Correctional officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (July 17) intercepted a remand person in custody smuggling suspected dangerous drugs into the centre by concealing them inside his body.

     The 62-year-old remand person in custody was remanded in the institution for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug on July 16. After undergoing X-ray body scanning, he was suspected to have swallowed suspected dangerous drugs before admission and was therefore separated and put under close monitoring.

     At 2.05pm today, he discharged eight packs of suspected dangerous drugs wrapped in plastic sheet. The case has been reported to the Police for follow-up.

     A spokesperson for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department takes every measure to stop the introduction of dangerous drugs or unauthorised articles into correctional institutions in order to maintain good order and discipline and a drug-free environment for all persons in its custody."

     A sick 75-year-old male person in custody at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre died in a public hospital today (July 17).

     On July 3, the person in custody was referred to a public hospital for examination and treatment due to physical discomfort. Since then, he all along received in-patient treatment in the hospital with the diagnosis of pneumonia and heart disease. In the morning today, his condition suddenly deteriorated and he was certified dead at 12.39pm.

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.

     The person in custody was convicted for the offence of wounding in May 2018.
    

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 17) announced that a sample of ham and egg bun was found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus, a pathogen. The CFS is following up on the case.
 
     "Following up on a food complaint, the CFS collected the above sample from a convenience store in Sheung Wan for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 4.5 million per gram. Under the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if ready-to-eat food contains Bacillus cereus at a level of more than 100 000 per gram, it is considered unsatisfactory," a CFS spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman said that the CFS had informed the vendor concerned of the unsatisfactory test result and instructed it to suspend the sale of the affected food. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the staff of the vendor and is tracing the source of the affected product.
 
     According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
 
     Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
 
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident, and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. 

     The Transport Department (TD) today (July 17) reminded the public that to facilitate the extension of opening hours of the Hong Kong Book Fair 2018 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) this Friday and Saturday (July 20 and 21), the following special transport arrangements will be implemented on those two days:

1. The ferry service between Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui will be extended to 11.30pm daily. The headway of the service will also be enhanced to eight to 12 minutes between 8pm to 11.30pm;

2. To cope with the additional passenger demand, four special cross-harbour bus routes will be operated by the bus companies:

(i)  Routes 105R and 111R heading for Mei Foo and Yue Man Square in Kwun Tong respectively will operate from HKCEC Phase II on Expo Drive from 10pm to 1am of the following day daily. The headway will be 10 to 15 minutes with a fare charged at $15.5;

(ii)  Route 168R heading for Yuen Long West will operate from Expo Drive East Bus Terminus from 11pm to midnight daily. The headway will be 30 minutes with a fare charged at $35.3; and

(iii) Route 178R heading for Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange via Fanling and Sheung Shui will operate from Expo Drive East Bus Terminus from 11.10pm to 12.10am of the following day daily. The headway will be 30 minutes with a fare charged at $39.9.

     Details of the special transport arrangements are available at the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call 1823.

     â€‹The owner of a renovation works contractor, two drivers and a worker, who illegally dumped commercial and industrial waste (C&I waste) and construction waste in Sai Kung, Southern District and Yuen Long, were fined a total of $17,500 by Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on July 12, Eastern Magistrates' Courts on July 16 and Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 17) respectively for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is committed to combating illegal waste disposal. Through blitz operations and following up on the car plate number concerned and other information reported by members of the public, the EPD officers caught the offenders red-handed or successfully traced the people involved in four fly-tipping cases that occurred at Hang Hau Wing Lung Road in Sai Kung, Chung Hom Kok Road in Southern District, and Tai Shu Ha Road West and Pat Heung Road in Yuen Long. The illegally discarded waste, which involved renovation waste, unwanted food ingredients, packaging waste and other C&I waste, obstructed walkways and affected environmental hygiene. The EPD subsequently prosecuted all persons involved under the WDO after evidence gathering.

     An EPD spokesman urged members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness illegal dumping of waste by vehicles. They can provide relevant information such as videos and photos of the vehicle involved to the EPD via the department's hotline 2838 3111 to help combat illegal activities. The spokesman reminded those involved in building renovation, construction works and the transportation sector that they should dispose of construction waste properly in accordance with the law. Reusable materials or waste with a recycling value should be collected by recyclers, while non-recyclable waste should be delivered to appropriate waste management facilities, such as public fill banks or landfills, for proper treatment or disposal. Under the WDO, it is an offence for anyone to dispose of waste in public places. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.