The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) co-organised a drinks reception with Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) in London, the United Kingdom (UK), on June 12 (London time), for participants of the London Tech Week to promote business opportunities in Hong Kong.

     In his welcome remarks at the reception, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, highlighted that Hong Kong is one of Asia's most vibrant tech hubs and one of the world's freest economies. He also promoted the unique advantages of Hong Kong including the free movement of capital, the simple and low tax system, excellent infrastructure, and its strategic gateway position connecting with Mainland China and the rest of Asia.

     The Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of InvestHK London Office, Ms Daisy Ip, also spoke at the reception and highlighted that the number of start-ups in Hong Kong reached a record high of 4 257 last year, and that over 16 per cent of non-local start-up founders are from the UK. She encouraged UK start-ups to consider establishing their footprint in Hong Kong. Ms Ip also promoted the StartmeupHK Festival which is an annual series of events curated by InvestHK comprising conferences, exhibitions, pitching competitions, startup-investor matching, as well as other networking activities.

     Over 170 participants from the UK Government, as well as the financial, innovation and technology, and business sectors joined the reception.

          

     â€‹A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (June 13) that in order to combat inbound persons illegally bringing regulated food into Hong Kong, the CFS has stepped up interception and mounted enforcement actions, and deployed quarantine detector dogs to assist law enforcement officers in carrying out their duties at various land boundary control points, all in an effort to safeguard public health.
      
     During the CFS's operation yesterday (June 12), an inbound person was detected by a quarantine detector dog, suspected of bringing regulated food into Hong Kong. Upon investigation by law enforcement officers, raw meat packaged in foil was found in the personal baggage of the inbound person, without being accompanied by an import licence and an official health certificate issued by the issuing entity of the place of origin. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted against the person involved. The investigation is ongoing.
      
     The CFS will continue to maintain close liaison and exchange of intelligence with other enforcement departments, including Hong Kong Customs, and step up enforcement operations at various boundary control points. As of yesterday, the CFS has instituted 715 prosecutions against inbound persons for illegally bringing regulated food into Hong Kong this year.
      
     Under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), each consignment of imported meat and poultry is required to apply for an import licence from the FEHD. In addition, pursuant to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK), each consignment of imported game, meat, poultry and eggs (regulated food), whether for personal use or not, must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the issuing entity of the place of origin or written permission from the FEHD. Offenders are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment under Cap. 132AK. Regulated food entering Hong Kong from the Mainland must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by Mainland Customs to prove that the food is from registered processing plants for supplying to Hong Kong recognised by the Mainland regulatory authority.
      
     The CFS reminds members of the public not to defy the law and import regulated food without a recognised health certificate, written permission from the FEHD or import licence. In addition, the CFS will continue strengthening publicity and education at various control points and reminding the public through various channels (e.g. websites, posters, leaflets and social media) that they must abide by the relevant Hong Kong laws when purchasing food across the boundary.

    

     In view of the commencement of a number of international sports events since June, Hong Kong Customs from today (June 13) will launch a high-profile seven-day patrol operation and deploy officers to various districts across the territory including Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong, Wan Chai, Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, and Islands District to conduct anti-infringement activities inspections. Customs will also take the opportunity to distribute promotional leaflets to stores, bars and restaurants, and explain the relevant legal requirements to the merchants to prevent them from violating the laws unwittingly.

     The Divisional Commander of the Intellectual Property Technology Crime Investigation Division of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau of Customs, Mr Shek Ka-yin, stated today that Customs, ahead of the approach of different sports events, will maintain close co-operation with copyright owners and combat various forms of infringement activities on all fronts. Customs will continue to remind merchants and the public to respect intellectual property rights through publicity and education efforts in order to protect the benefits of the industry.

     Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who, without the authorisation of the copyright owners, communicates a copyright work to the public for the purpose of, or in the course of any trade or business that consists of communicating works to the public for profit or reward; or communicates the work to the public to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the copyright owners, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for four years and a fine of $50,000 in respect of each copyright work.

     Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) today (June 13) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to fraudulent telephone calls purported to be made by the bureau.

     The spokesman said the bureau received reports from members of the public today that they have received calls, falsely claimed to be made by CEDB, asking them to visit the CEDB's office for handling refund matters in connection with online shopping.

     The spokesman stressed that CEDB has no connection with the fraudulent calls.  Members of the public are reminded not to disclose any personal information to unidentified phone calls. They may report cases of suspected phone scam to the Police.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 13) held a public health exercise code-named "Kyanite" to test and strengthen the preparedness and co-ordination abilities of the Government in handling an imported case of measles, with a view to enhancing awareness among stakeholders on the handling of public health emergencies.

     About 40 participants from the DH, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Hospital Authority (HA) and the Airport Authority took part in the exercise or attended as observers. The exercise consisted of two parts. The first part was a table-top exercise conducted on June 5, in which the DH and the HA discussed and co-ordinated the response measures required in a simulated scenario when a case of measles infection occurred in an international youth leadership programme held in a holiday village, with subsequent identification of disease transmissions on the flight and in the hospital.

     The second part, conducted today, was a ground movement exercise. Under the exercise simulation, upon notification by the HA of a case of measles infection, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations. An initial investigation revealed that the case was imported. The patient had not been vaccinated against measles and was an overseas visitor participating in an international event held in the holiday village. The CHP immediately conducted a site visit to the holiday village concerned, traced contacts of the index case, and carried out post-exposure vaccination and relevant follow-up actions. The CHP also inspected the environment of the holiday village and implemented appropriate infection control measures.

     Measles is a highly infectious but vaccine-preventable disease. It can be transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons. A patient can pass the disease to other persons from four days before to four days after the appearance of a skin rash. The incubation period of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.

     The global immunisation coverage rates have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries worldwide are facing a resurgence of measles outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization, more than 320 000 measles cases were recorded in 2023 worldwide, and up to May 2024, nearly 180 000 measles cases have been recorded so far this year. Locally, a similar upsurge of measles cases was observed earlier this year.  As at June 12, CHP has recorded eight cases of measles (including six imported cases), already exceeding the annual total in 2022 and 2023 (3 cases each). Among the eight cases, four were unvaccinated including two 11-month-old infants, and two cases had unknown vaccination history.

     Hong Kong has achieved the interruption of endemic measles virus transmission since 2016. As the vaccination coverage of two doses of measles-containing vaccine in the local population were all along maintained at over 95 per cent, and the local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most of the people in Hong Kong are immune to measles, the risk of a large-scale measles outbreak in the local community is considered to be low. Nonetheless, as a metropolitan city with a high volume of international travel, Hong Kong has been constantly facing the risk of measles virus importation and the potential risk of further spread in the local community, especially amid the global measles resurgence in recent years.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "This exercise provided a valuable opportunity for relevant government departments and the HA to test the response capabilities of stakeholders in the handling of measles outbreaks. The DH has held nearly 30 similar exercises in the past, simulating the situation with cases such as novel influenza, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Ebola virus disease and plague. We hope that these exercises will enhance the community and healthcare personnel's awareness of possible epidemics and keep them alert and prepared."

     The spokesman pointed out that getting vaccinated is the first step to prevent measles infection. Members of the public who are planning to travel to places with a high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received a measles vaccination during childhood. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles, are urged to consult their doctor for advice on vaccinations at least two weeks before departure.

     Besides receiving vaccination, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent measles infection:

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons suspect to be suffering from measles should promptly consult a healthcare professional to receive appropriate medical care and management.

     â€‹For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP's measles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH's Travel Health Service for news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.