Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

     To prevent heat stroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

     If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

     Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

     If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 29) seized about 3.6 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $1.9 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Togo via Ethiopia yesterday. Upon examination of his check-in luggage, Customs officers found the suspected methamphetamine concealed inside a false compartment at the bottom of the luggage. The man was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 50, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 31).

     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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 29) seized about 3.6 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $1.9 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Togo via Ethiopia yesterday. Upon examination of his check-in luggage, Customs officers found the suspected methamphetamine concealed inside a false compartment at the bottom of the luggage. The man was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 50, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 31).

     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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital made the following announcement today (May 30):
 
     Three patients (aged 41 to 67) and a staff member in a male infirmary ward of the Rehabilitation Department presented with respiratory symptoms since May 25. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition. The staff member is currently on leave.
 
     Limited admission to the ward has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 30) investigating two food poisoning clusters affecting four persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The first cluster involved one man and one woman, aged 40 and 45, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting about seven to 10 hours after consuming ready-to-eat cooked food bought from a supermarket for dinner at home on May 23.

     The second cluster also involved one man and one woman, aged 46 and 51, who developed similar symptoms about 10 to 11 hours after having the same ready-to-eat cooked food bought from the same supermarket at home the same evening.

     All those affected sought medical advice. One from each cluster was discharged upon hospitalisation, and their stool specimens tested positive for Vibrio parahaemolyticus. All patients are now in a stable condition.

     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.