The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre made the following announcement today (August 30):
 
     Four paediatric patients (three male and one female, aged 15 to 16) in a ward of the Developmental Disabilities Unit have been presenting with symptoms compatible with hand, foot and mouth disease since August 19. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for enteroviruses. The four patients are in stable condition and are being treated in isolation.
 
     Enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted according to prevailing guidelines. Droplet and contact precautions, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of the environment and equipment have also been strengthened. The ward concerned has also suspended visiting arrangements.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation in the ward concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.

     As at noon today (August 30), the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has conducted tests on the radiological level of 158 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
     
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological tests. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
     
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly was detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological level of 1 147 samples of food imported from Japan and 350 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 30) investigating a case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, and hence reminded the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene against intestinal infections.

     The case involves a 61-year-old female with good past health, who presented with fever, nausea and abdominal pain on August 14. She attended St. Paul's Hospital on August 16 and was admitted on the same day. She was discharged on August 17 after her condition became stable.

     Her stool specimen grew STEC upon laboratory testing.

     According to information provided by the patient, she had no travel history and did not consume any high-risk food (such as raw meat and unpasteurised dairy products) during the incubation period. Investigations of the CHP are ongoing.

     "Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains, however, such as STEC, can produce powerful toxins and cause severe food-borne disease. The most recognised serogroup of STEC is E. coli O157:H7," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

     Preventive measures for STEC infection are similar to those recommended for other food-borne diseases. The public are advised to observe good personal and food hygiene:
 

• Adopt the Five Keys to Food Safety in handling food, i.e. Choose (choose safe raw materials), Clean (keep hands and utensils clean), Separate (separate raw and cooked food), Cook (cook thoroughly) and Safe Temperature (keep food at a safe temperature) to prevent food-borne diseases;
• Wash hands properly with liquid soap and water before handling food, after handling raw meat or poultry and before eating, and after going to the toilet or changing diapers;
• Cook food and boil water thoroughly before consumption. When cooking or reheating, the core temperature of the food should reach at least 75 degrees Celsius;
• Avoid consumption of unpasteurised milk or undercooked food; and
• Consult your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of STEC infection, particularly bloody diarrhoea.

     â€‹â€‹The public may visit the CHP's STEC page for more information.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, leading a delegation of the Labour and Welfare Bureau, today (August 30) started his visit to three Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), together with a delegation of the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services.

     This morning, accompanied by the Vice Chairman of Clifford Group, Ms Wendy Man, Mr Sun met with retired Hong Kong people in Clifford Estates in Guangzhou to learn more about their retirement life and needs on the Mainland. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) implements various portable cash assistance schemes to enable Hong Kong elderly persons staying in Mainland cities of the GBA to receive Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Old Age Allowance or Old Age Living Allowance. As of end-July 2023, about 24 000 Hong Kong elderly persons retiring in Guangdong benefitted from the relevant schemes. In addition, the SWD will relax the absence limit under the pre-application one-year continuous residence requirement of the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme from 56 to 90 days starting from next month. Applicants are required to reside in Hong Kong for a minimum of 275 days within one year before making an application to be eligible for applying for the SSA Scheme, provided that they also meet other eligibility criteria. The initiative will provide more convenience for Hong Kong people frequently travelling between Hong Kong and Mainland cities of the GBA.

     The delegations toured the Clifford Care Center and visited Hong Kong residents in the afternoon to take a closer look at the medical, elderly, rehabilitation and care services provided by its multidisciplinary team and how they assist the elderly to remain living in the community. Mr Sun said that with ample land supply and manpower in Mainland cities of the GBA, the experience of medical and elderly care integration is of valuable reference to Hong Kong, thereby providing more choices for Hong Kong elderly people.

     Mr Sun and the delegations then paid a courtesy call on the Party Secretary of the Department of Civil Affairs of Guangdong Province, Mr Ding Hongdu. Both sides held a joint seminar to exchange updates on the latest situation of elderly care in the two places and explored the better use of technology to enhance service quality. Following his visit to Guangdong on elderly and rehabilitation services with a Hong Kong social welfare sector delegation in late April this year, as well as signing a memorandum with the Department of Civil Affairs of Guangdong Province to foster collaboration on elderly care between the two places in late May, Mr Sun said that this visit further deepened mutual understanding on the development and experience of elderly services, ushering in a new phase of co-operation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government looks forward to seizing opportunities arising from the development of the GBA with the social welfare sector of Hong Kong under the principle of complementarity and deepening the implementation of cross-boundary elderly care, with a view to improving the quality of life of elderly people in both places.

     The delegations will continue their visit in Guangzhou tomorrow morning (August 31) and depart for Zhaoqing in the afternoon.

        

     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, today (August 30) led over 120 leaders and members of youth uniformed groups to visit the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center at Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks to strengthen members of youth uniformed groups' understanding of the remarkable achievements of the country, as well as the nation's military history and the work of the Hong Kong Garrison.
 
     Members of youth uniformed groups visited the exhibition themed "Dreams of the East". They appreciated historical photos, antiques and models of the PLA's military equipment installed at the three thematic exhibition halls, namely "the Chinese Dream", "the Dream of a Strong Military" and "the PRC HK Garrison", and the weaponry and equipment area.
 
     Miss Mak thanked the Hong Kong Garrison for specially arranging the visit. It not only provides young people with a valuable opportunity for national education, but also reflects the care and attention of the Hong Kong Garrison to the young people in Hong Kong.
 
     This visit is a signature event under 2023 youthfest@HK (festival). Being one of the key initiatives of the Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address and the Youth Development Blueprint, the festival attracts and unites young people from different backgrounds and with varying aspirations and hobbies through a variety of activities. Through participating in the festival, young people are able to broaden their horizons, understand their potential and interests, and be inspired to plan for their future.  

     With the tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, there are more than 100 all-encompassing activities under the festival to promote positive thinking among young people on all fronts. For the latest updates of the events under the festival, please visit the thematic webpage www.youthfest.hk.