The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 23) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise 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 Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed relevant symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization'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.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, attended the opening ceremony of the first Exhibition Raceday held by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) in collaboration with the local government at the Conghua Racecourse in Conghua, Guangzhou today (March 23).

     Addressing the opening ceremony, Mrs Lam said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), with its experience in the organisation of horse races and enforcement of stringent animal and plant quarantine measures over the years, implemented the first Specific Equine Disease-free Zone in the Mainland in Conghua jointly with the relevant Mainland authorities and the Guangdong Provincial Government, and developed the former Asian Games equestrian venue into the current world-class horse training centre and racecourse, providing a support base for the sport of horse racing in Hong Kong and also promoting the development of equestrian sports in the country. She pointed out that the establishment and continued operation of the Disease-free Zone and the racecourse are fruitful outcomes brought about by the joint efforts of the HKSAR and the Mainland which employ their respective strengths, and is a successful model in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

     Mrs Lam viewed the first race, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy, after the opening ceremony and officiated at the prize presentation ceremony. The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Zhimin also attended the activity.

     In the morning, Mrs Lam visited various facilities at the Conghua Racecourse, including the horse training ground as well as the first world-class equine hospital and rehabilitation centre in the Mainland. She also attended a gala dinner hosted by the HKJC after arriving in Conghua yesterday (March 22).

     Mrs Lam will depart for Beijing this afternoon and attend the 20th China Development Forum on March 24 and 25.

                  

     A man who went missing in North Point was located.

     Law Wai-man, aged 87, went missing after he left an elderly home in Tong Shui Road on March 21 night. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.
      
     The man was located on Kwong Lee Road, Cheung Sha Wan today (March 23) noon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
     

     The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre (HKVAC) from today (March 23) is holding the "Instrumentation" exhibition, which leads visitors on an extraordinary audio-visual journey through presenting art installations that integrate sculptures, sound installations, videos and site-specific pieces.

     Multidisciplinary artist Samson Young has created two art installations combining sound elements with different forms of art for the exhibition. "Possible Music #1.5 (feat. NESS & Stephan Moore)" offers visitors a unique experience by examining the ambiguous boundary between illusion and reality, through a scene of computer-simulated music being "played" on a set of musical instruments that does not exist in the real world.

     "Muted Situation #22: Muted Tchaikovsky's 5th" is a concert by a symphony orchestra. The silent concert is played onscreen with ambient sounds of flipping music scores, breathing and more. Visitors' interpretation of sound will be challenged through a unique experience of visual and aural discrepancy.

     The "Instrumentation" exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. It will run until April 14 and admission is free. For details of the exhibition, please visit HKVAC's Facebook page or www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/APO/en_US/web/apo/va_instrumentation.html or call 2521 3008.

     The HKVAC is located at 7A Kennedy Road, Central.
   

     Police today (March 23) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Yu Sin-ying, aged 45, went missing after she left her residence on Lin Tak Road on March 21 morning. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.63 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a light blue coat, black trousers, black shoes, a pair of glasses and carrying a purple handbag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0321 or 9886 0060 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.