Tag Archives: China

     A total of 397 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in 2023, which shows a drop from the 409 cases in 2022. The HIV infections reported locally has totalled 12 038 since 1984.
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     Of the 397 HIV cases reported last year, which involved 326 males and 71 females, 209 (52.6 per cent) acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 110 (27.7 per cent) via heterosexual contact, eight (2.0 per cent) via drug injection, one (0.3 per cent) via blood or blood product transfusion outside Hong Kong, and one (0.3 per cent) via mother-to-child transmission. The routes of transmission of the remaining 68 cases have yet to be determined due to incomplete information.
      
     A total of 95 HIV cases were reported in the fourth quarter of last year. They involved 75 males and 20 females; 50 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 19 via heterosexual contact, and two via drug injection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 24 cases have yet to be determined due to incomplete information.
      
     The new cases of the fourth quarter were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals, clinics and laboratories (42 cases); Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) service organisations (18 cases); and private hospitals, clinics and laboratories (14 cases). Also, 66 of the newly reported cases (69.5 per cent) of the quarter have already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority. A total of 323 newly reported cases (81.4 per cent) of the year have already received HIV specialist services.
      
     Regarding cases of AIDS, 14 new cases were reported in the fourth quarter, of which eight cases (57.1 per cent) were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact, and six cases (42.9 per cent) were attributed to heterosexual contact. In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness remained to be Pneumocystis pneumonia. Since 1985, a cumulative total of 2 483 confirmed AIDS cases has been reported in Hong Kong.
      
     Reviewing the latest HIV/AIDS situation in Hong Kong, a spokesman for the CHP said, “The number of reports of HIV infection has decreased for eight consecutive years from the peak of 725 cases in 2015 to 397 cases in 2023, but the rate of decline has moderated visibly last year. Moreover, the number of AIDS cases has escalated from 62 cases in 2022 to 101 cases in 2023, among which over 80 per cent of AIDS patients progressed to AIDS after being diagnosed with HIV infection within three months. This indicates that the majority of people with HIV have not undergone HIV antibody testing early.”
      
     “HIV is the cause of AIDS, and sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission. Members of the public should use condoms consistently and properly to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. Those with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. Key populations with a higher risk of infection should undergo regular HIV screenings, while people who had sex but do not belong to these key populations should consider getting tested at least once. People with HIV should seek specialist care and HIV treatment as soon as possible.”
      
     The spokesman noted that a number of community resources are available in enabling members of the public to undergo HIV antibody testing. Members of the public can reserve a free, anonymous and confidential HIV antibody test via the DH’s HIV Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk) or AIDS Hotline (2780 2211). They can also order HIV self-test kits (oral fluid-based and blood-based (fingerprick) testing kits) on the HIV Testing Service website, and collect the self-test kits at various pick-up locations in Hong Kong. In addition, sexual minorities with high-risk behaviours may also seek initial assessment from designated organisations. People having a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted illnesses will be referred to The Commons, a one-stop sexual health service for sexual minorities launched by the DH this year, for follow-up. For services of The Commons and information of the designated organisations, please visit www.aids.gov.hk/english/itc/consultation.html.
      
     The spokesman stressed that receiving early HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs can effectively prevent the progression to AIDS and other complications in people with HIV. Lifelong antiretroviral treatment is indicated for all people with HIV, and the treatment remarkably improves their health and possibility of survival. Moreover, those who are on treatment and achieve sustained viral suppression to an undetectable level with treatment will not transmit the virus through sex, i.e. Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).
      
     The public may visit the following pages for more information on HIV/AIDS: the Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the HIV Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk) and the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.gov.hk). read more

     Police are investigating an attempted murder and suicide case in Kowloon City yesterday (March 4) in which a 58-year-old man died.      At 9.28pm, Police received a report from a security guard that … read more

     A woman who went missing in Airport District has been located.      A foreign woman, Yuson Elizabeth Arnoco, aged 61, went missing after she was last seen at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port Passenger Clearance Building on Fe… read more

     A delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) industry led by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued its visit in Riyadh on March 4 (Riyadh time) and attended the opening of the LEAP 2024 technology conference. Delivering a keynote speech at the conference, Professor Sun said Hong Kong, being one of the most international cities of the country, as well as one of the key nodes of the Belt and Road Initiative, has the potential to act as a “super value-adder” between Mainland China and the rest of the world, including Saudi Arabia and the entire Middle East, to enhance mutually beneficial relationships and foster global innovation collaboration.

     Professor Sun said, “Hong Kong can pool together innovation resources from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Mainland and the world to promote I&T development, which is the best springboard for overseas enterprises to venture into the GBA, Mainland China and even the Asian markets.”

     He pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government this term has been proactively promoting I&T development, adding that the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint promulgated in December 2022 set out the city’s role as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world as one of the key development strategies. Under the Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to emerge as a tech leader in the Middle East region and is making remarkable progress in developing a diversified, sustainable and technology-based economy. Professor Sun believed that Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia share the same vision and there is much room for a closer and deeper co-operation, particularly in the aspects of research and development, artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation.

     Professor Sun also officiated at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion jointly presented by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) Corporation and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport), the first of its kind at the technology conference. The Hong Kong Pavilion showcases 16 cutting-edge technologies covering fields of AI, biotech, healthtech, green technology from tech enterprises of the two flagships. During the ceremony, Professor Sun witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the HKSTP Corporation and Cyberport, and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to establish a strategic partnership in promoting I&T cooperation and deepening exchange, and facilitating companies from both places to establish market presence by providing support and assistance to startups and entrepreneurs.
 
     On the sidelines of the technology conference, Professor Sun met with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, Mr Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, to brief him on Hong Kong’s latest development in the I&T, advanced manufacturing and new energy industries, as well as Hong Kong’s unique advantages of leveraging on the Motherland and connecting with the world and internationalisation under the “one country, two systems” principle. He hoped to further enhance exchanges and co-operation between the two places.
 
     He then met with the Deputy Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, Mr Saleh Ali AlKhabti, saying that Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia have been maintaining close bilateral trade relations. He hoped that through this visit, Hong Kong could establish connection with various sectors, especially I&T, in Saudi Arabia, and promote co-operations in areas such as technology, investment and advanced manufacturing.
 
     Professor Sun and the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, who is paying a duty visit there at the same time, called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Chen Weiqing. Professor Sun hoped that the HKSAR Government would continue to work closely with the Embassy to promote the advantages of Hong Kong in building into an international I&T centre and explore emerging markets.

     Members of the delegation include the Chief Executive Officer of the HKSTP Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of more than ten technology enterprises from the two I&T flagships and relevant industries.
 
     They will depart for Dubai, the United Arab Emirates today (March 5, Riyadh time).

              

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO San Francisco) hosted a reception celebrating the Year of the Dragon in Houston, Texas, on March 1 (Houston time).
 
     Following a festive lion dance which kicked off the event bringing good luck and good fortune to everyone, the Director of the HKETO San Francisco, Ms Jacko Tsang, greeted the guests with warm wishes for a happy and healthy year ahead. On that note, she pointed out that Hong Kong’s life expectancy has reached 85.5 years, among the highest in the world. “Good living quality is one important factor contributing to longevity. Hong Kong ranks fourth out of 191 places in the quality of life standing in the United Nations’ Human Development Index. The index assesses long-term progress in basic dimensions of human development,” she said.
 
     “That explains why Hong Kong remains a magnet for talent. Various programmes such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme are in place to bring in high-income talent or graduates of the world’s top 100 universities to Hong Kong,” she continued.
 
     She encouraged everyone to explore working, studying and living in Hong Kong, a place full of culture, excitement and opportunities.

     At the reception, the melodic performance by RedBricks Harmonica, a renowned harmonica ensemble from Hong Kong, was greeted with a big round of applause.