The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 28) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     "The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

     "Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight are more vulnerable to heat stroke. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;
• Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day if feasible. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     
     â€‹The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

    
     â€‹If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     â€‹The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather report and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (June 27) strongly condemned and strongly opposed Taiwan authorities' political manoeuvre with fact-twisting smears and slanders exposing malicious intentions which, under the pretext of raising so-called travel alert status, smeared that the risks of travelling to Hong Kong had increased after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) in Hong Kong.

     A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "It is the constitutional duty of the HKSAR to safeguard national security. In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states. Many common law jurisdictions, including western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Singapore, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security. Taiwan authorities turned a blind eye to the fact, made exaggerated remarks, maliciously smeared and demonised the NSL and the SNSO, completely unmasking its double standards."

     "The legal framework for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is fully in compliance with the international standard for the protection of human rights. The NSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication, and the freedoms of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applicable to the HKSAR are protected in accordance with the law.

     "The offences endangering national security stipulated by the NSL and the SNSO target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity. The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons concerned. The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had the actus reus and mens rea of an offence before the defendant may be convicted by the court. Ordinary travellers (including travellers from China's Taiwan region) will not engage in acts and activities endangering our national security and will not unwittingly violate the law.

     "The offences endangering national security only target an extremely small minority of people who endanger national security and the safety of Hong Kong. Safeguarding national security is fundamentally consistent with the respect for and protection of human rights. Safeguarding national security is for better protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of HKSAR residents and other persons in the HKSAR and ensuring the property and investments in the HKSAR are protected by the law," the spokesman reiterated.
      
     "The HKSAR Government strongly urges Taiwan authorities to stop smearing the NSL and the SNSO. The despicable manoeuvre with politics is doomed to fail."

     The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
      
     The spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following announcement today (June 27) regarding a patient with hepatitis C infection:

     A 24-year-old male patient was admitted to PMH due to head injury on March 21 and transferred to high dependency unit of the Neurosurgery Department for treatment since April 11. The liver enzymes of patient deranged in the mid of June. Therefore the hospital has arranged the patient to undergo hepatitis C viral test on June 15 and the result was positive. However, the result of patient’s hepatitis C viral test conducted in mid of April was negative. 
      
     The patient has been under treatment in the hospital all along therefore PMH is very concerned about the case and has followed up on possible route of transmission. After investigation, the hospital subsequently found that a 52-year-old hepatitis C carrier had stayed in the same cubicle from April 20 to May 24. Genetic sequencing showed that both patients are infected with hepatitis C with identical genetic sequence. The two cases are epidemiological linked and nosocomial infection of the 24-year-old male patient cannot be ruled out. 
      
     PMH has reported the case to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). The hospital will continue to follow up and investigate the route of transmission with CHP. Hepatitis C virus is mainly transmitted through infected blood or body fluid. For example, sharing use of needles and syringes for drug injection, or equipment used for tattooing and body piercings. Healthcare-associated Hepatitis C virus transmission and outbreaks have also been reported worldwide, which were linked to breaches in infection control practice. The two patients concerned required frequent use of invasive catheters, having frequent blood test and intravenous injection, as well as undergoing wound care procedures due to their underlying diseases during hospitalisation has also increased the risk of infection. The ward concerned has been disinfected thoroughly. The hospital has also reviewed the infection control measures of the unit concerned, enhanced surveillance and infection control training of hand hygiene, environmental cleansing and care procedures are implemented. 
      
     PMH has prescribed antiviral drugs to the patient and explained the situation to his family. The patient is now in serious condition due to his underlying disease. Currently, antiviral drugs for acute hepatitis C are highly effective. In general, over 90 per cent of hepatitis C infection can be cured. 
      
     As a precautionary measure, the hospital has started contact tracing investigation and found that 16 patients had been admitted to the same cubicle in the same period of time, including the 24-year-old male patient and a patient who had passed away due to underlying disease. The Hospital will contact patients concerned to explain in details and arrange liver function and viral testing as well as health surveillance. 
      
     The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office through the Advance Incident Reporting System.
      

     An estate agent who contravened the Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance was convicted of one count of offence today (June 27) at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts and was sentenced to seven weeks' immediate imprisonment, according to a spokesman of the Sales of First-hand Residential Properties Authority (SRPA).
 
     The SRPA respects the ruling of the court and, given the gravity of the offence, will consider whether to lodge an appeal against the sentence after studying the judgment in detail and seeking legal advice.
 
     The estate agent made fraudulent or reckless misrepresentations on April 5, 2021, for the purpose of inducing another person to purchase a specified residential property in a first-hand residential development phase.
 
     This is the first time the SRPA has initiated prosecution under section 76 of the Ordinance against an estate agent for making fraudulent or reckless misrepresentations regarding mortgage terms offered by a developer.
 
     The SRPA spokesman said that two estate agents have been convicted since the Ordinance came into force on April 29, 2013. The SRPA reminds estate agents not to make false, misleading or deceptive statements when selling first-hand residential properties. To avoid contravening the law inadvertently, estate agents should learn more about the Ordinance, provide correct information to prospective purchasers and comply with good selling practices.
 
     The SRPA also advises prospective purchasers to be vigilant about information provided by others. Prospective purchasers should study carefully the terms of payment as set out on a price list. If there are discounts on the price, gifts, or any financial advantages or benefits to be made available by the vendor, such information will also be set out on the price list. Prospective purchasers should check with vendors or financial companies designated by vendors directly if they have any doubts about the information provided by others on mortgage loan plans.
 
     Details of the case have been uploaded to the SRPA website at www.srpa.gov.hk/en/prosecution-cases.html for public inspection.

     "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Ancient Civilisation of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties in Henan Province", the first large-scale exhibition in the General History of China Series, launched by the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, has been widely welcomed by the local public and visitors since its opening on April 3 and received its 150 000th visitor today (June 27). The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, visited the HKMH to present a souvenir pack to the 150 000th visitor of the exhibition. The exhibition period will end in 10 days on July 8. Members of the public are welcome to grasp the final opportunity to visit this exhibition with free admission.
 
     This exhibition showcases over 150 sets/items of precious cultural relics from the Henan Museum as well as a dozen other museums and cultural institutions in the province. They include large and complete sets of bronze ware, jade ware, potteries, bone ware and oracle bones, of which 33 sets/items are grade one national treasures and about 40 sets/items are on display outside Henan Province for the first time. The HKMH has prepared souvenirs for the 150 000th visitor, including an exhibition booklet, a bronze square zun 3D paper model and tickets of Chinese Opera programme of the Chinese Culture Festival 2024. The 150 000th visitor is university student Ms Chang. She is passionate about Chinese history and culture, and has invited her friends to visit the exhibition together today. The most remarkable exhibit for her is the grade-one national treasure "Wang Zi Wu" ding, through which she could appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties and enhance understanding of the Chinese culture. She also greatly enjoyed stamping the forms and patterns of bronze vessels on postcards at the interactive zone.
 
     The exhibition has been well received by schools, with more than 4 000 students from over 100 schools learning more about the history and the exhibits through guided tours. Teaching kits have been specially produced for primary and secondary schools. Schools with notification letters from the museum are advised to collect the kits as soon as possible. To allow more residents and tourists to visit, the interactive zone and reading zone of the exhibition located at the lobby of the museum will remain open until August 19. The interactive zone enables visitors to learn and understand the dazzling ancient civilisation of the three dynasties, as well as their connection with modern daily lives through fascinating displays, interactive games and animation. The "Joyful Reading of the Ancient Chinese Civilisation – the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties" reading zone set up by the Hong Kong Public Libraries outside the exhibition gallery showcases specially selected collections and e-books covering the theme of cultural relics of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, archaeological discoveries, historical stories, myths and biographies, enabling members of the public to learn about China's longstanding history, origins and development, and make use of online resources for extended reading.
 
     Members of public can also join a series of free workshops at the HKMH to make 3D paper models of bronze square zun, and learn idioms from Xia, Shang and Zhou artefacts from badge making or imprinting blessings and auspicious words in oracle bone script onto cloth bags. For more details on the exhibition and workshops, please visit hk.history.museum/en/web/mh/exhibition/The-Ancient-Civilisation-of-the-Xia-Shang-and-Zhou-Dynasties-in-Henan-Province-Exhibition.html. Public members should not miss the opportunity to download the exhibition pamphlet and booklet from the museum website to learn more about the history of the exhibits. Specially produced video clips on selected exhibits and related interesting history stories can also be found on the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) Edutainment Channel www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/museums/page_512.html.
 
     The exhibition is jointly presented by the LCSD and the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, jointly organised by the HKMH and the Henan Museum, solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Promotion Office (CCPO). This is the first exhibition in the General History of China Series, launched by the CCPO in collaboration with the HKMH. Subsequently, the HKMH will stage exhibitions every year on historical relics of significant periods in chronological order. The series will conclude in 2029 with an exhibition celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China. An exhibition on the cultural relics of the Qin and Han dynasties will be launched next year. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound culture of China. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.