The Department of Health (DH) today (July 27) urged members of the public who consulted a listed Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP), Au Yeung Wai-chi, practising at Room 1, 18/F, Wealthy Plaza, 138 Shau Kei Wan Road, Sai Wan Ho, to stop using a green cream product (see photo) he prescribed as it was found to contain undeclared Western drug ingredients.
      
     The Hospital Authority recently reported a suspected poisoning case involving a 25-year-old man who has consulted the above CMP for eczema since May last year for over ten times. He was prescribed with one to two cans of the cream product each time for application on skin parts with eczema. He attended Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 7 due to worsening of eczema conditions and cellulitis on his legs and has been discharged. Acting upon the report, the DH raided the above CMP's premises and seized the green cream product for testing. The DH received test results from the Government Laboratory today confirming that the sample of the cream product was found to contain undeclared Western drug ingredients, namely dexamethasone acetate, ketoconazole and lincomycin. A man aged 77 was arrested by the Police today for suspected illegal possession of Part 1 poisons, unregistered pharmaceutical products and antibiotics. Investigations are ongoing. 
      
     Dexamethasone acetate, a corticosteroid, is a Part 1 poison and prescription medicine for treating inflammation. Inappropriate use of a corticosteroid may cause serious side effects such as Cushing's syndrome, with symptoms including moon face and muscle atrophy. Ketoconazole, also a Part 1 poison, is an antifungal drug commonly used for the treatment of fungal skin infections. Lincomycin is an antibiotic used for the treatment of various bacterial infections. Ketoconazole and lincomycin may cause side effects such as itching, irritation and an allergic reaction when used topically.
      
     The DH will set up a hotline (2961 8949) which operates from 9am to 5pm from tomorrow (July 28) for public enquiries related to using the cream product prescribed by the above CMP. Members of the public who have been prescribed with the cream product by the above CMP who feel unwell or are in doubt should consult healthcare professionals as soon as possible.
      
     According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), illegal possession of Part 1 poison and unregistered pharmaceutical product are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. In addition, the Antibiotics Ordinance (Cap. 137) also prohibits illegal possession of antibiotics. Offender is liable to a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine and one year's imprisonment. Upon completion of the investigations, the DH will consult the Department of Justice on prosecution matters. The DH has already referred the case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for consideration of possible disciplinary action.
      
     Members of the public may submit the above cream product to the DH's Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office at 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal. 

  

     The period of visa-free entry for holders of HKSAR passport to Malaysia has been extended from up to 1 month to 90 days.

     An Immigration Department spokesman said, "Malaysia is along the Belt and Road. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this extension of period of visa-free entry will bring greater travel convenience to holders of HKSAR passport and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the two places."

     As of today, 168 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to holders of HKSAR passport.  Please visit the following website for details: www.immd.gov.hk/eng/service/travel_document/visa_free_access.html or scan the QR code in the attachment.

     Following is the speech by the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, at the opening ceremony of "Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China" today (July 27):
 
Bernard (Chairman of the M+ Board, Mr Bernard Chan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you tonight at the opening ceremony of the M+'s new special exhibition, "Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China".
      
     Opening to the public this Saturday, this is the first-ever museum exhibition in the world dedicated to Song Huai-Kuei, a legendary cultural icon. The exhibition illustrates Madame Song's life from the 1950s to the early 2000s. At the time when we mark the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening up this year, the exhibition timely offers a lens to the audience to appreciate the diversification and internationalisation of Chinese visual culture covering art, film, music and fashion after the country's reform and opening up. It also unveils how the Chinese artists, film and fashion creators integrate their unique cultural elements into their works and bring fine traditions of Chinese culture to the world.
      
     With such intriguing cultural offerings presented in the West Kowloon Cultural District, I am pleased to see the number of Mainland and overseas visitors to M+ has continued to increase. During the Labour Day Golden Week holiday this year, M+ recorded a remarkable visitation figure of 74 000 visitors. The museum has become one of the most popular cultural tourism destinations in the city.
      
     Hong Kong has been given a mission in the National 14th Five-Year Plan to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. To expedite our efforts in fulfilling the mission, the current-term Government has established the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund to promote the staging of more international arts and cultural events in Hong Kong. The Madame Song exhibition is one of the first few projects launched with the support of the Fund, with which we aspire to develop Hong Kong into an arts and cultural metropolis and provide opportunities for the arts and cultural sector to thrive.
      
     Looking ahead, we will continue to leverage on the distinctive advantages of the West Kowloon Cultural District and make good use of Hong Kong's rich cultural resources to tell the good stories of Hong Kong and our motherland.
      
     Last but not least, may I express thanks to Madame Song's family, all the institutions and corporates that have given support to this special exhibition, as well as the M+ team and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. I wish the event a major success and all of you an enjoyable evening. Thank you.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation and arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (July 27). He met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and had exchanges with leaders of local commercial and industrial sectors.
      
     In the morning, Mr Lee met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Noting that Malaysia is Hong Kong's ninth-largest trading partner and the third-largest among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mr Lee said that the bilateral trade in goods between the two places last year recorded a year-on-year increase of seven per cent, reaching US$28.1 billion. He added that the HKSAR Government will further strengthen co-operation and exchanges with Malaysia in such areas as commerce and trade, investment, innovation and technology, as well as culture and tourism. He also expressed his gratitude to Malaysia for supporting Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
      
     Mr Lee expressed to the Prime Minister that he welcomed and thanked the Malaysia Government's extension of the visa-free entry period for HKSAR passport holders to Malaysia from up to one month to 90 days. He said that such an arrangement provides greater entry facilitation for HKSAR passport holders to Malaysia and will further enhance the connections and mutual benefits between the two places.
      
     Mr Lee then attended a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Ouyang and the Embassy for the thoughtful arrangements for this visit and the support to the HKSAR Government's efforts to strive for early accession to the RCEP.
      
     In the evening, the delegation led by Mr Lee attended a dinner banquet with members of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. Addressing the dinner, Mr Lee said that there is immense potential for strengthening co-operation between Hong Kong and Malaysia in the areas of trade, investment and beyond. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta will continue to work closely with the Chamber and the local business community to enhance bilateral relationships.
      
     Mr Lee will continue his visit programme in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (July 28). He will visit local enterprises and attend a business luncheon jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to exchange views with local business leaders.

        

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 27) that a fresh beef sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS took the fresh beef sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 1 700 parts per million. The CFS is following up with the online shop concerned about the irregularity."

     According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD), it is an offence to add sulphur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.

     Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat adulterated with sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should purchase meat from reliable market stalls or fresh provision shops. They should avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red and maintain a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or excessive exposure to chemicals from a small range of food items.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.