The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, praised District Council (DC) members at an exclusive briefing and exchange session on primary healthcare development today (April 2) for being staunch and reliable district partners of the Government in pushing forward community-based primary healthcare projects with their strong district network. She said she hoped that the collaboration between DC members and District Health Centres (DHCs) will be further strengthened through the briefing and exchange sessions for driving jointly more targeted promotion of primary healthcare at the district level in the future.

     Organised by the Health Bureau (HHB), the briefing and exchange sessions on primary healthcare development were held today, and will be followed by another one this Saturday (April 6). Arrangements were made for representatives of the 18 DHCs to introduce to their respective DC members in person the services they are providing to citizens with a view to reinforcing collaboration. Meanwhile, Dr Lee and the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau, briefed DC members on the concept and latest work progress of the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, including participation in the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme). They also exchanged views with DC members on more effective ways to promote primary healthcare at the district level. DC members from nine districts, namely Central and Western District, Eastern District, Southern District, Wan Chai District, Kowloon City District, Yuen Long District, Tuen Mun District, Tsuen Wan District and Islands District, attended the first briefing and exchange session today.

     Dr Lee said, "This briefing and exchange session sets the stage for a perfect exchange and direct communication between representatives of DHCs and DC members. DC members can also get a better picture about the targeted services and activities being offered and arranged by DHCs to meet the needs of citizens in their own districts. While DHCs serve as the local healthcare service and resource hub, DC members have an extensive network and are familiar with district affairs. I hope that this occasion will usher in collaboration between both sides to synergise their strengths for the promotion of primary healthcare.

     "The support of the local community is crucial in driving primary healthcare reform at the community level across all districts in the city. I am confident that, with staunch support from DC members who know best citizens’ sentiments with a robust district network, our explanatory work and promotion to the public will be more effective in the future and the various primary healthcare measures can be implemented in a way that suit well citizens’ needs."

     Dr Pang pointed out at the briefing and exchange session that DHC services are resident-centric, ranging from services such as assisting residents in pairing with family doctors and participating in the CDCC Pilot Scheme to arranging various health talks and activities. DHCs will keep on enhancing connection and co-operation with DC members by leveraging DC members’ network resources to extend primary healthcare services to the whole community so that the concept of primary healthcare will take root in the community in the long term.

     Nearly 190 DC members have signed up for the two briefing and exchange sessions so far. DC members from Yau Tsim Mong District, Sham Shui Po District, Wong Tai Sin District, Kwun Tong District, North District, Tai Po District, Sai Kung District, Sha Tin District and Kwai Tsing District will engage in exchanges with DHC representatives of respective districts this Saturday.

                

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 1) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 8.32 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.9 million. A woman was arrested.

     A 53-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found 16 bags of suspected cannabis buds, with a total weight of about 8.32kg, inside her checked-in luggage. The woman was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     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 online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

  

     Police today (April 2) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sham Shui Po.

     Yip Hing-shing, aged 48, went missing after he was last seen on Ki Lung Street on March 30 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.55 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short straight black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket, a black T-shirt, black shorts and blue slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 2) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From March 24 to 30, the CHP recorded one community-acquired LD case. The case involved a male patient aged 50 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Sha Tin District.

     "Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     As of March 30, 16 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2023 and 2022, there were 121 and 80 cases respectively.

     "Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels," the spokesman said.

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Immunocompromised persons should:
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily. 

     â€‹The public should observe the health advice below:
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes: 

1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     â€‹The public may visit the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on March 28 to noon today (April 2), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 372 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category, in the past five days (including last Friday, Saturday and Sunday and this Monday). No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 250 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 39 710 samples of food imported from Japan (including 26 475 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 10 980 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.