The Department of Health (DH) today (March 11) endorsed a licensed drug wholesaler, Hind Wing Co Ltd (Hind Wing), to recall four products, involving seven batches, containing losartan from the market as a precautionary measure due to the potential for an impurity in the products.
 
The affected products are:  

 
     Through its surveillance system, the DH noted that Health Canada (the Canadian regulatory authority) is advising that multiple lots of losartan-containing products are being voluntarily recalled because of the potential for an impurity, N-Nitroso-N-methyl-4-aminobutyric acid (NMBA). NMBA is a potential human carcinogen.
 
     Losartan-containing products are prescription medicines used to treat hypertension. According to Hind Wing, the affected batches of the above products have been supplied to private doctors and pharmacies.
 
     "So far, the DH has not received any adverse reactions related to the above affected products," a DH spokesman said.
 
     Hind Wing has set up a hotline (2541 5731) to answer related enquiries. The DH will closely monitor the recall.
 
     The spokesman advises that patients who are taking the above products should not stop taking the medicines, but should seek advice from their healthcare professionals for appropriate arrangement.

  

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) hosted a booth at the BeSt Education Fair in Vienna, Austria, from March 7 to 10 (Vienna time) to inform visitors about the exciting study opportunities that Hong Kong has to offer. The fair was jointly organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research and the Austrian Public Employment Service, with around 75 000 participants from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Slovak Republic expected to attend. The Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, gave a presentation on March 9 (Vienna time) about the unique advantages of studying in Hong Kong and the valuable living and working experience offered through the Working Holiday Scheme between Hong Kong and Austria.

     In his presentation, Mr Li briefed participants on Hong Kong's acclaimed universities including their scholarship opportunities and other advantages, such as the Talent List of Hong Kong and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, which make immigration into Hong Kong easier for young talents. He also highlighted the outstanding research opportunities available in Hong Kong. In the 2019-20 Budget, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced plans to inject HK$20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund and to set aside a dedicated provision of HK$16 billion for the refurbishment of research and development facilities at universities. Mr Li also pointed to Hong Kong's role as the region's innovation and technology centre, and emphasised the importance given to academic freedom in the city. 

     Many of Hong Kong's high-quality education programmes are taught in English, while the city's universities adopt international standards in curriculum design as well as quality assurance. Of the 21 local degree-awarding higher education institutions, three are ranked in the world's top 50 and three in Asia's top 10 by the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2019. To attract outstanding non-local students to study in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government offers several scholarship opportunities including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship Fund and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. 

     To experience Hong Kong first-hand, young people from Austria can also make use of the Working Holiday Scheme. Under the Scheme, young people from Austria between the ages of 18 and 30 can stay for up to 12 months in Hong Kong and are allowed to take up short-term employment as well as enrol in study or training courses as an incidental part of their stay, so as to acquire a better understanding of the cultural, economic and social developments of Hong Kong.

     For more details about studying and living in Hong Kong, visit studyinhongkong.edu.hk.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Austria as well as the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

    

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Tuen Mun District this afternoon (March 11), where he met with members of the Tuen Mun District Council (TMDC) and toured an inclusive playground in the district, as well as calling at T·PARK, the first self-sustaining sludge treatment facility in Hong Kong. The Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, also joined the visit.

     Accompanied by the District Officer (Tuen Mun), Ms Aubrey Fung, Mr Nip first met with the Chairman of the TMDC, Mr Leung Kin-man, and members of the TMDC to exchange views on district and community affairs.

     Mr Nip then visited the inclusive playground in Tuen Mun Park. This playground is the first barrier-free play space for children in Hong Kong incorporating two natural elements, water and sand, in its design. He said he was glad to learn that the facilities and the play components were specially designed to cater for children of different ages, abilities and physical condition, so that they can enjoy the same playing experience and acquire various skills in the course of playing, thereby fostering the balanced development of their body and mind. Parent-child facilities are also available in the inclusive playground, whereby parents and children of different physical abilities can enjoy the fun of playing together, thus enhancing the parent-child relationship.

     Mr Nip said, "Children's growth and development is one of the priority policy areas of the current-term government. We have spared no effort in providing our children with equal opportunities to learn and grow, and in helping them to bring their talents into full play despite differences in background and ability." He paid tribute to colleagues of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Architectural Services Department in taking forward this inclusive playground pilot scheme, giving children with different abilities equal opportunities to enjoy the fun of playing in the playground.

     Mr Nip also visited T·PARK and toured its incineration, power generation, desalination and sludge treatment facilities. He was briefed on the sludge incineration technology adopted at T·PARK as well as its waste-to-energy process, and learned more about the concepts of sustainable development behind the park and the operation of its various self-sustaining facilities. Mr Nip was also briefed by colleagues from the Environmental Protection Department on waste recycling in Hong Kong.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Castle Peak Hospital (CPH) made the following appeal today (March 11) regarding an in-patient who has absconded from the hospital:
 
     A 29-year-old male in-patient of an adult psychiatric ward was found missing at about 8am today. Ward staff reported to security guards and a full-scale search within the hospital compound was performed immediately. After reviewing CCTV footage, the hospital believes that the patient had already absconded from the hospital.
 
     CPH is very concerned about the incident and reported it to the Police immediately. The hospital will fully co-operate with the Police to locate the patient. The patient was admitted to CPH earlier. After treatment, the patient’s condition improved and he is currently receiving psychiatric rehabilitation treatment.
 
     The patient is about 1.74 metres tall and of medium build with black hair. He is wearing a grey T-shirt, black trousers and glasses. The hospital appeals to the public to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit, New Territories North of Hong Kong Police Force at 6273 5787 or call CPH at 2456 7111 if they know the whereabouts of the patient.
 
     CPH reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. The hospital will communicate with the patient's relatives to provide necessary assistance.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, today (March 11) visited Kwai Tsing District, where he toured a social enterprise and a training centre for the fashion and textile industry. He also met with members of the Kwai Tsing District Council (K&TDC) to get a better understanding of the district's latest developments and needs.

     Mr Yau first visited the Hatch, a social enterprise funded and run by Social Ventures Hong Kong, where he was briefed on its operation and vision. Operated with the concept of "co-working factory", the Hatch endeavours to co-operate with local enterprises in rebuilding "Made in Hong Kong" brands, and to provide employment opportunities with a family-friendly and flexible working environment for women from grass-roots families in the district.

     During the visit, Mr Yau chatted with employees there to learn about their work. He praised the Hatch for its innovative business concept that brings social enterprise and industry together, saying that it is an effective application of design thinking.  

     Mr Yau then visited the Pro-Act Training and Development Centre (Fashion Textiles), a member institution of the Vocational Training Council. He toured the workshops on woven and knitted fabric as well as fabric inspection, and chatted with trainees there, to get to know some of the latest technologies in the industry.

     Mr Yau said he was pleased to note that the Centre has been providing diversified courses to groom talents for the fashion and textile industry, meeting the sector's increasing demands for automation and technological input to perform value-added manufacturing operations. He said the Government is committed to promoting the development of the fashion industry through various measures, which include funding the Fashion Incubation Programme and launching the design and fashion project in Sham Shui Po, so as to nurture local fashion talents and brands.
       
     Before concluding his district visit, Mr Yau met with K&TDC members to exchange views on district matters such as broadcasting, telecommunications and tourism.