Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, at a media session at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station before taking the inaugural sleeper train of the XRL (Express Rail Link) from Hong Kong to Beijing today (June 15)
 
Reporter: Will there be more sleeper train services to other parts of the mainland and how is the negotiation with the mainland going to be like?

Secretary for Transport and Logistics: The sleeper train is a breakthrough of the XRL service. We have operated the XRL service or the high speed service for about six years and the service was closed for nearly three years. In the past, the railway network usually had to undergo maintenance during the nighttime. The sleeper service will be welcomed by the public as it is an alternative mode of transport. You can get on board the train at around evening time and then get a good sleep. At around 7 in the morning, you will arrive at the destination. This will suit some of the travel purposes of the passengers. Now, we have sleeper train service four days per week. It depends on how it goes and if it is welcomed by the general public, we will push for more. We will do it.

(Please also refer to the Chinese version of the transcript.)

            

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 15) investigating a case of suspected mad honey poisoning, and reminded the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary.

     A 35-year-old male developed dizziness and vomiting around 30 minutes after consuming honey yesterday (June 14). He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital today and was admitted for treatment due to hypotension and bradycardia. The patient was in stable condition. His clinical diagnosis was suspected mad honey poisoning.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient consumed honey mailed to Hong Kong by a friend from Nepal. The poisoning might have been caused by grayanotoxin. Investigations are ongoing.

     "Mad honey poisoning is caused by ingestion of honey containing grayanotoxins derived from plants belonging to the Ericaceae family, including rhododendrons. Grayanotoxins are neurotoxins which can affect nerves and muscles. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia shortly after ingestion. In severe cases, hypotension, bradycardia or shock may occur," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

     Members of the public are reminded to take heed of the following preventive advice:

• Buy honey from a reliable source or apiary;
• Discard honey with a bitter or astringent taste – grayanotoxin-containing honey may cause a burning sensation in the throat; and
• Pay special attention to honey from India, Nepal and the Black Sea region of Türkiye as there have been grayanotoxin poisoning cases connected with honey from these areas.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tin Shui Wai today (June 15) in which a man died.

     At about 10.30am, a private bus driven by a 64-year-old man was travelling along Tin Lung Road towards Tin Shing Road. When approaching Tin Kwai Road, it reportedly crossed the lane and stopped abruptly before the traffic light. A 92-year-old male passenger was then found collapsed on a seat.
 
     Sustaining no superficial injury, the male passenger was rushed to Tin Shui Wai Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 11.15am.

     The male driver was arrested for careless driving and is being detained for enquiries.
 
     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.

     â€‹The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a food factory in Tuen Mun to suspend business for 14 days, as the licensee repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally.
          
     The premises, located at Shop 156-157 on the ground floor of Commercial Centre in Yuet Wu Villa, Tuen Mun, were ordered to suspend business from today (June 15) to June 28.
          
     "Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the shop licensee in December of last year and March of this year. A total fine of $7,800 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day licence suspension," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
          
     The licensee concerned had a record of two convictions for the same offence in May and October of last year. A total fine of $6,200 was levied and 30 demerit points were also registered, leading to a seven-day licence suspension this January.
          
     The spokesman reminded the licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR and other relevant regulations, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
          
     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit its licence and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-foodPremises-search.html).

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 14) mounted an outbound anti-smuggling operation at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary goods vehicle. A batch of suspected smuggled goods with an estimated market value of about $5.77 million was seized.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday intercepted an outbound goods vehicle declared as carrying metallic conductor paste, resistive paste, electronic ceramic powder and bead capacitor at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point. Upon inspection, it was found that the quantity of cargoes inside the cargo compartment of the goods vehicle did not match the amount declared on the export manifest, and the batch of suspected unmanifested cargo items, including about 1 050kg of electronic bonding materials, about 198kg of electronic conductive materials, about 92kg of resistive paste, about 800kg of electronic ceramic powder and about 1 764kg of bead capacitor was seized. 
      
     A 69-year-old male driver was arrested and was put on bail pending further investigation.
      
     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
      
     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.
      
     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).