Police today (August 5) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Chan Heung-hoi, aged 74, went missing after he was last seen in a shopping mall on Salisbury Road yesterday afternoon (August 4). His family then made a report to Police.

He is about 1.78 metres tall, 70 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a purple and white striped polo shirt, khaki trousers, white shoes, a pair of glasses and carrying a green recycle bag.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Tai Po today (August 5) in which a man died.
           
     At about 2.13pm, a light goods vehicle (LGV) driven by a 55-year-old man was travelling along Tolo Highway towards Sha Tin. When the LGV was approaching 2 Biotechnology Avenue, it reportedly rammed into a stationary medium goods vehicle.
           
     Sustaining head and legs injuries, the man was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 3.03pm.
           
     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.
      
     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.

     The Sport For All Day 2024, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), was held yesterday (August 4). More than 210 000 people participated in free recreation and sports programmes at designated venues and enjoyed free use of the LCSD's leisure facilities as well as a live webcast. They also cheered for the national team and Hong Kong athletes participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

     "The event was well-received by members of the public. More than 170 000 people used our free facilities yesterday. A usage rate of over 95 per cent was recorded for the main arenas of sport centres. More than 81 000 people also enjoyed swimming for free at LCSD swimming pools," a spokesman for the LCSD said today (August 5).

     The theme of the Sport For All Day this year was "Parent-child Exercise for Fun and Fitness". More than 26 000 people took part in a wide variety of free recreation and sports programmes held at designated sports centres in 18 districts, including parent-child sports activities, Olympic sports-related activities, experiential activities for new sports as well as urban sports, electronic virtual sports, fitness corners, health talks, and activities for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

     The LCSD organised a series of physical fitness demonstrations and fun games, and arranged a live webcast yesterday via the dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad) and the "LCSD Plusss" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LCSDPlusss). More than 17 000 viewers joined the sports demonstrations through online platforms in real time. Members of the public can also review the sports videos on the dedicated website to establish a healthy lifestyle.

     The LCSD will continue to encourage public participation in various types of sports activities and develop a strong sporting culture in the community.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 5) investigating a case of suspected mad honey poisoning, and reminded the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary.

     A 42-year-old female developed hypersalivation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness around one hour after consuming honey yesterday (August 4). She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital on the same day and was admitted for treatment due to hypotension and bradycardia. The patient was in stable condition. Her clinical diagnosis was suspected mad honey poisoning.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient consumed honey brought to Hong Kong by a friend from Nepal. The poisoning might have been caused by grayanotoxin. The investigations are ongoing.

     "Mad honey poisoning is caused by ingestion of honey containing grayanotoxins derived from plants belonging to the Ericaceae family, including rhododendrons. Grayanotoxins are neurotoxins which can affect nerves and muscles. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia shortly after ingestion. In severe cases, hypotension, bradycardia or shock may occur," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

     Members of the public are reminded to take heed of the following preventive advice:

• Buy honey from a reliable source or apiary;
• Discard honey with a bitter or astringent taste – grayanotoxin-containing honey may cause a burning sensation in the throat; and
• Pay special attention to honey from India, Nepal and the Black Sea region of Türkiye as there have been grayanotoxin poisoning cases connected with honey from these areas.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 5) announced that the Pilot Scheme for Electric Public Light Buses (e-PLBs) is open now for the second round of applications until August 26.
 
     "We are conducting operational trials under the Pilot Scheme in phases. Same as in the first round of applications, Kowloon Tong (Suffolk Road) and Yue Man Square Public Transport Interchanges (PTIs) will continue to serve as trial points. Successful operators will be subsidised with 80 per cent of the vehicle price for each e-PLB joining the Pilot Scheme. It is expected that approval will be granted to all successful applications next month with a view to commencing the second round of trials in the fourth quarter this year," an EPD spokesperson said.
 
     The spokesperson added that, drawing from the experiences gained from the first round of applications and the feedback from the operators and prequalified suppliers of e-PLBs, a number of enhancement measures will be adopted in the second round, including streamlining the release of subsidy. Operators of green minibuses may apply for the release of subsidy at 80 per cent of the vehicle price of the e-PLB to the relevant prequalified supplier directly from the Government. In addition, the participating operators are also required to charge the e-PLBs with pantograph and plug-in chargers separately during the trial period in accordance with the charging time proportion specified by the EPD to collect the relevant data for more effective assessment of the operation arrangements and performance of different charging modes. 
 
     Operators of green minibuses interested in taking part in the Pilot Scheme should submit their applications to the EPD before the deadline. Details about the Pilot Scheme and its application can be found on the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/guide_ref/pseplb.html).
 
     To promote the local application of e-PLBs, the Government has earmarked $80 million for the implementation of the Pilot Scheme to test and assess the operation and performance of e-PLBs and the associated quick charging facilities. The EPD rolled out the first round of applications in October 2023, and signed agreements with two operators in December 2023 to subsidise each of them to buy one e-PLB to participate in the trials. The relevant e-PLBs have been undergoing the operational trials at the above two PTIs since the end of March this year.