A total of 152 additional cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the third quarter of 2019, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 10 150 since 1984.
 
     Reviewing the latest HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (November 26), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP, Dr Kenny Chan, said that sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission and stressed the importance of consistent and proper use of condoms in reducing the risk of contracting HIV.
 
     "Members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. They can call the DH's AIDS Hotline (2780 2211) for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test. HIV-positive people should seek specialist care as soon as possible," he continued.
 
     Of the 152 HIV cases, involving 126 males and 26 females, reported in the third quarter, 71 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact and 38 via heterosexual contact. The routes of transmission of the remaining 43 cases have yet to be determined due to incomplete information upon notification.
 
     The new cases were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals, clinics and laboratories (68 cases); the DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (29 cases); and private hospitals, clinics and laboratories (21 cases). Also, 102 of the HIV-infected people (68 per cent) have already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority.
 
     In addition, 24 new cases of AIDS were reported in this quarter, of which 16 cases (67 per cent) were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact, and six cases (25 per cent) were related to heterosexual contact. The route of transmission of two cases (8 per cent) has yet to be determined due to incomplete information upon notification. In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis pneumonia, a kind of chest infection.
 
     Since 1985, a cumulative total of 2 075 confirmed AIDS cases have been reported in Hong Kong.
 
     "HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, about half of HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years. On the contrary, early HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs helps prevent AIDS and its complications. It also makes a significant contribution towards improving the quality of life and prolongs survival of those infected. Notably, people with HIV who achieve sustained viral suppression through antiretroviral drugs have a negligible chance of passing on the virus through sex," Dr Chan said.
 
     The DH will launch a new set of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest on antiretroviral treatment on this year's World AIDS Day (December 1) to enhance public awareness of HIV/AIDS.
         
     The public may visit the following pages for more information on HIV/AIDS: the DH's Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com) and the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.gov.hk).

     Police are aware that the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has formed a working group, enlisting teaching staff, professional counsellors, medics, social workers and security personnel, etc. The working group has entered the PolyU at around 9.30 am today (November 26) to persuade the remaining people to leave the campus as soon as possible. 
      
     Police have formed a Safety Team with other Government departments and independent mediators including secondary school principals, social workers, clinical psychologists, ambulance officers, fire officers, Police Negotiation Cadre members, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau officers and Force Media Liaison Cadre officers. The team is on standby in the vicinity of PolyU and will provide assistance if necessary.
      
     Police maintain close communication with the school and re-emphasise the two major principles of “peaceful method” and “flexible approach” to solve the situation. For those with medical needs, Police will prioritise their medical needs and will not arrest them on the spot. Police officers will record their personal data, photograph them and follow up later.
      
     For those who leave the campus and do not have medical needs, Police will enforce the law following existing mechanism and re-emphasise that they are guaranteed fair treatment.
 

     An extraordinary strings crossover party with the "Paganini of the erhu world" and top-notch chamber musicians from Tokyo will be held in December, featuring erhu master Xu Ke and the Tokyo String Quintet. The event is part of the Music Delight Series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
 
     Music critic Li Meng has hailed the concert as one that brings out diversity in crossovers. "The setting with five string instruments is already complicated enough, but the five artists are not satisfied with this," she said. "In the upcoming concert, erhu player Xu Ke will join them in exploring the question: what kind of varied and layered music will they make when they play six string instruments together?"
 
     Li added, "The pieces especially arranged for erhu and chamber ensemble will lead the audience into an exotic, fantastical and mysterious realm. With no limits imposed, the musicians freely choose their repertoire and 'perform old songs in new ways', savouring the timeless beauty of the instruments and distinctive poetics both old and new in the changing melodies."
 
     Erhu master Xu Ke graduated with distinction from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1982 and is heralded by the media as "another Heifetz" and the "Paganini of the erhu world". Xu has developed unique and innovative bowing techniques, artificial harmonics in high positions and double-stopping, significantly enriching the huqin's potential for new applications.

     In 1993, Xu became the first Chinese huqin musician to sign an exclusive contract with international record company Bertelsmann Music Group, and released albums under RCA Records. He was also the music director of the NHK documentary "Resurrected Tower of the Sun" on Taro Okamoto. He has performed with several world-class orchestras as a soloist including the Philharmonisches Streichquintett Berlin, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic Octet. Xu was also a guest professor at the Central Conservatory of Music and is currently a guest professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan.
 
     Members of the quintet include Akihiro Miura (First Violin/Concertmaster of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra), Mari Togami (Second Violin/Principal of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra), Atsuko Aoki (Viola Principal of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra), Tatsuki Watanabe (Cello Principal of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra) and Ippei Kitamura (Double Bass of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra).
 
     The concert by Xu Ke and the Tokyo String Quintet will be staged at 8pm on December 14 (Saturday) at the Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets priced at $120, $180 and $220 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk).
 
     For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_877.html.

     Ensemble SU from Korea will stage a concert, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, at Sha Tin Town Hall in December. Music lovers should not miss this opportunity to discover how the quintet breaks boundaries and uses both Korean traditional musical instruments and Western instruments to bring music to life.
 
     The group's members are Jihye Hur (gayageum), Dayoung Han (haegeum), Mina Lee (cello), Taeung Jang (piano) and Daeyoung Go (drums). They play works ranging from "Arirang Rhapsody" to "Bohemian Rhapsody" and from "Bul-no-ha" to the jazz classic "Take Five". Performing works that span the past and present, East and West, the ensemble weaves a spellbinding tapestry of beautiful melodies.
 
     Ensemble SU has been touring around the world since 2010 to bring its unique sounds to all. Using music to tell its stories, the group takes the audience on a journey through time and space, entertaining with a collage classical and modern music. The ensemble has been to Kyoto in Japan, Seattle and Washington, DC, in the US and Melbourne in Australia, and it has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the UK.
 
     Concert by Ensemble SU will be staged at 8pm on December 6 (Friday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Tickets priced at $120, $180 and $240 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk).
 
     For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_884.html.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited on phishing emails, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the emails concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the emails should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.