Tag Archives: China

     The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force today (May 28) arrested five women and a man (six persons in total), aged between 37 and 65, in various districts including Tai Lam Centre for Women, on suspicion of committing “Offences in Connection with Seditious Intention”, contravening Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

     In addition, the Police conducted searches at the residences of the five arrested persons with court warrants, and seized some items relevant to the case, including some electronic communication devices suspectedly used for publishing messages with seditious intention.

     Investigation revealed that a woman, remanded in custody, had exploited an upcoming sensitive date to repeatedly publish posts with seditious intention on a social platform anonymously with the assistance of the other five arrested persons since April 2024, with content provoking hatred towards the Central Authorities and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Judiciary, as well as inciting netizens to organise or participate in relevant illegal activities at a later stage.

     This was a law enforcement action taken by the Police in accordance with the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Offences in connection with seditious intention are very serious crimes, with a maximum penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment. Those who intend to endanger national security should not have any delusion to evade police investigation by using anonymous means on the Internet. Members of the public must discern fact from fallacy and should not be misled by erroneous and twisted information, or even be incited to participate in illegal activities or acts that endanger national security. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 28) reported the latest progress of its investigation into an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) and again reminded the public and management of institutions to maintain personal and environmental hygiene against AGE.

     The Hospital Authority issued a press release on May 22 night about staff members of PYNEH experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis after consuming food purchased from the two hospital canteens. The CHP immediately conducted investigation and announced on May 23 the initial investigation results that the outbreak has a higher chance of environmental contamination or person-to-person transmission involving norovirus infection. The CHP has been continuing its epidemiological investigation. As at 3pm today, the CHP identified 77 staff members in total, comprising 36 males and 41 females aged 20 to 65, who developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever from May 17 to 23. Forty-seven of the affected persons sought medical attention, one of them who required hospitalisation has already been discharged after treatment. All patients are in stable condition.      

     The CHP arranged stool testing for 27 cases, 23 stool samples tested positive for norovirus. The CHP’s investigation revealed that over half of the affected staff members worked in East Block of PYNEH and multiple staff members reported witness of prior vomiting incident or contact with persons with AGE within the hospital concerned. According to the investigation findings, the CHP concluded that it was an outbreak of AGE caused by norovirus, person-to-person transmission or transmission through environmental contamination cannot be excluded. 

     Upon CHP’s instruction, PYNEH carried out immediate disinfection to affected areas, especially places visited by the affected persons. Eight environment swabs taken by the CHP from common areas in East block of PYNEH on May 23 tested negative for nororvirus. No new cases have been developed after the disinfections conducted on May 23.

     A spokesman for the CHP reminded that norovirus is highly contagious, susceptible persons can be infected even exposed to with just a few pieces of norovirus. Potential outbreak is known when vomiting incident took place in confined area with suboptimal ventilation. Proper and timely handling of vomiting incident with adequate environmental disinfection is important, especially in hospitals, institutions and schools. Alcohol-based handrub should not substitute hand hygiene with liquid soap and water, as alcohol does not effectively kill some viruses frequently causing AGE, e.g. norovirus. Members of the public are advised to take heed of the following preventive measures against gastroenteritis:
 

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating, after using the toilet or after changing diapers;
• Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus or faecal matter, and wash hands afterwards;
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water). Wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Pay attention to food hygiene;
• Use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked;
• Drink boiled water; and
• Do not patronise unlicensed food premises or food stalls.

     â€‹The public may visit the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the DH’s Health Education Infoline (2833 0111) for more information. read more

     Hong Kong Customs on May 20, 23 and 25 seized a total of about 20 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $4 million at Hong Kong International Airport and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Three men were arrested.
      
     Through risk assessment, Customs inspected two air cargo consignments on the above-mentioned dates, both declared as carrying dried fruit and arriving in Hong Kong from the United States. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 20kg in total, concealed inside a number of dried fruit cans.
      
     After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on May 25 arrested a man, aged 27, suspected to be connected with the case, in Lau Fau Shan. Following a controlled delivery operation, another two men, aged 49 and 56, suspected to be connected with the case were also arrested in Lau Fau Shan yesterday (May 27). About 100 grams of suspected cannabis buds and suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were further seized inside their private cars.
      
     The first arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation. The second and the third arrested men have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, while the latter has been charged with two more counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 29).
      
     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
      
     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 Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk), or by filling in an online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

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     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at a media session on Police National Security Department’s law enforcement action this afternoon (May 28):
 
Reporter: Is it the first arrest made under the new home grown national security legislation? Can you explain more about the scope of the offence? What is the significance and what does it imply on posting on social media on sensitive dates going forward?
 
Secretary for Security: This morning, the National Security Department of Hong Kong Police Force arrested a total of six people, including five females and one male. One of the females is now being remanded in our correctional institution. The allegation is about this group of people using a Facebook page on social media to advocate hatred against our Central Government, the Hong Kong Government and also our Judiciary. It is relating to a forthcoming sensitive date but I would like to reiterate that the main crime is not about the subject. It is about their utilising of the subject during which they incited hatred against the Central Government, our Hong Kong Government and the Judiciary. This incitement of hatred is the cause of the crime.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide large-scale enforcement operation codenamed “Tempest” between February 29 and May 14 to step up efforts to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts at each control point and all districts across the territory in Hong Kong. Throughout the operation, Customs detected a total of 4 726 related cases and seized about 139 million suspected illicit cigarettes, about 105 kilograms of cigars, and about 1 525kg of manufactured tobacco products, with a total estimated market value of about $625 million and a duty potential of about $454 million. During the operation, Customs arrested 4 347 persons aged between 15 and 89, and detained 26 vehicles suspected to be used for illicit cigarette distribution.
      
     A Customs spokesman said today (May 28), “In order to identify duty-paid cigarettes more effectively, Hong Kong Customs will collaborate with relevant policy bureaux to conduct feasibility studies and promote the implementation of a duty-paid labelling system.”
      
     Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source, together with raids in-town, to crack down on the distribution, storage, and peddling of illicit cigarettes on all fronts.
      
     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.
      
     Customs reminds members of the public that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes and that conviction would lead to a criminal record. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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).

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