The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) and the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) signed a collaborative agreement today (December 8) to promote exchange and co-operation, thereby strengthening the mutual collaboration and development.
 
     "The Hospital Authority (HA) and the HKU-SZH signed the first collaborative agreement in 2015. Building on this solid foundation, QMH and the HKU-SZH will augment the partnership and strengthen collaboration to benefit patients of both places," said the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko, at the signing ceremony.
 
     The Hospital Chief Executive of QMH, Dr Theresa Li, and the Hospital Chief Executive of the HKU-SZH, Professor Kenneth Cheung, signed a three-year agreement to outline the direction for future collaboration. "The two hospitals highlight various objectives in six areas, including talent training, exchange by the two management, academic exchange, innovation and technology, quality and safety, and clinical development. By promoting complementary advantages, we hope to jointly enhance the level of medical services in both places," Dr Li said.
 
     The two hospitals will implement various measures including regularising exchange programmes for specialists, facilitating regular visits by the management, and organising joint academic conferences to promote clinical experience sharing in professional development. Regarding the application of innovation and technology as well as quality and safety, both hospitals will mutually learn from each other to enhance standards. The two hospitals will also promote sharing of technologies in the management of rare and complex diseases, so as to meet the diverse service needs of the society.
 
     "The HKU-SZH is an important platform for Shenzhen-Hong Kong co-operation. We will take advantage of this collaborative agreement to learn the operational experiences of QMH in medical, educational, research, and management aspects. We aim to enhance interaction and exchange between the two sides and play a bridging role in Shenzhen-Hong Kong medical collaboration. By exploring high-level hospital co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, we hope to meet the healthcare service needs of residents in the Greater Bay Area," Professor Cheung added.
 
      "QMH and the HKU-SZH are both teaching hospitals of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed). I am delighted to see the signing of this collaborative agreement between the two hospitals, which is yet another important initiative to strengthen healthcare co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. By doing so, we will not only enjoy strong complementarity, but can also jointly offer high-quality healthcare services to further promote cross-border medical integration and innovation, ultimately improving the health and well-being of all people," said the Dean of HKUMed, Professor Lau Chak-sing.
 
     QMH and the HKU-SZH will form a Committee according to the agreement to meet regularly and discuss comprehensive project proposals, aiming to promote the development of medical and healthcare services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 

    

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the Passing-out Parade for the 136th-139th Customs Inspector Induction Courses and the 488th-491st Customs Officer Induction Courses at the Hong Kong Customs College today (December 8) to inspect 79 Probationary Customs Inspectors and 94 Probationary Customs Officers on parade. For the first time, there are six Probationary Customs Inspectors among the passing-out officers who are also members of the Customs Youth Leader Corps.

     The Guards of Honour and all passing-out officers adopted the Chinese-style foot drill to form the bauhinia pattern which represents the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during the foot drill performance. This arrangement symbolised the passing-out officers bearing allegiance to the HKSAR. Then, the parade formed a pattern that represents the world, demonstrating the full support of Hong Kong Customs for the country's Belt and Road Initiative. The performance concluded with the pattern symbolising the District Council election to appeal to voters to vote.
      
     In his speech, Mr Chan said with the staunch support of the country, Hong Kong has been fully implementing the National Security Law and embarking on the new journey from stability to prosperity in full normalcy after the epidemic, and that Hong Kong Customs shoulders four important missions along this course.
      
     On safeguarding national security and maintaining social stability, Mr Chan praised Hong Kong Customs for its remarkable achievements in combating smuggling and drug trafficking syndicates. Pointing out that the number of relevant cases detected in the first 10 months this year has seen an over 50 per cent year-on-year increase, Mr Chan stressed that Customs officers have to stay vigilant at all times and adopt the bottom-line thinking.
      
     Capitalising on Hong Kong's distinctive advantage of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, Mr Chan reckoned that the leadership role of Hong Kong Customs on the international stage has become more noticeable. In addition to the endorsement by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to establish a WCO Regional Dog Training Centre in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Customs will take up the post of the WCO Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific Region from 2024 to 2026. The department is also dedicated to expediting the development of Smart Customs and has launched the Smart Customs, Smart Borders and Smart Connectivity Initiative together with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China to facilitate the high quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
      
     To improve people's livelihood, Mr Chan said that Hong Kong Customs is committed to protecting the rights and interests of consumers. The department has handled more than 10 000 complaints relating to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance in the first 10 months this year to rigorously crack down on unscrupulous traders in order to ensure a safe and pleasant shopping experience for the public and visitors.
      
     On promoting youth development, Mr Chan said Hong Kong Customs established in 2021 a youth development programme known as Customs YES to nurture positive mindsets and law-abiding behaviour of young people, and to heighten their sense of national identity.
      
     Mr Chan encouraged the passing-out officers to achieve Hong Kong Customs' objective of "Connectivity towards Security and Prosperity", and strive to provide diverse and quality customs services, making significant new contributions to the country and Hong Kong.
      
     The District Council election is to be held the day after tomorrow (December 10). Mr Chan called upon fellow colleagues, friends and guests to fulfil their civic responsibilities by voting for the District Council members they trust, with whom they can build together a prosperous and harmonious community.

            

     The Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2023 was held today (December 8). In the event organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS), Hong Kong teams achieved remarkable results again, bagging a record-breaking total of seven Winner and 13 Merit Awards among over 250 entries, ranking first among the 16 participating economies.

     This year's APICTA Awards, hosted by Hong Kong for the third time since 2004 and 2013, brought together over 600 leaders and elites of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry from across the Asia Pacific region. Through four days of award judging and networking activities, the event promoted collaboration in the region's ICT sector and provided opportunities for participants to experience the leading advantages of Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) development.

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, congratulated all winning teams at the awards presentation ceremony and applauded their outstanding achievements, which inspired the ICT innovators across the Asia Pacific region. Professor Sun said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government values the contributions of talent with diverse backgrounds and expertise, and will pursue the prevailing strategy of attracting and retaining talent with a view to nurturing an even more vibrant and thriving I&T ecosystem.

     The Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Tony Wong, presented awards to winners at the ceremony and commended their outstanding performances. Hong Kong teams performed exceptionally well among over 250 award entries. The list of award-winning projects by Hong Kong teams is in the attachment.

     The OGCIO and HKCS, with co-sponsorship by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, also hosted "Hong Kong Night" at Cyberport last night (December 7), enabling Hong Kong teams to present their insights, innovative ideas and technology solutions to representatives from other participating economies. Earlier that afternoon, three networking sessions were arranged to facilitate insightful exchanges among primary, secondary and tertiary students of the member economies, as well as forge new connections for start-ups with their counterparts and investors from across the member economies.  

     Brunei Darussalam has been chosen as the host of the 23rd APICTA Awards next year.

     The APICTA Awards is an acclaimed international awards programme organised annually by the APICTA. Through the concerted support of the 16 member economies, the APICTA Awards is highly regarded by the ICT industry in the Asia Pacific region. More details of the Awards are available on the thematic website apicta2023.hk.

            

     Details of the organisation approved to conduct the exit poll on the polling day of the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election were uploaded onto the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/dc2023/eng/exitpoll.html) today (December 8). The information will also be displayed at relevant polling stations on the polling day.
 
     The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) received an application from the Hong Kong Research Association before the deadline to conduct the exit poll, and has approved the organisation to conduct the exit poll at designated polling stations.
 
     "To forestall public perception of unfairness, an organisation approved to conduct the exit poll is subject to the preconditions that it does not have member(s) contesting the election, has not publicly expressed support for any candidate(s) in the election, and will not deploy member(s) of any organisation which has member(s) contesting the election or member(s) of any organisation which has publicly expressed support for candidate(s) contesting the election to conduct the exit poll," a spokesman for the REO said.
 
     "The organisation is required to make a statutory declaration not to announce or disclose the information or results of the exit poll before the close of the poll. In particular, it should not release the results to any candidate(s) contesting the election, media, any person, body or organisation which has publicly expressed support for any candidate(s) contesting the election, or any body or organisation with a member or members contesting the election. It should not directly or indirectly use the information or results of the exit poll for electioneering purposes in promoting and prejudicing the election of candidate(s)," the spokesman added.
 
     "In addition, the organisation should not make specific remarks or predictions on the performance of any candidate(s) before the close of the poll as this may affect electors' voting behaviour and have an impact on election results.

     "All approved exit poll interviewers are required to display prominently an identification device showing clearly the identity of the organisation conducting the poll and the name of the interviewer during the conduct of the exit poll. Also, they should not speak to or communicate with the candidates or their agents there.

     "Interviews are not allowed inside polling stations. It is the right of electors to keep their votes secret and electors' participation in the exit poll is wholly voluntary," the spokesman reiterated.
 
     The REO reminded the public that the Government has not commissioned any organisation or person to conduct the exit poll for the Government. 
 
     For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (December 8) said that one new confirmed melioidosis infection case had been recorded in the past week (December 1 to 7).

     The case involves a 65-year-old female with underlying illnesses who lives in Siu Sai Wan. She developed fever, abdominal pain, cough, runny nose and shortness of breath since November 28. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital on December 5 due to persistent symptoms and was admitted on the same day. She is in stable condition. Her clinical sample was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing.
 
     The CHP is investigating the infection source of the case. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. A total of 16 melioidosis infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong this year. In 2022, 46 melioidosis infection cases were recorded.

     A spokesman for the CHP reiterated that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment. Melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year. According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei of melioidosis in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or storms, and the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms. As such, the number of melioidosis cases may increase.

     The CHP reminded members of the public that melioidosis can be spread by contaminated soil and water during and after typhoons and storms. Where practicable, they should stay indoor during typhoons and storms, avoid travelling to areas with potential flooding, and do not wade or have contact with muddy water and soil. In addition, high-risk individuals should avoid paths near stormwater drains where aerosols may be generated from contaminated water.

     Members of the public should also take the following preventive measures against infection:
 

• Avoid contact with contaminated soil;
• Wear appropriate protective clothing or footwear when participating in activities with possible contact with soil or water, e.g. using gloves and wearing boots. High-risk individuals may consider to wear a surgical mask in addition;
• Wash or shower after exposure to contaminated water or soil;
• Always clean any wounds as soon as possible and cover any cuts or grazes with waterproof dressings;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water after handling soil or gardening;
• Observe food hygiene and avoid drinking raw water; and
• Travellers can contract the disease through outdoor water sports. Risk of infection can be minimised by avoiding exposure to water sources (such as rivers, ponds or lakes) that might be contaminated.

     â€‹The CHP appealed to members of the public to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms, in particular people with diabetes or other immunocompromised conditions, in order to receive appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment. For more information on melioidosis, please visit the website of the CHP at www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/101110.html.