The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Islands District this afternoon (January 31), meeting with members of the Islands District Council (IDC) and attending a briefing session by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) on a number of airport development projects. He also toured a community service centre in Tung Chung and visited two families in the district.

     Accompanied by the District Officer (Islands), Mr Anthony Li, Mr Nip first met with the Chairman of the IDC, Mr Chow Yuk-tong, and members of the IDC to exchange views on district and community affairs.

     Mr Nip then paid a visit to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), where he was briefed by representatives of the AA on the latest progress of various airport expansion projects, including the Three-Runway System, SkyCity and the premium logistics centre at Kwo Lo Wan.

     Mr Nip said, "With the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and improvement in the infrastructure network of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), HKIA will serve as the 'double gateway' connecting Hong Kong with other parts of the world and the GBA. When the various airport development projects are completed, Hong Kong will further strengthen its leading position as an international aviation and cargo hub in the world."

     Mr Nip also went to the HKIA taxi station to see the implementation of "Luggage Ambassador", a scheme jointly organised by the AA and a non-government organisation in Tung Chung. He chatted with two ethnic minority students who were working as luggage ambassadors there to learn about their life and study in Hong Kong.

     He then visited an integrated services centre in Tung Chung and toured the centre's new services and facilities. The centre has been set up for more than 20 years and provides various community services, including medical and employment services, family education, and volunteer work for children, families, the elderly and new arrivals in Tung Chung. He encouraged staff members of the centre to continue to provide professional community support to Tung Chung residents with a view to building an inclusive and caring community.

     Mr Nip also visited two families in Tung Chung to understand their daily life and needs, and offered New Year greetings to them ahead of the Lunar New Year.

  

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 30) conducted an anti-smuggling operation and detected a suspected smuggling case using a fishing vessel in the waters off Waglan Island. About 200 000 kilograms of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of about $5.7 million were seized.

     Customs officers of the Marine Enforcement Group spotted a suspicious fishing vessel leaving Hong Kong at high speed yesterday afternoon. Officers then took immediate action and intercepted the fishing vessel for examination. The batch of suspected smuggled frozen meat was seized on board the vessel.

     During the operation, Customs officers arrested two male crew members, aged 53 and 39.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat sea smuggling activities.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     Hongkong Post announced today (January 31) that, as advised by the postal administration of the United States, due to the impact of extremely cold weather, the postal administration of the United States has suspended mail delivery services to some areas. Hongkong Post has suspended all postal services to the following postcode areas in the United States with immediate effect until further notice.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a female psychogeriatric ward, the spokesperson for Castle Peak Hospital gave the following update today (January 31):

     Two more patients (aged 76 and 77) in the ward presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Influenza A. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and a restricted visiting arrangement has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), Professor Joseph Sung, today (January 31) visited the Green Lunar New Year (LNY) Fair at Fa Hui Park on Boundary Street with members of the ECC and its Publicity Working Group. They called on stall operators and members of the public to support green initiatives by cherishing resources and reducing waste during festive celebrations.

     The Fa Hui Park Green LNY Fair is jointly being held by the ECC, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Conservancy Association. A publicity and educational corner has been set up to promote green messages for the LNY and distribute reusable red packets. Green shopping bag sharing stands have also been set up in the fair for members of the public to donate or pick up reusable shopping bags so as to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags. Green Ambassadors are deployed on-site to coach the public and stall operators on how to practise proper waste separation and clean recycling. A number of stall operators have already signed the "green stall pledge" to show their commitment to implementing green measures, including waste reduction at source, recycling and resource sharing. Reusable tableware lending services are also available at the fair to encourage members of the public to go plastic-and-disposable-free, and reduce the use of disposable tableware.
 
     In addition to Fa Hui Park, the ECC and the EPD have also extended the Green LNY Fair programmes to all LNY fair venues across the territory. Apart from waste paper, plastic and metal, a number of new recyclable items have been added in this year’s LNY fairs including food waste, yard waste and polyfoam. These items will be collected and recycled by contractors appointed by the EPD. A resource-sharing station has also been set up to collect unsold goods and leftover materials (such as canvas, tents, tables and chairs, shelves, sandbags and new year decorations) from stall operators for on-site distribution or redistribution to others after the LNY fairs. Bamboo sticks and wooden pallets generated by fair stalls will also be properly collected for recycling or delivered to collaborating NGOs for upcycling programmes. The ECC and EPD hope that the above measures will reduce the amount of waste generated by LNY fairs through a multi-pronged approach.

     Mr Wong said that by setting up sharing platforms and a well-established recycling network, the Green LNY Fairs will publicise the message of waste reduction and reuse, and it is hoped that the concept of Green New Year will penetrate into every corner of the community. He also reminded and encouraged members of the public to bring "green to-go items" (namely water bottle, food container, reusable cutlery, handkerchief and reusable shopping bag) when visiting the LNY fairs to avoid using disposable items and reduce waste at source. He also urged the public to practise clean recycling for better recovery of resources.

     Professor Sung said he hopes that stall operators and the general public will support the Green LNY Fairs by avoiding the production of unnecessary waste and building up a culture of waste reduction. He added that he would also like the ECC to inspire other event organisers to incorporate more green elements in their events to further promote waste reduction and help build a greener Hong Kong together.