The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (January 23) 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 37-year-old male patient. He had developed skin rash since January 11, and visited the Wan Chai Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the DH on January 19. 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 Portugal and the United States during the incubation period. According to the patient, he had high-risk exposure during his stay at the two places. 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 56 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.

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on January 22 to noon today (January 23), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 102 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
 
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 26 632 samples of food imported from Japan (including 17 767 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 7 568 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (January 23) alerted members of the public to fraudulent job advertisements published on a social media platform.

     The fraudulent job advertisements concerned carried the SWD logo and were about the recruitment of part-time and full-time staff to assist in website management. The SWD clarified that it had not published the job advertisements in question. The case has been reported to the Police. The social media platform has also been informed to follow up on the fraudulent advertisements.

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to any suspicious websites or unknown persons via the advertisements should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the SWD hotline at 2343 2255.

     The Civil Service College (CSC), in collaboration with the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, launched an in-depth programme on "one country, two systems" and the contemporary China. As part of the programme, a lecture on the topic of "Upholding the Principle and Promoting the Development of 'One Country, Two Systems'" was delivered by Professor Rao Geping of Peking University's Law School at the CSC today (January 23).

     Addressing the lecture, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said that the "one country, two systems" principle is of great vitality and the success of its implementation in Hong Kong has won recognition throughout the world. As the backbone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, civil servants must understand accurately and implement fully the "one country, two systems" principle, safeguard the HKSAR's constitutional basis and order as laid down by the Constitution and the Basic Law, uphold the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong", and resolutely safeguard national security. Furthermore, civil servants not only have the responsibility but also should conscientiously and actively promote the achievements of "one country, two systems", presenting to the world the true stories of Hong Kong's openness, cultural vibrancy, prosperity and stability.
 
     Around 70 civil servants at the rank of Directorate Pay Scale Point 1 and 2 attended the in-depth programme. In addition, about 110 politically appointed officials and other directorate officers enrolled and sat in on the lecture via video conferencing.
 
     The programme was organised to further strengthen training for senior officials and directorate civil servants. It consists of 12 monthly lectures covering a wide range of topics, such as the Communist Party of China and the contemporary China, socialism with Chinese characteristics, the theory and practice of "one country, two systems", as well as developments in contemporary Chinese society, economy, national defence, technology, and more. Distinguished scholars from the Mainland will deliver the programme and engage in in-depth discussions with participants.

      

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to fostering the cultural development of Hong Kong and developing the city into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will join hands with the international art collective teamLab, Hong Kong artists, the First Initiative Foundation (FIF), K11 Group and Sino Group to again present a large-scale outdoor art project, the second "Art@Harbour 2024", on both sides of Victoria Harbour from March 25 to June 2. Multiple outdoor art installations and digital art façades featuring the integration of art, science, and technology will bring the public a new inspirational and sensory experience at Victoria harbourfront.

     The "teamLab: Continuous" exhibition, jointly organised by the LCSD's Art Promotion Office and Science Promotion Unit (SPU), created by teamLab, will be launched at Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section). Hundreds of colourful luminous ovoids will be displayed with continuously changing colours and sound based on visitors' interactions. The light of dozens of trees in the park will spread, changing its colour and resonating sound tones in response to the ovoids. The exhibits will span across the lawns of Tamar Park and extend to Victoria Harbour, showcasing the vibrant harbourfront. The installation of artworks is starting now at Tamar Park, allowing the public to witness the process of creating the artwork.

     The SPU under the LCSD will also launch the "Science in Art" exhibition at the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) at the same time. The local art group LAAB Architects and local artist Dylan Kwok have been invited to create two interactive art installations, "Harbour Cup" and "Schrödinger's Bed", which are related to the nature and properties of light.

     Furthermore, the FIF, K11 Group and Sino Group will showcase outdoor art installations and digital art façades at the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, K11 MUSEA promenade, the Sino LuminArt Façade at Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre respectively, transforming the waterfront promenade into a grand stage for cultural and artistic displays. More artworks will be rolled out soon. The FIF's large-scale art installation project is also financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.

     Since 2022, the LCSD has invited different organisations to present the large-scale outdoor art project "Art@Harbour," showcasing artistic creations integrating art, science, and technology. Bringing together creativity from all partners, the "Art@Harbour 2024" will make both sides of Victoria Harbour more diverse and innovative to enhance Hong Kong's cityscape. More details of the exhibition will be available later. Members of the public can visit the following website: www.museums.gov.hk/en/web/portal/artatharbour.html.