Hongkong Post announced today (April 3) that, as advised by the postal administration of Haiti, the postal administration of Haiti is unable to process inbound and outbound mail of Haiti. All postal services to Haiti are suspended until further notice.

Attention TV and 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 today (April 3) that due to the sighting of a suspected red tide, the red flag has been hoisted at Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach until further notice.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 3) investigating a case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, and hence reminded the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene against intestinal infections.

     The case involves a 32-year-old female with good past health, who presented with fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomit on March 15. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of North Lantau Hospital (NLTH) on the same day. She has been in stable condition and did not require hospitalisation.

     Her stool specimen grew STEC upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries of the CHP revealed that the patient had travelled to Taiwan during the incubation period. Her travel collateral also developed similar symptoms on March 15 and both of them attended the AED of NLTH together. The travel collateral did not require hospitalisation. Based on the epidemiological investigation and the latest test results, the CHP identified the symptomatic travel collateral as a probable case and is now arranging tests for him. Investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection and high-risk exposure.

     "Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains, however, such as STEC, can produce powerful toxins and cause severe food-borne disease. The most recognised serogroup of STEC is E. coli O157:H7," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

     Preventive measures for STEC infection are similar to those recommended for other food-borne diseases. The public are advised to observe good personal and food hygiene:
 

• Adopt the Five Keys to Food Safety in handling food, i.e. Choose (choose safe raw materials), Clean (keep hands and utensils clean), Separate (separate raw and cooked food), Cook (cook thoroughly) and Safe Temperature (keep food at a safe temperature) to prevent food-borne diseases;
• Wash hands properly with liquid soap and water before handling food, after handling raw meat or poultry and before eating, and after going to the toilet or changing diapers;
• Cook food and boil water thoroughly before consumption. When cooking or reheating, the core temperature of the food should reach at least 75 degrees Celsius;
• Avoid consumption of unpasteurised milk or undercooked food; and
• Consult your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of STEC infection, particularly bloody diarrhoea.

 
     The public may visit the CHP's STEC page for more information.

     The Transport Department (TD) reminded the public today (April 3) that as the HKeToll has been implemented at all government tolled tunnels, Government Tunnel Toll Tickets (toll tickets) are no longer accepted for toll payment. The TD once again appeals to holders of toll tickets to visit the TD's designated outlets to apply for a refund on or before June 30, otherwise no refund can be made. The details of the refund locations are as follows:
 

 
     Applicants are advised to fill in the application form (www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_5214/ops_form_182.pdf) in advance and bring along the toll tickets for refund. Applicants who apply for a refund for a large quantity of toll tickets are suggested to contact the contractor by email (info@wilsonparking.com.hk) or call 2830 3814 before visiting the designated refund outlets to ensure that they would be provided with the necessary assistance.

     The Government will publish in the Gazette on April 5 three pieces of subsidiary legislation, namely the Immigration (Places of Detention) (Amendment) Order 2024, the Immigration Service (Designated Places) (Amendment) Order 2024 and the Immigration Service (Treatment of Detained Persons) (Amendment) Order 2024.
 
     Following the completion of construction of the new Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O in the third quarter of 2023, relevant offices and facilities are being relocated in phases to the new Headquarters in 2024. The new Headquarters will provide a detention centre, which will replace the existing Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre (MTKDC) located at the Ma Tau Kok Road Government Offices. Similar to the current setting of the MTKDC, the new detention centre will be used for short-term detention of immigration offenders pending inquiry, prosecution, court hearing or transfer to other detention facilities.
 
     Moreover, following the developments of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), additional detention quarters will be set up by the Immigration Department at HKIA for short-term detention of persons pending examination, inquiry, a decision to give or refuse permission to land, or removal from Hong Kong after permission to land is refused.
 
     In order to include the above new detention centre/quarters as places of detention, the Government needs to amend the relevant Schedule to the Immigration (Places of Detention) Order (Cap. 115B) and the Immigration Service (Designated Places) Order (Cap. 331B). Moreover, in order to apply the rules of detention treatment currently applicable to the MTKDC to the detention centre of the new Headquarters, the Schedule to the Immigration Service (Treatment of Detained Persons) Order (Cap. 331C) needs to be amended to include the detention centre of the new Headquarters. As the MTKDC will cease operation upon smooth operation of the detention centre at the new Headquarters, the Government also takes the opportunity to repeal the references to the MTKDC in the above three pieces of subsidiary legislation at the end of 2024.
 
     The above three pieces of subsidiary legislation will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on April 10 and are expected to commence on May 31 (except for the repeal of references to the MTKDC) and December 2 (only for the repeal of references to the MTKDC).