The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 21) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection, as well as influenza A outbreaks at a residential care home for persons with disabilities (RCHD) in Tsuen Wan and a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in Yuen Long.

     The case of severe paediatric influenza A infection involves a 3-year-old boy with good past health, who has presented with fever, cough and shortness of breath since January 7. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital on January 15 and was admitted to the hospital on the same day. He later developed respiratory failure and was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital for further management. His nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia. He is now in a stable condition.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had received seasonal influenza vaccination for the current season and had no travel history during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
 
     The outbreak at the RCHD involves 15 male residents and three female residents, aged 23 to 62, as well as two female staff members. They have developed fever, cough and sore throat since January 11. All sought medical attention. Fifteen of them required hospitalisation and 13 of them were discharged following treatment. All patients are in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of 14 residents tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing, six of which tested positive for influenza A  (H1) virus.
 
     For the outbreak at the kindergarten-cum-child care centre, it involves 12 boys and nine girls, aged 3 to 5, who have developed similar symptoms since January 9. All of them sought medical attention. Three required hospitalisation and were discharged following treatment. All patients are in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of seven affected students tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing, two of which tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus.

    "The latest surveillance data indicated that the local seasonal influenza activity has continued to increase in the past two weeks and may continue to rise in the period ahead. We urge the community to continue heightening their vigilance against seasonal influenza. As young children are particularly affected in this influenza season, we appeal to parents who have not yet arranged vaccination for their children in this season to do so as soon as possible to strengthen their personal protection," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Apart from children, people aged 50 to 64 years, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses who have not yet received influenza vaccination this season are also urged to get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination. Medical advice should be sought promptly if influenza-like symptoms develop so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as early as possible to prevent potential complications. Parents and carers are reminded to render assistance in prevention, care and control for vulnerable people," the spokesman added.

     Besides receiving seasonal influenza vaccination as early as possible for personal protection, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses. For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.

     Hong Kong Customs today (January 21) arrested a salesman of a medicine shop suspected to have applied a false trade description in the course of selling a proprietary medicine, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs officers conducted a test-buy operation at a medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui this afternoon. A salesman was suspected to have applied a false trade description on a brand of medicine by stating it was a particular brand of medicine in the course of selling medicines. Customs officers then arrested the 39-year-old man.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any person who in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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

     Hong Kong is firmly committed to protecting the rights of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and maintaining Hong Kong's attractiveness for them to work, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said in Indonesia today (January 21).

     In his meeting with the Minister of Manpower of Indonesia, Mr Hanif Dhakiri, during his visit to Jakarta, Dr Law noted that Indonesia is one of the largest FDH-sending countries for Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong families are thankful for the contributions of over 165 000 Indonesian domestic helpers (IDHs). They help relieve household chores and take care of the elderly and children, thereby unleashing the potential of the local labour force.

     Noting that Hong Kong is one of the few places that grant FDHs statutory labour protections that are on par with those enjoyed by local workers, Dr Law said he looked forward to strengthening collaboration with the Indonesian Government to further protect the rights of IDHs in Hong Kong. He welcomed more IDHs to work in Hong Kong in view of a soon-to-peak manpower supply and an ageing population.

     In addition, Dr Law met with representatives of the National Board for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers as well as the Association of Migrant Worker Placement Companies and exchanged views on the recruitment of IDHs and regulation of employment agencies (EAs).

     Following the enactment of the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 last year, the maximum penalties for overcharging job seekers (including FDHs) and unlicensed operation by EAs were substantially raised with a view to further protecting the interests of job seekers. Dr Law assured the Indonesian Government that a Code of Practice for EAs is in place to regulate the operation of EAs in Hong Kong. The Code states that EAs must not get involved in FDHs' financial affairs or keep their passports without explicit consent.

     Speaking to the Indonesian media, Dr Law said that, to better protect FDHs from abuse, the Labour Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government would introduce an initial screening mechanism this year for early identification of FDHs suspected of being exploited. Enforcement against unscrupulous EAs will be stepped up. A round-the-clock dedicated hotline was launched in December 2018 with interpretation service (including Bahasa Indonesia) to provide one-stop support to FDHs.

     Speaking on other manpower issues, Dr Law added that a Talent List setting out 11 professions needed most for Hong Kong's economic development was promulgated in August 2018, with a view to attracting worldwide talents including those from Indonesia and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to develop their careers in Hong Kong.

     During the day, Dr Law took the opportunity to call on the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Xiao Qian, to update him on recent developments in Hong Kong. He will also attend a dinner gathering with Hong Kong people doing business in Indonesia.

        

     Emmanuel Lubezki, a cinematographer who has won three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography in a row, uses his groundbreaking techniques to actualise the unrestrained imagination of different directors. The new programme "See No Frontiers: The Cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki", presented by the Film Programmes Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will screen five notable works shot by Lubezki from February 16 to March 1 at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) and the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum. Post-screening talks will also be held for all the screenings.
      
     Born into a Jewish family, Lubezki has a highly artistic background with his parents being actors and his father having served as a film producer as well. Lubezki studied film at Mexico's Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos and has frequently collaborated with renowned directors including Alfonso Cuarón, Alfonso Arau, Terrence Malick and Alejandro González Iñárritu. In his cinematography career spanning more than 20 years, Lubezki has received eight Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, and he won the award in three consecutive years with "Gravity" (2013), "Birdman" (2014) and "The Revenant" (2015).
 
     "A Little Princess" (1995) was Lubezki's first collaboration with a major Hollywood studio, and it earned him his first nomination for Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards. The story features a little girl named Sara who is sent to a New York boarding school as her father has to fight in World War I. Sara's non-conformist behaviour makes her popular among the students but is disapproved of by the headmistress. When the headmistress hears that Sara's father has been killed, she makes Sara work as a servant. Though her situation is bleak, Sara remains kind to others by holding her belief that "all girls are princesses". Lubezki teamed up with production designer Bo Welch to painstakingly recreate a Victorian school in all its nuances. The blend of green and brown provided a palette of emotions and evoked the tones of a storybook.
 
     Starring Will Smith, "Ali" (2001) portrayed the youthful passion of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali as a reflection of an era. While location scouting with a video camera, Lubezki was mesmerised by the beauty of black skin against the black sky, and he then posed his suggestion of shooting the film mainly in digital to Michael Mann, the director. In addition, Lubezki extensively used hand-held camera with or without Steadicam to film – the proximity of the camera put the spectators right inside the action, especially in the fight scenes. The montage of different angles and textures yields a novel form in itself. Lubezki occasionally overexposed his images to showcase the inherent colour of the lighting and setting, giving the film a prominent white tone.
      
     Lubezki created an illusion of an uninterrupted long take approach like that in Hitchcock's "Rope" (1948) for director Iñárritu in "Birdman". The film follows Riggan (Michael Keaton), who was once famous 20 years ago for playing Birdman and is now faded and trying to regain his popularity through a Broadway production directed and acted by himself. However, things don't play out as he desired.
 
     "Last Days in the Desert" (2015) follows the 40-day journey of Yeshua alone in a desert and searching for the meaning of life. He seeks a conversation with God but Yeshua's inner demon continues to upset his peace of mind. Using natural light to the extreme, Lubezki minimised the amount of lighting in the dark. Furthermore, Lubezki was able to recreate Yeshua's desert sojourn in the Anza-Borrego Desert in California with his shooting equipment, filming the most poetic and mystical moments at dusk and dawn.
 
     "Song to Song" (2017), the fifth collaboration between Lubezki and director Malick, features a guerrilla filmmaking approach that captured spontaneity and reality concurrently. The film tells of the pursuits in music and love among guitarist Faye (Rooney Mara), music producer Cook (Michael Fassbender) and singer-songwriter BV (Ryan Gosling), and also features the appearances of numerous noted singers and bands thanks to shooting at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
 
     To complement the screenings, veteran cinematographers Henry Chung and O Sing-pui as well as directors Philip Yung, Chan Siu-kuen and Lee Cheuk-pan have been invited to be the guest speakers for seminars. The three seminars are entitled "The Art of Emmanuel Lubezki" (February 16, 4.45pm), "Their Heroes" (February 24, 4.30pm) and "A Brief Encounter of Hong Kong Style" (March 1, 9.10pm). All the seminars will be conducted at the Cinema of the HKFA in Cantonese with free admission.
 
     "Ali" is in English and French, while the other films are in English. "Song to Song" has Chinese subtitles, while the other films have Chinese and English subtitles.
 
     Tickets priced at $55 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en_US/web/fpo/programmes/lubezki/index.html.  

  

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 ward of the Department of Medicine, the spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital gave the following update today (January 21):
 
     One more 51-year-old female patient in the ward presented with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. A clinical test was arranged and the test result was positive for Influenza A. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The case has been reported to Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.