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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 pro… read more

      
     A 48-year-old female patient in a Medicine Ward of QMH was found leaving the ward without prior notification at nearly 4.30 pm.
      
     Security guards were immediately deployed to search for the patient within the hospital compound and the vicinity but in vain. The hospital is very concerned about the incident and has immediately informed the patient’s family and reported to the Police for assistance.
      
     The patient is about 1.5 metres tall with thin body build and short hair. She wore an orange colour top and was taking a white plastic bag when leaving the ward.
      
     The hospital appeals to the public to contact Western Police Station at 3661 1618 if they know the whereabouts of the patient. read more

     Led by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, members of the Security Bureau (SB) Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum and non-Chinese speaking students of Project Lighthouse today (August 16) completed their three-day visit and exchange activities in Xi’an. The youth members will continue their tour on history and innovation and technology in Yan’an and Beijing during the next five days to learn about the history, culture and latest development of the country. 

     Arriving in Xi’an on August 14, the tour group visited various heritage and historic landmarks including the magnificent fleet of terracotta warriors and horses and other valuable artefacts at the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum. They also visited the Shaanxi History Museum, the Tang Paradise modelled on royal gardens of the Tang dynasty, and the Datang Everbright City that showcases the culture of high Tang. In addition, the group enjoyed a singing and dancing performance based on “The Song of Everlasting Regret” by poet Bai Juyi of the Tang dynasty.

     The group met with Standing Committee Member and Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Li Mingyuan, yesterday (August 15). The Chairman of the SB Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum, Ms Cheng Cheung-ling, was in attendance. Thanking them for their full support and co-ordination on various arrangements for the study tour, Mr Tang said that the members benefited a lot from the rich programme and gained a deep impression about the world-class historic landmarks and heritage in Shaanxi Province, which allowed them to realise the importance the country attaches to heritage conservation and inheritance as well as the long Chinese history.

     The tour members today visited iHARBOUR of Xi’an Jiaotong University to learn about advanced technologies of the country and the Yisushe Theater cultural block to learn about the arts and culture of Qinqiang. They also met with the Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League and Chairman of the Provincial Youth Federation, Mr Xu Yongsheng. Representatives of the youth members shared their feelings and remarked that the journey has enhanced their understanding of the development and culture of the country. Finally, the tour members completed their visit in Xi’an after watching a traditional welcome ceremony at Yongning Gate of the Xi’an City Wall and going to the tower.

     The tour members will go to Yan’an for a two-day visit tomorrow (August 17). The Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Li, will lead the youth members to visit and attend a class at the Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor, which is also known as the first mausoleum in China. They will also attend a lecture at Yan’an University to learn about the Yan’an spirit and its values in modern times. In addition, the group will visit the Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Hall and watch the musical “Yan’an Nursery” based on stories of child caring during the War of Resistance to learn more about the modern revolution history of the country. 

     Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong today and join the study tour on August 19 (Saturday) for a two-day visit to Beijing. 

     To implement the initiative in the Chief Executive’s 2022 Policy Address to deepen the participation of government departments and civil service grades in youth work, the SB established the SB Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum and the Project Lighthouse youth project last year. Through diverse activities, the projects enabled distinguished members of various youth uniformed groups of disciplined services with great potential and non-Chinese speaking students to develop their potential and broaden their horizons. It also strengthened the national identity of members of the Leaders’ Forum.

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     Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, recently convened the second interdepartmental meeting on improving the transportation arrangements for cruise passengers arriving at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) and heading to city centre and other destinations. The attending bureaux, departments and agencies included, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Tourism Commission (TC), the Transport Department, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the KTCT operator.
      
     After reviewing the series of facilitation measures taken during the three ship calls last week, the meeting formulated an action plan for the revisit of the Spectrum of the Seas on Saturday (August 19).
      
     The Spectrum of the Seas will bring in 4 500 tourists on August 19. Approximately 1 100 of them will participate in shore excursions arranged by the cruise line, and the remaining 3 400 will visit various sightseeing spots mainly by public transport. The TC, the HKTB and the KTCT operator have been in close contact with the cruise line over the past week to jointly formulate suitable transportation arrangements that would enable passengers to disembark smoothly and orderly. As requested by the TC, the cruise line will stagger the disembarkation of passengers, provide passengers with sufficient travel information onboard, and gauge the passengers’ preferences on mode of transportation in advance, so as to facilitate the KTCT operator to make proper arrangements with the help of government departments.
 
     As for public transportation, the new arrangements for the day are as follows:

(1) Public bus service – the special route 22R (to MTR Kai Tak Station) will continue to operate, and additional staffing and wayfinding will be provided to assist passengers at MTR Kai Tak Station. In addition, two special routes, 20R (to Tsim Sha Tsui) and 25R (to MTR Kwun Tong Station), will be introduced specifically for this ship call. The special bus service will be able to handle 900 passengers every half hour;
 
(2) Shuttle bus service – the three free routes will continue to be provided with increased frequency. The routing of service to Admiralty MTR Station and Garden Road Peak Tram Lower Terminus, as well as that to Mong Kok, will remain unchanged. Owing to the commencement of the abovementioned special bus route 20R to Tsim Sha Tsui, the service originally to Tsim Sha Tsui will be adjusted and will now only stop at the West Kowloon Cultural District and MTR Kowloon Station. The three shuttle bus routes will be able to handle 250 passengers every half hour; and
 
(3) Taxi service – considering that tourists of this ship call will stay in Hong Kong for only one day, we anticipate a large demand for taxi service. In this connection, a host of improvement measures will continue to be implemented, including prior notifications and frequent real-time information through the instant messaging platform, enhanced broadcasting of information through radio channels, and distribution of $50 liquefied petroleum gas cash coupons to taxi drivers picking up passengers at KTCT.
 
     For the three calls of the Resorts World One this week on August 16 (Wednesday), August 18 (Friday) and August 20 (Sunday), apart from suitably adjusting the schedules of service of the special bus route 22R and the three free shuttle bus routes according to demand, the transportation service arrangements will by and large remain unchanged, so as to allow the Government to continue to monitor the situation and ensure smooth disembarkation arrangements in a sustained manner.
      
     The Government spokesperson said that over the past week, with the Government’s intervention, cruise passengers disembarking at KTCT were able to leave the terminal smoothly and were in general satisfied with the arrangements.
      
     The spokesperson emphasised the Government attaches great importance to the experience of cruise passengers during their visits in Hong Kong. In this regard, the KTCT operator must, for every single ship call, closely communicate with cruise lines, transportation service operators and travel agents receiving cruise passengers to make appropriate planning and arrangements for embarkation and disembarkation. The TC will actively facilitate the work of the KTCT operator and monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the improvement measures.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (August 16) that it is investigating two confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) cases, and urged the public to heighten vigilance and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. Meanwhile, high-risk target groups are advised to receive Mpox vaccination.

     The first case involves a 21-year-old male patient with good past health. He had developed localised skin ulcer and enlarged lymph nodes since August 13. He visited the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the DH on August 14. He has been admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital and he is in stable condition. An initial investigation revealed that he had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period.
 
     The other case involves a 42-year-old male patient with underlying illness. He had presented with fever, chill, localised skin ulcer and rash, and enlarged lymph nodes since August 8 and he visited a private doctor on the same day. He visited Kwong Wah Hospital on August 14 and was admitted for treatment on the same day. He is in stable condition. An initial investigation revealed that he had visited Shenzhen during the incubation period. According to the patient, he had high-risk exposure during his stay there. 

      The CHP has not yet identified epidemiological linkages between these two patients. No epidemiological linkages between these two cases and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found so far either. The CHP’s epidemiological investigations of the cases are ongoing, including contact tracing and infection source investigations. The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization and the relevant authority of the Mainland.

     The CHP had earlier set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373). The hotline operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5pm, which enables those who suspect or are concerned they have had high-risk contact with confirmed patients, in particular men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice. Meanwhile, the CHP reminds the public, especially those subject to high risks of exposure, to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience relevant symptoms, including rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches.

     The CHP reminds members of the public that Mpox is not transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols in general, and transmission would not occur through social contact. Proper personal and hand hygiene can help prevent getting infected via contact.

     The Government has activated the Alert level of the preparedness and response plan for the disease in September last year and will continue to assess the risk in view of the latest scientific evidence and situation, and implement corresponding control measures.

     The Mpox vaccination programme for high-risk groups commenced on October 5 last year. Under the programme, the following high-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination on a voluntary basis:
 

1. Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
2. Healthcare workers responsible for caring of patients with confirmed Mpox;
3. Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
4. Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrence in animals in Hong Kong.

     Currently, high-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any one of the DH’s six Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS). Further information of the clinics including their locations is available at www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcf.html and www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcm.html.

     Meanwhile, the DH’s Integrated Treatment Centre in Kowloon Bay, and the Hospital Authority’s Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will continue to provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

     â€‹For more details, please visit the CHP’s page on Mpox. read more