon Highway, MTR Kowloon Station, Lai Cheung Road, Ferry Street, Tong Mi Road and Mong Kok Road.

     A Government spokesman announced today (August 1) that the Working Group on the Promotion of the Charter on External Lighting has been revamped as the Working Group on External Lighting, and the incumbent Chairperson, Ms Caroline Mak, will continue to be appointed as the Chairperson. The new working group will assist the Government to review the effectiveness of the Charter on External Lighting, and advise the Government on more measures to better manage external lighting. The Working Group on External Lighting comprises 17 members from different sectors (see Annex for the membership list). The appointments are effective from today to July 31, 2021.

     The Government set up the Task Force on External Lighting in 2011 to advise on the appropriate strategy and measures for tackling nuisance and energy wastage problems caused by external lighting. The Task Force submitted its report to the Government in 2015 to recommend a multi-pronged approach, including the introduction of the Charter. The Government accepted the Task Force's recommendations and set up the working group in the same year to plan and promote the Charter.

     The Environment Bureau launched the Charter in 2016 to invite owners of and responsible persons for external lighting installations to switch off during preset times (i.e. 11pm or midnight to 7am on the following day) lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes that affect the outdoor environment. With the working group's promotion, the Charter has secured support of over 4 800 participants from sectors including building management, property development, hotels and catering, retail, laundry, banking, telecommunications and real estate agencies, as well as schools, public utilities and public/non-governmental organisations.

     The Government earlier agreed with the Task Force's recommendations in its report to review the effectiveness of the Charter two years after implementation. The Government therefore reorganised the existing Working Group on the Promotion of the Charter of External Lighting into the Working Group on External Lighting, and expanded its role to include promotion of the Charter, reviewing its effectiveness and advising the Government on more options to effectively manage external lighting.

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, thanked the Chairperson and members of the working group for their valuable contributions in the past few years. "Under Ms Mak's sterling leadership, the working group has made tremendous efforts in promoting the Charter. The Government will commence a review on the effectiveness of the Charter this year, and consider the next step with regard to the findings. We will continue to work closely with the revamped working group. With members drawn from professional bodies, relevant trades, academia, green groups and District Councils, the working group will be a good platform to forge stronger community consensus and to provide the Government with comments and recommendations on tackling external lighting, so as to assist the Government to map out a way forward," he said.

     Mr Wong thanked the outgoing members, Mr Winston Chow and Mr Philip Kan, for their service and contributions during their tenure.