Police today (February 15) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sham Shui Po.

     Fung Wai-shing, aged 38, went missing after he left his residence in Shek Kip Mei Estate on February 1 afternoon. His family made a report to Police yesterday (February 14).

     He is about 1.65 metres tall, 65 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, a dark short-sleeved T-shirt, beige trousers, black shoes and carrying a black sling bag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8038 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 15) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza. The CHP appealed to members of the public to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) in a timely manner to better protect themselves during the influenza season.

     The case involves a 7-year-old boy with underlying diseases. He had developed a fever, sore throat and cough with sputum since January 26, and had visited private doctors several times from January 26 to February 7. He later developed shortness of breath on February 11 and attended the accident and emergency department of a private hospital on February 13. He was brought to Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday (February 14) and was admitted on the same day. He was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital for further treatment today. His respiratory specimen was positive for influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with pneumonia. He is now in serious condition.

     Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. Three of his home contacts are currently symptomatic. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing influenza-related hospitalisation and death. SIV is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public are advised to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP's website."

     A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:
 

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• For high-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when visiting public places. The public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     â€‹The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly COVID-19 & Flu Express for more information.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (February 15) 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 advised to receive Mpox vaccination.

     The case involves a 48-year-old male patient with an underlying illness. He had developed skin rash since February 7, and visited the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the DH on February 9. He is in stable condition and arrangements have been made for him to be admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital.

     An initial investigation revealed that the patient had visited Singapore during the incubation period. According to the patient, he only had high-risk exposure in Singapore during his incubation period. No epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and will report the case to the World Health Organization.

     A total of 57 confirmed Mpox cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far. The CHP appeals again to high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccination with a view to lowering the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. Persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once, and they should not engage in activities with others during which other people may have contact with their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection.

     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.

     The DH provides vaccination service for high-risk groups of MPox. 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 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 Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre, and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

     â€‹For more details, please visit the CHP's page on Mpox.

     Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport on February 13. About six kilograms of suspected cocaine were seized with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million.
      
     The case involved two incoming female passengers, aged 58 and 48. The first arrested woman arrived in Hong Kong from Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 13. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside her check-in baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested. 
      
     After a follow-up investigation, another woman suspected to be connected with the case was also arrested at the airport yesterday (February 14).
      
      The two arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 16).
      
     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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).

  

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for December 2023 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 15) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

     In December 2023, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 7.4% and 6.7% respectively over December 2022.

     Comparing 2023 with 2022, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 11.6% and 9.2% respectively.

     Comparing the fourth quarter of 2023 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 2.0% and 2.2% respectively.

     Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

     Comparing December 2023 with December 2022, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.2% and 4.6% respectively.

     As regards price changes in 2023 over 2022, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 4.4% and 3.9% respectively.

     Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.

     The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods.  Compared with the same periods in 2022, the index decreased by 1.3% in December 2023, whereas it increased by 0.4% in 2023 as a whole.

     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

     Comparing December 2023 with December 2022, increases were recorded for the total export volume to all main destinations: India (38.1%), Taiwan (33.8%), the USA (22.7%), Vietnam (18.3%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (4.6%).

     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: 
India (7.0%), Vietnam (5.4%), Taiwan (4.3%), the Mainland (3.5%) and the USA (3.2%).

     Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.

     Comparing December 2023 with December 2022, increases were recorded for the import volume from Korea (41.9%), the Mainland (8.3%) and Japan (0.9%).  On the other hand, the import volume from Taiwan (-5.4%) and Singapore (-19.0%) decreased.

     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Singapore (9.7%), Taiwan (7.7%), the Mainland (4.9%), Japan (2.8%) and Korea (2.1%).

Further information

     Details of the above statistics are published in the December 2023 issue of "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers".  Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).

     Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918).