Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 29) seized about 3.6 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $1.9 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Togo via Ethiopia yesterday. Upon examination of his check-in luggage, Customs officers found the suspected methamphetamine concealed inside a false compartment at the bottom of the luggage. The man was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 50, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 31).

     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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital made the following announcement today (May 30):
 
     Three patients (aged 41 to 67) and a staff member in a male infirmary ward of the Rehabilitation Department presented with respiratory symptoms since May 25. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition. The staff member is currently on leave.
 
     Limited admission to the ward has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 30) investigating two food poisoning clusters affecting four persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The first cluster involved one man and one woman, aged 40 and 45, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting about seven to 10 hours after consuming ready-to-eat cooked food bought from a supermarket for dinner at home on May 23.

     The second cluster also involved one man and one woman, aged 46 and 51, who developed similar symptoms about 10 to 11 hours after having the same ready-to-eat cooked food bought from the same supermarket at home the same evening.

     All those affected sought medical advice. One from each cluster was discharged upon hospitalisation, and their stool specimens tested positive for Vibrio parahaemolyticus. All patients are now in a stable condition.

     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and eating utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

     The Task Force on Professional Development of Teachers held a meeting this afternoon (May 30).
 
     The Task Force was set up in November 2017 to study the feasible options of establishing a professional ladder for teachers; the ranking arrangement of school management of primary, secondary and special schools; and the timetable for an all-graduate teaching force.
 
     At its meeting today, the Task Force consolidated various preliminary directional recommendations on enhancing the professional development of teachers, discussed the drafting of the consultation document, and deliberated on the detailed arrangements for the upcoming public consultation, including the timetable for consultation, targets and means of collecting views.
 
     The Chairperson of the Task Force, Dr Carrie Willis, said, "The Task Force attaches great importance to the views of stakeholders. Extensive consultation on the directional recommendations drawn up by the Task Force will be conducted to collect in-depth and specific views from different stakeholders, which will serve as invaluable references of the Task Force in the course of formulating specific recommendations. The Task Force expects that the specific recommendations to be submitted to the Government would be practicable and effective in promoting professional development of teachers, so as to further enhance the professionalism of teachers in Hong Kong."
 
     The Task Force plans to conduct a consultation on the directional recommendations for two months starting from June 2018, and aims to submit its report and recommendations to the Education Bureau in early 2019.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Hang Seng Bank, Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.