The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 14) investigating a case of invasive meningococcal infection, a communicable disease transmitted by direct contact with droplets from carriers or infected persons.

     The case involves a 60-year-old woman, with underlying illnesses, who has presented with fever, vomiting and diarrhoea since June 11. She sought medical treatment from the Accident and Emergency Department (A&ED) of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 12 and passed away at the A&ED on the same day.

     Her blood sample tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lived alone and had no travel history during the incubation period. The CHP's investigation is continuing. The case was also referred to the Coroner for investigation.

     "Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, from infected persons. The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, and is commonly three or four days," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The clinical picture may vary. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis).

     Meningococcaemia is characterised by sudden onset of fever, intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache and stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or a rash. It can cause brain damage or even death. The brain damage may lead to intellectual impairment, mental retardation, hearing loss and electrolyte imbalance. Invasive meningococcal infections can be complicated by arthritis, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the posterior chamber of the eye or chest infection.

     Meningococcal infection is a serious illness. Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics.

     To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures:
 

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharge in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately;
• Avoid crowded places;
• Avoid close contact with patients who have fever or severe headache;
• Travellers to high-risk areas may consult doctors for meningococcal vaccination; and
• Travellers returning from high-risk areas should seek medical advice if they become ill and should discuss their recent travel history with their doctor.

    
     The public may visit the CHP's website for more information on meningococcal infection.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Director General of the Department of Culture of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Yiyang; and the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Ms Mok Ian-ian, attended the 19th Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Co-operation Meeting in Hong Kong today (June 14). About 100 delegates including officials and representatives of relevant arts and cultural authorities and organisations from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao also joined the meeting.
      
     In his concluding remarks, Mr Lau said that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to support local arts groups to perform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, and has reserved $140 million to support Hong Kong arts groups and artists in making cultural exchanges in the Bay Area over the coming five years. The cultural co-operation among the three places will become more vibrant in the future, he said.
      
     The three places have made progress in various areas of co-operation. In the performing arts, various performers of unconventional Cantonese music, "crossover" music and jazz will begin to tour around the Bay Area from autumn 2018. As for museums, the three places will continue to support International Museum Day and the Muse Fest HK, and will organise student exchange activities such as the Youth Internship Programme at the Palace Museum. Regarding professional training, the three places will continue to organise the Greater Pearl River Delta Conservation Training Workshop this year to enhance professional conservation skills. In the coming year, the three places will also continue to strengthen co-operation in the areas of public libraries, intangible cultural heritage, and cultural and creative industries for the further development of relevant services and the cultural sector.
      
     The Department of Culture of Guangdong Province, the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR have established a cultural framework within the Greater Pearl River Delta region. An agreement on cultural co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao was signed in August 2003 and five working groups have been set up to implement and follow up on the recommendations for co-operation in different areas.
          
     The five working groups met yesterday afternoon (June 13) to discuss specific topics, namely exchanges for performing artists and co-organisation of cultural programmes, co-operation in public libraries and cultural information, co-operation in museum services, intangible cultural heritage, and co-operation in cultural and creative industries.    

        

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (June 15) for duty visits to Bordeaux and Paris in France as well as Noordwijkerhout in the Netherlands from June 16 to 21.
 
     Mr Yau will first visit Bordeaux on June 16, where he will meet with Government officials and explore further co-operation in wine-related education and manpower training between Hong Kong and Bordeaux.
 
     Mr Yau will then proceed to the Netherlands on June 17. He will meet with Dutch trade officials to exchange views on trade-related issues in Noordwijkerhout on June 18.
 
     Mr Yau will depart for Paris in the evening on June 18 to join part of the Chief Executive’s visit programme to France and attend seminars on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.
 
     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on June 21. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

     According to the provisional results of a survey released today (June 14) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole increased by 1.1% in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year increase of 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2017. The corresponding producer price index also increased by 3.8% in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year increase of 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2017.

     The index of industrial production for sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 1.6% in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year increase of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2017. The corresponding producer price index also increased by 5.9% in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier, following a year-on-year increase of 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2017.

     Indices of industrial production reflect changes in the volume of local industrial output after discounting the effect of price changes. The price changes are measured by the producer price indices compiled from data on producer prices of selected industrial goods/services collected in the same survey.

     Comparing the industrial production in respect of major manufacturing industries in the first quarter of 2018 with that a year earlier, an increase in output volume was recorded mainly in the food, beverages and tobacco industry (+2.4%). On the other hand, a slight decrease in output volume was recorded in the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (-0.8%).

     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index of industrial production for manufacturing industries as a whole increased by 1.3% in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the fourth quarter of 2017.

     Producer price indices reflect changes in the prices of local output. They measure changes in the actual prices (net of any discounts or rebates allowed to buyers, plus any surcharges) received by producers for their output. Transportation and other incidental charges are not included.

     Comparing the first quarter of 2018 with a year earlier, increases in producer prices were recorded mainly in the metal, computer, electronic and optical products, machinery and equipment industry (+5.9%); the food, beverages and tobacco industry (+1.9%); and the paper products, printing and reproduction of recorded media industry (+1.2%). On the other hand, a slight decrease in producer price was recorded in the textiles and wearing apparel industry (-0.3%).

     Table 1 shows the year-on-year percentage changes in the indices of industrial production by selected industry grouping. Table 2 shows the year-on-year percentage changes in the producer price indices for the industrial sector by selected industry grouping.

     The revised figures on indices of industrial production and producer price indices for the industrial sector for the first quarter of 2018 will be released at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/bbs.jsp) and relevant publications of the Department starting from July 20, 2018.

     Users can download the reports "Quarterly Index of Industrial Production, 1st Quarter 2018" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp310.jsp?productCode=B1070002) and "Quarterly Producer Price Index for Industrial Sector, 1st Quarter 2018" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp280.jsp?productCode=B1070003) free of charge at the website of the C&SD.

     Readers who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7247; fax: 2123 1048; email: ind-production@censtatd.gov.hk).

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 14) the preliminary statistics on Hong Kong's Gross National Income (GNI) and external primary income flows (EPIF) for the first quarter of 2018.

     Hong Kong's GNI in the first quarter of 2018 increased by 9.4% over a year earlier to $712.1 billion at current market prices. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), preliminarily estimated at $688.0 billion at current market prices in the same quarter, recorded a 9.1% increase over the same period. Measured at current market prices, the value of GNI was larger than GDP by $24.2 billion in the first quarter of 2018, representing a net external primary income inflow of the same amount, and equivalent to 3.5% of GDP in that quarter.

     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, Hong Kong's GNI increased by 5.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2018 over a year earlier. The corresponding GDP in the same quarter increased by 4.7% in real terms.

     Total primary income inflow into Hong Kong, estimated at $349.6 billion in the first quarter of 2018 and equivalent to 50.8% of GDP in that quarter, increased by 18.8% over a year earlier. Meanwhile, total primary income outflow, estimated at $325.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018 and equivalent to 47.3% of GDP in that quarter, increased by 18.6% over a year earlier. Taking the inflow and outflow together, a net external primary income inflow of $24.2 billion was recorded in the first quarter of 2018.

     As for the major components of total primary income inflow, direct investment income (DII) increased by 12.1% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent local enterprises from their direct investment abroad. Portfolio investment income (PII) increased by 19.8% over a year earlier, mainly attributable to the increase in interest income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident long-term debt securities and the increase in dividend income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident equity securities. Other investment income (OII) increased by 82.7%, largely caused by the increase in interest income from external assets of the local banking sector. Income on reserve assets increased by 51.0%, as a result of the increase in investment earnings from foreign currency reserves.

     Regarding the major components of total primary income outflow, DII increased by 13.8% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent multinational enterprises from their direct investment in Hong Kong. PII increased by 11.6%, mainly attributable to the increase in interest payout to non-resident investors from their holdings of resident long-term debt securities. OII increased by 93.6%, largely caused by the increase in the interest rates.

     Analysed by country/territory, the mainland of China continued to be the largest source of Hong Kong's total external primary income inflow in the first quarter of 2018, accounting for 34.7%. This was followed by the British Virgin Islands (BVI), with a share of 25.4%. Regarding total external primary income outflow, the BVI and the mainland of China remained the most important destinations in the first quarter of 2018, accounting for 28.0% and 25.3% respectively.

Further Information

     GDP and GNI are closely related indicators for measuring economic performance. GDP is a measure of the total value of production of all resident producing units of an economy. GNI denotes the total income earned by residents of an economy from engaging in various economic activities, irrespective of whether the economic activities are carried out within the economic territory of the economy or outside. In other words, GNI is obtained by adding to GDP the primary income earned by residents from outside the economic territory and deducting primary income earned by non-residents from within the economic territory. Primary income comprises investment income and compensation of employees.

     Figures of EPIF presented above are compiled based on data obtained from the Survey of External Claims, Liabilities and Income conducted quarterly by the C&SD, supplemented by data from other sources.  

     Figures of GNI and EPIF analysed by income component from the second quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2018 are presented in Table A, while selected major country/territory breakdowns of external primary income inflow and external primary income outflow for the same quarters are presented in Tables B(1) and B(2) respectively.

     Statistics on GDP and GNI from 2016 onwards and EPIF from 2017 onwards are subject to revision when more data become available.

     Enquiries about GNI and EPIF statistics may be directed to the Balance of Payments Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3903 7017.