Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 29) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (January 29) announced that the Lunar New Year auction of vehicle registration marks will be held on February 25 (Sunday) at Meeting Room N101, L1, New Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 49 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. Forty-eight of them are traditional vehicle registration marks (TVRMs) and one of them is a personalised vehicle registration mark (PVRM). The list of marks has been posted on the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following points:

(1) Bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:

1. the identity document of the successful bidder;
2. the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
3. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
4. a crossed cheque payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". Any bidder who wishes to bid for both TVRMs and the PVRM, should bring along at least two crossed cheques for payment of auction prices (for an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed). Successful bidders may also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS), but are reminded to note the maximum transfer amount in the same day of the payment card. Payment by post-dated cheque, cash, credit card or other methods will not be accepted.
    

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through the EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark or the Memorandum of Sale of Personalised Vehicle Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the Memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) The display of a vehicle registration mark on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations.

(5) Special vehicle registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special vehicle registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special vehicle registration mark shall be cancelled.

(6) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the vehicle registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the registration mark will be cancelled and arranged for reallocation by the Commissioner for Transport in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html) and Guidance Notes – Auction of PVRMs (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_auction/index.html), which can be downloaded from the TD's websites.

     Police located a man who went missing in Mong Kok.

     Wong Ping-kau, aged 68, went missing after he left his elderly home on Ivy Street on January 26 afternoon. His wife made a report to Police on the same day.

     Police located the man in a hospital on Waterloo Road in the small hours today (January 29).

     Hong Kong Customs detected two smuggling endangered species cases at Hong Kong International Airport between January 26 and 27. A total of about 230 grams of tiger teeth, about 128g of pangolin meat and 64 live turtles, all suspected to be scheduled endangered species, were seized. The total estimated market value was about $700,000. A man and a woman were arrested.

     The first case involved a 50-year-old transit male passenger who arrived in Hong Kong from Nigeria via Ethiopia and planned to take the cross-boundary ferry to Shekou on January 26. When Customs officers conducted examination of the man's baggage at the SkyPier Terminal in the airport, the batch of tiger teeth and pangolin meat with a total estimated market value of $50,000 was found inside his check-in baggage. Tiger teeth and pangolin meat are specimens of endangered species listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Ordinance) (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.

     The second case involved a 45-year-old female passenger who arrived in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, yesterday (January 27). During customs clearance, the batch of live turtles, which was suspected to be scheduled endangered species listed under the Ordinance, was found in her check-in suitcase. The estimated market value of the turtles was about $650,000.

     Both cases have been handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up action. The arrested man has been charged with one count of exporting specimens of Appendix I species not under and in accordance with an export licence, whereas the arrested woman has been charged with one count of importing specimens of Appendix II species not under and in accordance with an import licence. The duo will separately appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Monday (January 29).

     Hong Kong Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

     Under the Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years on conviction with the specimens forfeited.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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).

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 28) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza. The 2023/24 seasonal influenza vaccination programmes have started and the CHP appealed to members of the public to receive free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) to better protect themselves in the coming influenza season.

     The case involves a 4-year-old boy with good past health. He developed fever and cough since January 26 and consulted a private doctor. He sought medical attention at a private hospital due to worsened symptoms yesterday (January 27) and was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of Prince of Wales Hospital for management on the same day. His respiratory specimen was positive for influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy. He is now in serious condition.

     Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. One of his home contacts is 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.