The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (July 27) investigating a case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) 71 infection, and again urged the public and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.

     The case involves a 1-month-old baby boy with good past health, who has presented with fever and rash over hands and feet since July 22. He was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital for medical treatment on July 23 and was discharged today. He has all along been in a stable condition.

     His cerebrospinal fluid specimen tested positive for EV71 upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was meningitis.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no recent travel history. His home contacts remain asymptomatic so far. Investigations are ongoing.

    "EV71 is one of the causative agents for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The infection is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. Good personal and environmental hygiene are the most important measures to prevent EV71 infection," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "HFMD is common in children while adult cases may also appear. It is usually caused by enteroviruses such as Coxsackie virus and EV71. It is clinically characterised by maculopapular rashes or vesicular lesions occurring on the palms, soles and other parts of the body such as the buttocks and thighs. Vesicular lesions and ulcers may also be found in the oral cavity. Sometimes patients present mainly with painful ulcers at the back of the mouth, namely herpangina, without rash on the hands or feet," the spokesman said.
 
     "HFMD occurs throughout the year. A summer peak usually occurs in May to July. As young children are more susceptible, parents should stay alert to their health. Institutional outbreaks may occur where HFMD can easily spread among young children with close contact," the spokesman added.

     To prevent HFMD, members of the public, especially the management of institutions, should take heed of the following preventive measures:

* Maintain good air circulation;
* Wash hands before meals and after going to the toilet or handling diapers or other stool-soiled materials;
* Keep hands clean and wash hands properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
* Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and oral discharges properly;
* Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as furniture, toys and commonly shared items with 1:99 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 99 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes, and then rinse with water and keep dry. For metallic surfaces, disinfect with 70 per cent alcohol;
* Use absorbent disposable towels to wipe away obvious contaminants such as respiratory secretions, vomitus or excreta, and then disinfect the surface and neighbouring areas with 1:49 diluted household bleach (mixing one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite with 49 parts of water), leave for 15 to 30 minutes and then rinse with water and keep dry. For metallic surfaces, disinfect with 70 per cent alcohol;
* Children with EV71 infection are advised to refrain from going to schools or group activities such as parties, interest classes and swimming until two weeks after fever has subsided and all the vesicular lesions have dried and crusted to prevent the spread of disease;
* Avoid going to overcrowded places; and
* Parents should maintain close communication with schools to let them know the latest situation of the sick children.

     The public may visit the CHP's page on HFMD and EV71 infection for more information.

     Many Hong Kong comedians team up on-screen, with the contrasts in their distinctive characters and appearances arousing much amusement. The exhibition "1 Plus 1 Equals More Than 2: Comedy Duos of Hong Kong Cinema", organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is being held from today (July 27) to October 1 at the Exhibition Hall of the HKFA. The exhibition features four comic pairings from different eras to showcase the gradual changes in Hong Kong comedies and society as well.
 
     The four highlighted on-screen pairs are Sun Ma Si-tsang and Tang Kei-chen in the 1950s, the "two fools" who would do anything for a buck; the Cantonese-speaking Leung Sing-por and the Mandarin-speaking Liu Enjia in the '60s, the hefty quarrelsome rivals; Michael Hui and Ricky Hui in the '70s and '80s, the mean boss and the bumbling employee; and Stephen Chow and Ng Man-tat in the '90s, the well-known figures of "mo lei tau", the Hong Kong style of nonsensical humour.
 
     Four scene zones simulating real sets in which the four pairs were shot for their popular comedies have been set up in the venue, namely the barber shop operated by the "two fools" in "Two Fools Catch the Murderer" (1959), the tailor store of the two hefty rivals in "The Greatest Civil War on Earth" (1961), the revamped local barbecue roast-duck restaurant in "Chicken and Duck Talk" (1988) and the corner store that is also the headquarters of an ancient form of kung fu in "Love on Delivery" (1994).
 
     In addition, the exhibition displays two 3D installations which project film clips highlighting the images, singing, pantomime and scripts of the four pairs. A photo-taking zone with cartoon images of the four pairs allows visitors to have fun in the venue.
 
     To complement the exhibition, two seminars in Cantonese will be held by the HKFA at its Cinema. The first, entitled "Hong Kong Comedies and Social Changes, 1977-1997", will be held at 2pm on July 28, with scriptwriter Lam Chiu-wing as the speaker. Another seminar, entitled "A Man/Society in Trouble in Hong Kong Comedies", will be held at 2pm on August 26 and will be hosted by film scholar Dr Yau Ching.
     
     Admission to the exhibition and the seminars is free. For details, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/highlights/highlights51.html.

              

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, visited Kwun Tong District this afternoon (July 27). Also joining the visit were the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, and two secondary school students participating in the "Be a Government Official for a Day" programme.
 
     Mr Lau first went to Kai Tin Market in Lam Tin. The market, built almost 30 years ago, was refurbished recently and reopened earlier this month, and it accepts Octopus and Alipay as means of mobile payment. Mr Lau was briefed on the operation of the market, and chatted with stall operators to learn more about their businesses and customers' use of mobile payment.
 
     Noting that the ecosystem of Hong Kong's electronic payment is getting more mature, Mr Lau said the Government will continue to explore and formulate initiatives to facilitate the development of financial technology with a view to promoting wider adoption of mobile retail payment for enhanced convenience of both merchants and customers.
 
     Mr Lau then proceeded to the Kwun Tong branch of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, where he was briefed by the school management on its business administration programmes. He also toured the Banking and Finance Professional Development Centre, the Professional Accountancy Centre and the Human Resource Assessment Centre there.
 
     He said he was pleased to learn that students could acquire professional skills through practical training in a simulated working environment and students would also go on a 90-hour trainee programme in an actual workplace to gain real-life experience.

     Mr Lau pointed out that with the rapid development of financial technology in the financial services industry, there will be more acute demand for professional talents. He encouraged the students to better equip themselves with professional knowledge and skill sets, and to keep abreast of the latest developments in the sector so as to prepare for their career development in the financial services industry.
 
     Before concluding the visit, Mr Lau met with members of the Kwun Tong District Council to exchange views on various issues including the life annuity scheme, development of mobile payment and the impact of trade conflict between China and the United States on Hong Kong.

        

     Hong Kong Customs conducted an anti-narcotics operation from July 18 to today (July 27) and seized a total of about 6.2 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $3 million at a mail processing centre of Hongkong Post in Tuen Mun.

     Customs officers seized the batch of suspected ketamine from three parcels, declared to contain rice and snacks, arriving from Yunnan on July 18 and 20.

     During the operation, Customs officers arrested a 39-year-old man suspected to be involved in the case in Kwai Chung.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), Mr Shun Chi-ming, in his capacity as the President of the Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), presided over the 16th session of the CAeM held from July 24 to 27 (Exeter time), and the Technical Conference held on July 23, in Exeter, the United Kingdom.
 
     Speaking at the opening of the session, Mr Shun said, "Aviation is one of the most weather-sensitive economic sectors. Science and technology are rapidly advancing, and so are user requirements. We need to ensure that in close collaboration with the user and research communities, the weather community will be able to further develop services that are fit-for-purpose and credible, both now and in the future."
 
     A total of 159 participants from 54 WMO members and eight international organisations attended the session meeting, which discussed the future development plan of the CAeM with five priority themes identified including aeronautical meteorological hazards prediction, aeronautical meteorological information service and governance, and impacts of climate change and variability on aviation. The meeting also discussed the operational structure of the CAeM to take forward future work, strengthening collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and WMO constituent body reform and its implication on the CAeM.
 
     The closing of the session marked the end of Mr Shun's second four-year term as the President of the CAeM. He was elected President in the 14th session held in Hong Kong in February 2010, and was re-elected in the 15th session held in Montreal, Canada, in July 2014. Mr Shun is the first Chinese person to serve as the president of a technical commission of the WMO since its establishment in 1951. 
 
     During Mr Shun's presidency, the CAeM has taken forward numerous projects, including the widespread implementation of a quality management system for aeronautical meteorological services, the launch of the Aviation Research and Development Project championed by the HKO, and the development of the Southeast Asia SIGMET (Significant Weather Information) co-ordination project. He also led various national and local development projects including the establishment of the Asian Aviation Meteorological Centre in co-operation with Mainland counterparts, and the launch of the electronic flight bag mobile application "MyFlightWx" developed by the HKO. 
 
     Considering the sustained contribution of Hong Kong, China to the work of the CAeM, the Assistant Director of the HKO, Ms Sharon Lau, was selected as a member of the new management group of the CAeM at the meeting. Ms Lau will assist the newly elected President, Mr Ian Lisk of the United Kingdom, to further develop aeronautical meteorological services and lead the work on aeronautical meteorological hazards prediction – one of the five priority themes of the CAeM – over the coming four years.
 
     The CAeM is one of the WMO's eight technical commissions looking after the application of meteorology to aviation. Its primary mission is to develop international standards and practices in co-ordination with the expert bodies of the ICAO, and co-ordinate technical support and capacity development for WMO members to meet the requirements of aviation for safe, economical and efficient air navigation.