Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (May 10) closely monitoring four additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Saudi Arabia. The CHP again urged the public to pay special attention to safety and take due consideration of the health risks when visiting other places.

     According to the WHO, three of the abovementioned cases were found to be epidemiologically linked to exposures in the same healthcare facility, involving three males aged between 56 and 60 years with underlying health conditions. After identifying the index case, two additional cases were revealed through contact tracing, which are suspected to be secondary healthcare associated cases due to contact with the index case. The investigations are ongoing to understand and verify the transmission route. The remaining case involved a 32-year-old male who had direct contact with camels.

     The WHO emphasised that the notification of these cases does not alter their overall risk assessment, and they anticipated the reporting of additional MERS-CoV infection cases from the Middle East or other countries where the virus is circulating in dromedaries. According to the latest information, 2 613 MERS cases have been reported to the WHO (with 941 deaths) since 2012.

     “We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “As countries in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, continue to report MERS cases from time to time, travellers should refrain from going to farms, barns or markets with camels and avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry. Most of the cases reported in the Middle East had a history of exposure to camels, consumption of camel milk or contact with other MERS patients,” the spokesman said.

     From time to time, suspected MERS cases reported to the CHP for investigation involve patients with a history of contact with camels in the Middle East. The CHP strongly advises travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS-CoV. ​Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene.

     “As the Hajj pilgrimage will begin soon, pilgrims visiting Mecca in Saudi Arabia should be vigilant against MERS. Those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease and immunodeficiency, are more likely to develop severe infections if they are exposed to MERS-CoV. Pilgrims should hence consult healthcare providers before travel to review the risk and assess whether a pilgrimage is advisable. Pilgrims visiting Mecca may refer to the DH’s advice. If pilgrims feel unwell during the two weeks after returning to Hong Kong, they should wear a surgical mask and seek medical attention immediately and inform a doctor of their recent travel history,” the spokesman added.

     â€‹The public may visit the MERS page of the CHP and its Travel Health Service to learn more about MERS statistics in affected areas. The public should also refer to the CHP’s Facebook page and YouTube channel and the WHO’s latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP’s health advice on MERS. Persons who plan to make the pilgrimage should also stay tuned to the latest health recommendations by the health authority of Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. read more

     In the past two weeks, Hong Kong Customs stepped up enforcement to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities by sea and detected two related cases involving seaborne containers. A total of about 13 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $59 million and a duty potential of about $43 million were seized.

     For the first case, through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs selected and inspected a 40-foot container, arriving from Japan to Hong Kong and declared as carrying cosmetic products, on April 30 at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized 2 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the container.

     Customs detected another case at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound where officers inspected two 40-foot containers, declared as carrying furniture and arriving in Hong Kong from Taiwan, on May 2. A total of about 11 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized therein.

     Investigations of the two cases are ongoing.

     Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and step up enforcement actions to combat the smuggling of illicit cigarettes. 

     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.

     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/).

    

     Police today (May 10) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Tin Sum.      Liang Tsuen-miu, aged 14, went missing after she was last seen at MTR Tai Wai Station this morning…. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Promotion of New Industrialization visited the Microelectronics Centre (MEC) at Yuen Long InnoPark today (May 10) to better understand the latest development of microelectronics innovations in Hong Kong.

     Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lilian Cheong, Members first received a briefing from representatives of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) on the latest development of MEC. They noted that Yuen Long InnoPark is one of the key facilities to promote new industrialization in Hong Kong, encompassing industries such as pharmaceutical and biomedicine. MEC at Yuen Long InnoPark is expected to commence operation within this year. Collaborating with Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute to be established by the Government, MEC will provide enterprises with infrastructure to focus on research and pilot production of semiconductor products.

     Members then visited the Full Fabrication Units in MEC and viewed the Central Utility Block to learn about the shared ancillary facilities provided for the semiconductor enterprises, with a view to bringing their innovative microelectronics products to market while minimising the costs and environmental impact. During the visit, Members exchanged views with representatives of the Administration and HKSTPC on the development of Hong Kong’s microelectronics industry and the commercialization of research and development outcomes.

     Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr Jimmy Ng; the Deputy Chairman, Mr Holden Chow; and Subcommittee members Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Chan Chun-ying, Mr Lau Kwok-fan, Mr Lam Chun-sing and Professor William Wong.

      

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced toda… read more