Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the 18th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) Cocktail Reception today (June 13):
 
Laura (Chairman of HKEX, Mrs Laura Cha), members of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited Board, Deputy Director Huang Lanfa (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Deputy Commissioner Yang Yirui (Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is a great pleasure to be here to join you all to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, and I am particularly grateful to Laura for advancing the date of this reception to suit my schedule. I have to tell you it is very rare for the Chief Executive to ask the organiser to change a date in order to suit the Chief Executive, because I have enough – more than enough – invitations to a lot of things. But I really want to come this year to share the joy of the celebration because this evening's reception is not just what Laura described as a momentous occasion for HKEX, but actually it's a historic moment for the first lady Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the first lady Chairman of HKEX to take the stage and to give you that confidence that Hong Kong's financial services will grow stronger and stronger under two women. Of course I have every confidence that under Laura's leadership, with her sparkling track record and building on the strong foundations of HKEX laid by Charles Lee, Ron Arculli and C K Chow, we will be seeing a very promising future for Hong Kong's securities market.
 
     Today is the 18th anniversary and this number 18, I'm sure you'll agree, is a very good figure. It will bring good fortune to Hong Kong and to the future of HKEX and the market. Also 18 is a moment you enter adulthood. I'm not suggesting that HKEX was kind of childish in the last 17 years, but this is a moment for us to enter a new era of adulthood. So, if in the past we have benefited significantly from the opening up and reform of the Mainland of China's financial markets, this is a time for Hong Kong to go global.
 
     A few days after I took office, I was standing here to witness the launching of the Bond Connect, and we have to be extremely grateful to the Central Authorities for giving us so many opportunities in the last few years, one after another with the Shanghai Connect, the mutual recognition of funds, the Shenzhen Connect and then last year's Bond Connect. But Hong Kong's value lies in being international, and this is where we could contribute to the further opening up of the Mainland's financial markets. So I have this joint mission and aspiration with Laura that we should really take our markets globally and attract more internationally renowned companies to come to list on HKEX.
 
     I already put in my little part by going on a 12-hour trip to Saudi Arabia last December, Riyadh, for only one single objective – you know what that is, and we're still working very hard at that. I'm happy to go on more roadshows, if my diary permits, with the HKEX in order to tell the world that this is the place to be, because attracting overseas companies to list in Hong Kong is not just a question of listing rules – although listing rules are very important as we have seen from the new listing rules to attract new-economy technology companies, biotechnology companies and secondary listing of overseas-listed companies in Hong Kong. But it is not just the listing rules. I would say that it is not just the regulatory regime of Carlson (Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Mr Carlson Tong) and Ashley (Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Mr Ashley Alder). It is also what Hong Kong can offer.
 
     So, it is for me as the Chief Executive, the Financial Secretary and our team to back up your promotion work to tell people what this city can offer. We can offer the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, this high degree of internationalisation and this place being a very liveable city so that more companies from abroad will choose Hong Kong as their destination for the raising of capital. I hope that in my tenure I will continue to make my contribution to Hong Kong's securities industry, and I hope that you will all support Laura and the team and my Government in bringing Hong Kong's securities market to new heights.
 
     Thank you very much.

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating today (June 13) a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems and that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     The male patient aged 92 with underlying illnesses, who lives in an elderly home in Tai Po, was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital on May 31 for decreased general condition and right ear discharge. He developed shortness of breath since June 7. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he is in critical condition.
 
     The patient's urine sample tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen upon laboratory testing.
 
     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no travel history in the incubation period.

     "Epidemiological investigations with the hospital and elderly home are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any. Relevant water samples and environmental swabs are being collected from potential sources for testing," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     Tracing of contacts including in-patients and staff of the ward as well as residents and staff of the elderly home where the patient stayed in the incubation period is ongoing and those identified will be put under medical surveillance. The CHP has provided health advice against LD to staff, in-patients and residents, including those with weakened immunity who should use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing.

     Apart from the above case, as of June 9, a total of 22 LD cases had been reported in 2018. In 2017 and 2016, there were 72 and 75 cases respectively
 
     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may get infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems. They may also get the infection when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Persons with weakened immunity should strictly observe the health advice below:
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. In addition, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

     The public, including susceptible groups, should take heed of the general precautions against LD below:
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol;
• Remove strainers in water taps and shower heads quarterly for cleaning;
• If a fresh water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres and they need to be changed periodically;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute the infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow medical advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile (not distilled or tap) water to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2-micrometre filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

1.  Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
2. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
3. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
4. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     More information is available in the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.

     Police today (June 13) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Yuen Long.
         
     Law Wilson, aged 77, went missing after he left his residence in Shung Ching San Tsuen on May 1. His family made a report to the Police on June 10.
         
     He is about 1.65 metres tall, 55 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and grey short hair.  
          
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3127 or 6273 5787 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station

  

     A man who went missing in Kwai Chung was located.

     Lai Wai-tak, aged 43, went missing after he left his residence in Kwai Shing West Estate on April 21. His family made a report to Police on June 6.

     The man was located on Pei Ho Street in Sham Shui Po this afternoon (June 13). He sustained no injury and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     Hong Kong Customs today (June 13) seized about 200 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $500,000 and a duty potential of about $400,000 at Man Kam To Control Point.
                
     Customs officers intercepted an incoming truck declared as carrying assorted goods at Man Kam To Control Point this morning. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside 15 cartons packed with small tables.
 
     The 62-year-old male driver was arrested and the truck was detained. Investigation is ongoing.
 
     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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