The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The "Conversations with Global Investors" seminar brought the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit in Hong Kong to a successful close today (November 8).
      
     About 300 overseas and local leaders from the financial, business, and public sectors attended the seminar, which was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF).
      
     Under the Summit's theme "Living with Complexity", today's seminar featured 20 global leading investors, who shared their investment insights and latest approaches to navigate a challenging landscape.
      
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA and Chairman of the AoF, Mr Eddie Yue, said "This is the second year that Hong Kong has hosted the Investment Summit, and coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the HKMA. I am heartened to see the enthusiastic response to the Summit. The active participation in the Summit, and the very packed schedule of many of our guests while they are here, reflect the vibrancy and significance of Hong Kong as an international financial centre."
      
     The Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung, said "The seminar, as well as the Summit as a whole, is a testament to the strong appeal of Hong Kong to global investors as a financial market of choice both regionally and worldwide. I am confident that participants at the event have all walked away with better insights into both global and Asian investment opportunities that will prove valuable to their firms and clients amid prevailing macro risks."
      
     Overall, the three-day Summit welcomed over 350 participants, including more than 90 group chairmen or CEOs from the world's top financial institutions, representing banks, securities firms, asset owners, asset managers, private equity and venture capital firms, hedge funds and insurers.

      

     The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, visited Zhuhai today (November 8) to meet with leaders of the Zhuhai Municipal Government. She also visited a local innovation and technology (I&T) enterprise and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Logistics Park.
 
     Ms Chan departed for Zhuhai via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) in the morning. Upon arrival, she called on Deputy Mayor of Zhuhai Mr Li Chong, and met with the representatives of Zhuhai Municipal Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau, Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Office of Zhuhai Leading Group for the Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Zhuhai Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, to learn about the latest developments in Zhuhai and exchange views on jointly promoting the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area).
 
     Ms Chan said that Hong Kong and Zhuhai have close geographical ties and have always been close partners in the areas of trade, investment and air transport. For example, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has been co-operating with the Zhuhai Municipal Government in the operation and management of Zhuhai Airport since 2006, and signed the Zhuhai Municipal Government and AAHK Co-operation Memorandum of Understanding last November, which has effectively combined the strengths of the two airports in Hong Kong and Zhuhai to create new opportunities for joint development. The implementation of "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" on July 1 this year has also enabled Hong Kong and Zhuhai to better embrace opportunities brought by the HZMB and has further enhanced the connectivity between the two places.
 
     Ms Chan added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been actively supporting Hong Kong people and enterprises in pursuing development in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area. For example, in April 2023, the HKSAR Government set up the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, which is co-operating strategically with the GoGBA Business Support Centre established by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Hengqin, Zhuhai, to provide appropriate support for Hong Kong enterprises seeking development in Zhuhai. Blessed with the strong support of the country and the close connection to the world, Hong Kong is the only world-class city that can capitalise on both the China advantage and the international advantage. She welcomed Zhuhai enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's world-class financial, commercial, management and professional services, as well as the extensive international networks which Hong Kong enjoys, to open up and develop international markets together.
 
     In the afternoon, Ms Chan visited an enterprise specialising in biomaterials and high-end medical devices in Zhuhai to learn about the latest position on local I&T development. The Greater Bay Area is home to many leading I&T enterprises, while Hong Kong has world-class financial services and scientific research capabilities. Hong Kong and other cities of the Greater Bay Area can leverage their complementary strengths to jointly promote co-ordinated economic development.
 
     Later on, Ms Chan visited the first phase of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Logistics Park to learn about its latest developments. The Park will enable the cross-boundary logistics industry to make better use of the HZMB and to further explore development opportunities in Zhuhai and other places in the western part of Guangdong. The HKSAR Government welcomes enterprises in the Greater Bay Area to capitalise on Hong Kong's advantages in intermodal transportation and professional services through making use of Hong Kong as a regional distribution centre, develop e-commerce and high value-added freight and logistics services to achieve mutually beneficial development.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital gave the following update today (November 8):

     Following a contact tracing investigation, one more male patient aged 70 in the surgical ward was also identified as a carrier of Candida auris while not having signs of infection. The patient was discharged.

     The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patient in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
 

1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
2. Enhanced admission screening for patients and environmental screening procedures; and
3. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients.

     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patient. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     A contractor was fined $150,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (November 8) for violation of the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and the Industrial Undertakings (Confined Spaces) Regulation. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
      
     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on November 18, 2021, at a sewage treatment plant in Siu Ho Wan. During pipe maintenance work of a wet well carried out by a group of five workers, sewage suddenly flowed into the wet well. Three workers working inside the wet well lost consciousness successively. Two other workers who originally stayed outside the wet well also lost consciousness after entering the wet well trying to rescue them. One of the workers died while the other four workers regained consciousness but were injured.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 8) provided an update on the investigation of the suspected Mycobacterium abscessus infection cluster. With the addition of one case, currently the suspected Mycobacterium abscessus infection cluster involves a total of 18 females.

     The CHP has set up for the related cases an enquiry hotline (2125 2372), which operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5.30pm to receive enquiries. The hotline was set up on November 3, and as of 3pm today, 18 calls were received, among which six females, aged 25 to 32, said that they had received relevant injection services and developed symptoms. They have been defined as cases of the infection cluster to receive follow-ups.

     In addition, the CHP has not identified new venues where injections took place, or relevant Instagram social media accounts today. The CHP again appeals to persons who have patronised the premises announced on November 7, or have arranged and received relevant injections via relevant Instagram social media accounts after which they presented with relevant symptoms, should seek medical attention and call the hotline immediately. Officers of the CHP will assess their condition and arrange for follow-ups as appropriate.
 
     Based on information obtained in a preliminary investigation, the CHP cannot rule out the possibility of illegal medical practice. Investigations are ongoing.

     The DH reminded members of the public that injection procedures should only be performed by a locally registered doctor. Customers should look for his or her full name against the list of registered doctors of the Medical Council of Hong Kong as well as his or her professional qualifications and relevant experience. The DH also urged the public to observe the health advice below before receiving injections:
 

• Understand the procedure, potential risks and complications before receiving injections. Consult a doctor for an informed decision;
• Do not receive an injection in the case of a history of allergy to the injection, or infection or inflammation on the injection site;
• Request the full name of the doctor in writing if referred by a beauty service provider for the procedure, as well as the professional qualifications and relevant experience; and
• If symptoms develop, such as fever or feeling unwell, seek medical attention immediately.

     â€‹The public may visit the DH's webpage on the differentiation between medical procedures and beauty services and the Drug Database of the Drug Office for more information.