The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital made the following announcement today (January 3):

     Four patients (aged 28 to 56) in a female ward of learning disabilities have presented with fever or respiratory symptoms since December 28, 2023. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for parainfluenza virus type 3. The patients concerned are currently undergoing treatment and are in stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended. 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.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs on December 27 last year detected a suspected case of using an ocean-going vessel to smuggle goods to Vietnam at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including fish maws, suspected scheduled shark fins, pharmaceutical products and skincare products with a total estimated market value of about $6 million, was seized.
      
     Through risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals may use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods to Southeast Asian countries. Then, Customs formulated strategic plans to select and inspect containers from high-risk regions, and identified four containers that were prepared to be shipped to Vietnam by an ocean-going vessel for inspection on that day. Upon examination, a large number of wooden boxes were found inside the containers and the batch of suspected smuggled goods was seized therein.

     After a follow-up investigation, Customs arrested a 52-year-old female director of the consignor company suspected to be involved with the case that night.

     An investigation is ongoing. The arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     Being a government department specifically responsible for tackling smuggling, Customs has all along been combating various smuggling activities proactively at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to land a solid blow against relevant activities.
      
     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. In addition, under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who exports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid export licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.     
 
     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 3) investigating a case of severe paediatric COVID-19 and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against respiratory tract infection in winter. The CHP stressed that vaccination can effectively prevent serious COVID-19 cases and high-risk individuals (including pregnant women) should get vaccinated as soon as possible and receive booster doses at appropriate times. Meanwhile, the CHP also reminded high-risk persons to wear a surgical mask when visiting public places, and the public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transportation or staying in crowded places.

     The case involves a 4-year-old boy with good past health. He had been to Australia during the incubation period, and developed fever, cough with sputum and tiredness on December 29 last year while there. He tested positive for COVID-19 by rapid antigen test on January 1 after returning to Hong Kong. He presented with shortness of breath the next day (January 2), and was brought to a private doctor and the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital for medical attention respectively on the same day. He was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital for treatment. His respiratory specimen tested positive for the COVID-19 virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was severe pneumonia. He is now in serious condition and is still hospitalised.

     Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had not received a COVID-19 vaccine. His three home contacts had presented with symptoms.

     The CHP reminded high-risk people who have never been vaccinated or infected with COVID-19 that they should arrange vaccination as soon as possible and adopt additional hygiene measures to protect themselves. Parents are also reminded to arrange COVID-19 vaccination for their babies aged 6 months or above in order to reduce the risk of severe cases and fatalities. In addition, high-risk priority groups are recommended to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after the last dose or infection, regardless of the number of doses received previously. For more information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and the latest recommendation on the use of vaccines, please visit the CHP's website at www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html.

     Currently, there is an increasing trend in the activity of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza viruses. Apart from vaccination, in order to prevent infection of COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory illnesses as well as transmission in the community, the public should maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times 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;
• 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.

     The public may visit the thematic website of COVID-19 and the CHP's COVID-19 & Flu Express for more information.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The nomination period for the offices of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Legislative Council House Committee (HC) and the Finance Committee (FC) for the 2024 session closed at 5pm today (January 3).
 
     There is only one valid nomination each for the offices of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the two Committees, therefore:
 

• Ms Starry Lee and Mr Chan Kin-por are elected as the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of HC respectively; and
• Mr Chan Chun-ying and Mr Holden Chow are elected as the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of FC respectively.

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 3) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in King County of the State of Washington in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 21 470 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 57.11 million poultry eggs from the US in the first nine months of last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the American authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.