​The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital made the following updates today (March 27):

     In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has performed an enhanced surveillance and one more patient, a 36-day-old girl, was confirmed as an MRSA carrier without clinical symptoms. The patient is in stable condition and is being treated in isolation.

     The hospital has performed enhanced medical surveillance and screening of the patients in the NICU. The following infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines:
 

1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the NICU, including the environment, incubators, equipment and instruments;
2. Enhanced medical surveillance of the patients and environmental screening procedures in the NICU; and
3. Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff. Family members are reminded that infection control measures must be implemented when visiting their babies.

     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 27) that samples of three kinds of frozen confections imported from Taiwan were found to contain coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limits. The affected products have been marked and sealed, and have not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the cases.

     Product details are as follows: 

Product name: Papaya Milk Ice Bar
Brand: Ms. HoHo
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 80 grams
Importer: Gainly Enterprise Limited
Manufacturer: Hop Hung Ice Cream Co. Ltd
Best-before date: February 19, 2026

Product name: Watermelon Milk Ice Bar
Brand: Ms. HoHo
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 80 grams
Importer: Gainly Enterprise Limited
Manufacturer: Hop Hung Ice Cream Co. Ltd
Best-before date: February 19, 2026

Product name: Tiramisu Milk Tea Ice Bar
Brand: Space Between Daily Tea Time By Don't Yell at Me
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 80 grams
Importer: Gainly Enterprise Limited
Manufacturer: Hop Hung Ice Cream Co. Ltd
Best-before date: February 26, 2026

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected samples of the above-mentioned frozen confections at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that five samples of the Papaya Milk Ice Bar contained coliform bacteria ranging between 2 300 and 72 000 per gram, with four of them also detected with total bacterial counts ranging between 52 000 and eight million per gram, whereas five samples of the Watermelon Milk Ice Bar contained coliform bacteria ranging between 660 and 2 600 per gram and total bacterial counts ranging between 73 000 and 100 000 per gram, and five samples of the Tiramisu Milk Tea Ice Bar contained coliform bacteria ranging between 1 800 and 7 800 per gram and total bacterial counts ranging between 110 000 and 190 000 per gram. All are above the legal limits."

     "The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularities. The affected products have all been marked and sealed, and have not entered the market. The CFS will temporarily suspend the permission to import for sale of the products concerned granted earlier to the importer," the spokesman said.

     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confections for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform organisms or more than 50 000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform bacteria and the total bacterial count exceeded the legal limits indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the cases and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) hosted the Estate Management Services Contractors Awards (EMSC Awards) 2023 presentation ceremony at Domain in Yau Tong today (March 27). A total of 83 awards were presented to the services contractors and frontline staff in recognition of their outstanding performance in managing the HA's properties last year. 
      
     Officiating at the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Ricky Yeung, said, "The HA is in active pursuit of smart estate management. We appreciate the support of the service contractors in different aspects for assisting us with the trial projects in housing estates and gradually applying new technologies in our daily work. This enhances the efficiency of estate management, reduces the workload of frontline staff, and provides residents with better quality services.
 
     "The close partnership between the HA and the services contractors continuously enhances estate management services, creating a comfortable, clean, and healthy living environment for residents and fostering a sense of well-being and belonging."
 
     The HA organises the annual EMSC Awards which encourages services contractors to strive for excellence in different areas of work. 
 
     The EMSC Awards in 2023 went to 18 services contractors providing property management, cleaning, security and car park operating services. Seven property services managers and 49 frontline staff members were also commended. The full list of awardees is in the Annex.

     This year, the Unwavering Support during Extreme Weather Conditions award was introduced to recognise the best property service companies and the best property management staff who have demonstrated dedication and steadfastness in discharging their duties during extreme weather situations, fearlessly ensuring the safety of residents despite wind and rain.
 
     The estates managed by the winners of the Best Public Rental Housing Estate (Property Services) Large Estate award this year include Ching Ho Estate, Tin Yiu (I) & Tin Yiu (II) Estate and Shek Lei (II) Estate, while the estates managed by the winners of the Best Public Rental Housing Estate (Property Services) Small Estate award include Sheung Lok Estate, Cheung Lung Wai Estate and Wah Kwai Estate (Wah Oi House).
  
     Currently, the management of more than half of the HA's public rental housing estates is outsourced to property services contractors, and many major maintenance tasks in the HA estates are being supervised by them. By leveraging the private sector's resources and experience in managing private properties, the HA works to continuously raise the quality of its estate management services and to provide a pleasant living environment for its tenants.

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) hosted the Estate Management Services Contractors Awards (EMSC Awards) 2023 presentation ceremony at Domain in Yau Tong today (March 27). A total of 83 awards were presented to the services contractors and frontline staff in recognition of their outstanding performance in managing the HA's properties last year. 
      
     Officiating at the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Ricky Yeung, said, "The HA is in active pursuit of smart estate management. We appreciate the support of the service contractors in different aspects for assisting us with the trial projects in housing estates and gradually applying new technologies in our daily work. This enhances the efficiency of estate management, reduces the workload of frontline staff, and provides residents with better quality services.
 
     "The close partnership between the HA and the services contractors continuously enhances estate management services, creating a comfortable, clean, and healthy living environment for residents and fostering a sense of well-being and belonging."
 
     The HA organises the annual EMSC Awards which encourages services contractors to strive for excellence in different areas of work. 
 
     The EMSC Awards in 2023 went to 18 services contractors providing property management, cleaning, security and car park operating services. Seven property services managers and 49 frontline staff members were also commended. The full list of awardees is in the Annex.

     This year, the Unwavering Support during Extreme Weather Conditions award was introduced to recognise the best property service companies and the best property management staff who have demonstrated dedication and steadfastness in discharging their duties during extreme weather situations, fearlessly ensuring the safety of residents despite wind and rain.
 
     The estates managed by the winners of the Best Public Rental Housing Estate (Property Services) Large Estate award this year include Ching Ho Estate, Tin Yiu (I) & Tin Yiu (II) Estate and Shek Lei (II) Estate, while the estates managed by the winners of the Best Public Rental Housing Estate (Property Services) Small Estate award include Sheung Lok Estate, Cheung Lung Wai Estate and Wah Kwai Estate (Wah Oi House).
  
     Currently, the management of more than half of the HA's public rental housing estates is outsourced to property services contractors, and many major maintenance tasks in the HA estates are being supervised by them. By leveraging the private sector's resources and experience in managing private properties, the HA works to continuously raise the quality of its estate management services and to provide a pleasant living environment for its tenants.

          

     "ImagineLand", the opening programme of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will be held at the central lawn of Victoria Park on April 6 and 7 (Saturday and Sunday). Members of the public are invited to join for free.
 
     The opening programme will kick off with a performance at 1.30pm on April 6, curated by celebrated fashion designer Dorian Ho and blending elements of fashion, film, martial arts, comics, music and dance. Singer Gin Lee will perform film tunes rearranged by renowned music producer Chiu Tsang-hei in a fashion show created by artificial intelligence-generated images. Three martial arts athletes, namely Lau Chi-lung, Lydia Sham and Samuei Hui, will take the stage in martial hero personas from Jin Yong's novels, while demonstrating their skills with other young talents in front of an LED comics backdrop.
 
     The two-day ImagineLand features both daytime and evening programmes. "Gen S Concert", "Memory Lane" and "Funarts Corner" will be available during the day, whereas the film programme "Movie Under the Stars" will be held at night.
 
     "Gen S Concert", running from noon to 7.30pm, is curated by veteran music-makers Dr Wong Chi-chung, Chiu Tsang-hei and Vicky Fung. Two stages, namely the Forest Stage and the Grove Stage, will be set up at Victoria Park's central lawn, where 50 singer-songwriter acts from different regions will take turns showcasing their unique styles. Highlights include a performance by Miu Sakamoto, the daughter of Japanese maestro Ryuichi Sakamoto, of her father's work "The Railway Man"; and a tribute to the maestro by local singer-songwriter AGA Kong with her own work "MIZU". Lowell Lo, a trail-blazing local singer-songwriter, will perform "Love of a Lifetime" for the "Movie Under the Stars" programme. Of particular note will be a crossover piece by local singer-songwriter Mansonvibes and Justin Kawika Young from Hawaii, as well as a joint performance by veteran singer-songwriter Samantha Lam and her young counterpart Michael Lai. Other performers include RHYME SO from Japan/Australia, Meaningful Stone from Korea and Taiga from Mainland China. The concert lineup is detailed in the Appendix.
 
     "Memory Lane" promises to be another event highlight. Making use of film sets, role playing and redesigned costumes, this programme offers visitors an immersive experience in classic scenes of local movies such as "Kung Fu Hustle" and "A Guilty Conscience", along with ample opportunities for photo-taking.
 
     "Funarts Corner" can be found on the other end of the lawn. Thematic booths bringing arts tech, music and handicrafts together will be set up. Through workshops or sample sessions of a cappella, beatboxing, ukulele, sound healing, exotic musical instruments, a virtual reality experience on music and streetscape, silkscreen printing, flower pounding, instant photos, and the making of postcards with song lyrics, carnival goers can explore and experience Hong Kong's pop culture in many different ways.
 
     "Movie Under the Stars" will be staged at 8pm on both evenings to screen celebrated classics selected by the Hong Kong Film Archive. Visitors can sit on the grass for a different movie-watching experience. "Once Upon a Time in China II" (1992, starring Jet Li) and "A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella" (1995, starring Stephen Chow) will be shown on April 6 and 7 respectively. Members of the public are encouraged to bring their own sitting mats, food and beverages.
 
     The LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year's second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong's pop culture. It encompasses both "Arts" (creative works) and "Action" (martial arts), in an attempt to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture.
 
     The 2024 festival lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities. Its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong's vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. The opening programme "ImagineLand" is sponsored by Create Hong Kong. For more information or enquiries, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en or call 2601 8703.