Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Kwai Chung this afternoon (May 14) in which an 87-year-old man died.

     At about 1.23pm, a public light bus (PLB) driven by a 64-year-old man was travelling along Kwai Yi Road towards Kwai Foo Road. When approaching MTR Kwai Fong Station, it reportedly knocked down the 87-year-old man who was crossing the road.

     Sustaining serious head injuries, the man was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in conscious state and was certified dead at 3.38pm.

     The PLB driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1300.

     A woman aged 63 was convicted at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 14) for practice of Chinese medicine without registration and possession of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm). She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and a fine of $10,000 respectively.

     The Police and the Department of Health (DH) conducted a joint operation and raided a moxibustion rehabilitation centre at Nan Fung Centre in Tsuen Wan on November 15, 2016. Investigations revealed that the woman provided moxibustion in the premises and a quantity of unregistered moxa sticks was also seized during the operation.

     "The DH is very concerned about the potential health risks arising from non-professionals applying Chinese medicine-based treatment," a spokesman for the DH said.

     "Moxibustion is regarded as one of the Chinese medicine therapies if traditional Chinese medicine theory is applied. It involves the stimulation of acupoints through burning moxa sticks. Through the effects of heat and medicine, it can regulate meridians and collaterals, and relieve pain. Improper use can lead to skin burns and infections. In addition, use of unregistered pCm may also pose threats to public health as the safety, quality and efficacy are not proven," the spokesman explained.

     According to section 108 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549), any person who practises Chinese medicine while not being a registered Chinese medicine practitioner or listed Chinese medicine practitioner in Hong Kong commits a criminal offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to three years' imprisonment. In addition, according to section 119 of the Ordinance, no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty for each offence is $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.

      Members of the public should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional when feeling sick, and should make a report to the Police if illegal Chinese medicine practice is suspected. In addition, a list of registered and listed Chinese medicine practitioners has been uploaded to the website of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK) (www.cmchk.org.hk) for viewing. The public can also call the Secretariat of the CMCHK (Tel: 2121 1888) for related enquiries.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 14) called on the public to stop consuming loose-pack porcini mushrooms sold at a shop in Tuen Mun as the mushrooms concerned were suspected to contain inedible or poisonous species of mushrooms.
 
     A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS is following up on a food poisoning case suspected to have been caused by consuming porcini mushrooms, which was referred earlier by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. Investigations showed that the porcini mushrooms concerned were purchased from a shop at Tsing Ho Square, Tuen Mun. The shop has stopped sale of the product and initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions. Members of the public may call the shop at 9330 0850 for enquiries during office hours."
 
     The CFS appealed to members of the public who had purchased porcini mushrooms from the above-mentioned shop earlier not to consume them. If symptoms develop after consuming the food, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
 
     Mushroom poisoning is generally acute and manifested by a variety of symptoms, depending on the species and the amount consumed. The incubation period is usually short. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are the commonest symptoms. Sometimes distinguishing features such as extreme thirst, profuse sweating, hallucination, coma and other neurological symptoms may occur.
 
     Consumers are advised to heed the following points when buying and eating fresh mushrooms:
 
* Do not buy mushroom products which are suspected of having a mix of unknown species;
* Do not buy mushrooms which look unhygienic (with growing substrates left with the product) or show signs of spoilage (with coloured spots/abnormal smell/slime, etc);
* Wash and cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption; and
* Seek medical treatment immediately if mushroom poisoning is suspected.
 
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (May 16) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will resume the debate on a motion under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure, moved by Mr Paul Tse at the Council meeting of December 14, 2016. The motion states: "That this Council, in accordance with Article 79(7) of the Basic Law, censures Dr Cheng Chung-tai for misbehaviour (details as particularised in the Schedule to this motion)."

     On other Members' motions, Dr Fernando Cheung will move a motion on the report of the Joint Subcommittee on Long-term Care Policy. The motion states: "That this Council notes the Report of the Joint Subcommittee on Long-term Care Policy."

     Ms Tanya Chan will move a motion on not forgetting the June 4 incident. The motion states: "That this Council urges that: the June 4 incident be not forgotten and the 1989 pro-democracy movement be vindicated."

     Mr Chan Hak-kan will move a motion for the adjournment of the Council under Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the impact on the interests of Hong Kong and the country arising from the remarks made by Mr Benny Tai Yiu-ting, one of the initiators of the 'Occupy Central' movement, at a forum held in Taiwan in March 2018 that Hong Kong could consider becoming an independent state."

     Meanwhile, Ms Starry Lee will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No. 12/17-18 of the House Committee laid on the Table of the Council on May 9, 2018 in relation to the Rating (Exemption) Order 2018."

     On Government bills, the Second Reading debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2018 and the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2017 will resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.

     On Members' bills, the Second Reading debate on the Sailors Home and Missions to Seamen Incorporation (Amendment) Bill 2018 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.

     During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present "The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 69 of February 2018" and address the Council.

     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies. 

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo website.

     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo website.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 14) investigating a food poisoning case involving three persons who had eaten porcini mushrooms.

     The three patients, a man and two women, aged 22 to 50, presented with vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and nausea around four hours after having dinner with porcini mushrooms purchased from a store in Tuen Mun on April 27 and cooked at home that evening. All patients were admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital on April 28, have been in a stable condition and were discharged on the same day upon management.

     The CHP has also alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and the investigations are ongoing.

     "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," a CHP spokesman said.

     "We advise the public to buy mushrooms from reputable and reliable suppliers and not to buy mushroom products which may be mixed with unknown species. Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones. Mixing of edible species with inedible or poisonous species of mushroom will not dilute toxicity. Cooking in most cases does not destroy toxicity," the spokesman added.

     "If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.