The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The People's Bank of China (PBOC) will issue Renminbi Bills through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Bills to be issued by the PBOC. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu (CDETO) and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Chengdu Municipal People's Government invited the Hong Kong music group Ma Wai Him & Jazzbird to participate in the 2023 "Chengdu International Sister Cities Youth Music Festival" (Music Festival) in August. The music group performed in "When Suona Meets Jazz Concerts" and as part of the cultural activities of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games (World University Games).

     Jointly presented by Ma Wai-him, Principal Suona of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and Jazzbird band, "When Suona Meets Jazz Concerts" was a crossover of suona and jazz through a mixed genre of traditional and pop pieces from China and overseas. The concerts showcased Hong Kong's cultural strengths in blending East and West, as well as traditional and contemporary elements.

     Speaking at the concert, the Director of the CDETO, Mr Enoch Yuen, said the National 14th Five-Year Plan has expressed clear support for Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The CDETO aims to foster a closer relationship with and facilitate culture and youth exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The office will also seek to bring more high-quality cultural and art events from Hong Kong to places within the region under its coverage.

     Besides performing two "When Suona Meets Jazz Concerts", Ma Wai Him & Jazzbird also played at the closing ceremony of the Music Festival and interacted with musicians from all over the world. During the cultural activities of the World University Games, the performance by Ma Wai Him & Jazzbird received a rapturous reception from the audience.

     The CDETO will continue to foster exchanges and collaboration in trade, culture, youth and other aspects between Hong Kong and the Mainland in the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions under its coverage, namely Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet and Qinghai.

        

     The Department of Health (DH) today (August 14) endorsed a licensed drug wholesaler, Hind Wing Co Ltd (Hind Wing), to recall a total of four batches of the following four products from the market as a precautionary measure due to the presence of impurity in the products.
     

 
     The DH received notification from Hind Wing that the overseas manufacturer of the products is recalling the above batches due to the presence of a higher than accepted level of an impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), in the above Apo-Acyclovir products, and an impurity, N-Nitrosonortriptyline (NNORT), in the above Apo-amitriptyline tablets. Both NDMA and NNORT are classified as a probable human carcinogen based on results from laboratory tests. As a precautionary measure, Hind Wing is voluntarily recalling the affected batches of products from the market.
      
     The above products are all prescription medicines. The Apo-Acyclovir products containing aciclovir are used for the treatment of infections due to herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus whereas the Apo-Amitriptyline tablets containing amitriptyline are used for the treatment of depression. According to Hind Wing, the above batches of products had been imported into Hong Kong. The affected Apo-Acyclovir products had been supplied to DH clinics, private doctors and pharmacies, while the affected Apo-amitriptyline tablets had been supplied to the Hospital Authority, private hospitals and re-exported to Macao.
      
     Hind Wing has set up a hotline (2541 5731) to answer related enquiries.  
         
     "So far, the DH has not received any adverse reaction reports in connection with the products. The DH will closely monitor the recall," a spokesman for the DH said. 
               
     "Patients who are taking the above products should not stop taking the medicine, but should seek advice from their healthcare professionals as soon as possible for appropriate arrangements," the spokesman added.

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (August 14) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and urged the public to heighten vigilance and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. Meanwhile, high-risk target groups are strongly advised to receive Mpox vaccination.

     The case involves a 33-year-old male patient with underlying illness. He developed a fever since August 7 and rash since August 10. He visited Kwong Wah Hospital on August 13 and was admitted on the same day. He is in stable condition.

     An initial investigation revealed that he had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period. No epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found so far. The CHP's epidemiological investigations of the cases are ongoing, including contact tracing and an infection source investigation. The CHP will report the case to the World Health Organization.

     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 rashes, 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.

     High-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination at the designated Mpox vaccination centre (situated at 2/F, CHP building, 147C Argyle Street, Mong Kok) by appointment through email (mpv_booking@dh.gov.hk) or telephone booking line (2547 1900) during office hours. They can also receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at all of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female 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.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Sau Mau Ping this afternoon (August 14), in which a 79-year-old male pedestrian died.
                
     At around 3.20pm, a light goods vehicle driven by a 41-year-old man was travelling along Ngau Tau Kok Road towards Kwun Tong Road. When approaching near 152 Ngau Tau Kok Road, it reportedly knocked down the 79-year-old man who was crossing the road.
 
     Sustaining serious head injuries, the male pedestrian was rushed to United Christian Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 3.50pm.
                      
     The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.
 
     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is underway.
 
     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 0262.