Police today (January 19) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan.

     Ho Yee, aged 70, went missing after he left a hostel on Nam Cheong Street yesterday (January 18) morning. Staff of the hostel made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.65 metres tall, 63 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black trousers and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036, 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

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 made the following update today (January 19):

     One more 77-year-old female patient in the ward presented with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. 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.

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 2 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $410,000 at Hong Kong International Airport on January 11.

     Customs officers inspected a parcel arriving in Hong Kong from Canada on January 11 and seized the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside the parcel.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (January 18) arrested a 21-year-old woman in Yuen Long suspected to be in connection with the case.

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

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Customs also reminds that cannabis and tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Ordinance. Importation of products (including food and drinks) containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of food and drinks.

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

  

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, will depart tomorrow afternoon (January 20) for Jakarta, Indonesia, to meet with Indonesian senior government officials to exchange views and strengthen co-operation on mutual efforts in enhancing protection of Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

     He will meet with the Minister of Manpower of Indonesia, Mr Hanif Dhakiri. In addition, he will meet with the National Board for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers as well as an employment agencies association, and visit a training centre for foreign domestic helpers. He will also call on the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Xiao Qian.

     Dr Law will arrive in Hong Kong in the evening on January 22. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, will be the Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare.

     Four Japanese university students were selected as Hong Kong student ambassadors at the finals of the Hong Kong Cup All Japan University Student Ambassadors English Programme 2018-2019 held in Tokyo today (January 19).

     This was the 11th edition of the contest, organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) and The Japan News, which aims to encourage university students in Japan to explore the dynamism and rich diversity of Hong Kong.

     About 140 students from universities across Japan participated in the first round of the contest, and 15 outstanding students were selected to present their thoughts on three themes at the finals today. The three themes were "Introducing a Hong Kong product/food/service/custom to Japan", "Joint school event or programme to promote cultural exchanges", and "Hong Kong tour program for Japanese university students".

     Kunihiro Kodoma of Ritsumeikan University emerged as the champion, with his presentation entitled "Collaboration of Culture in Hong Kong and Japan to Keep Health and Community".

     The other winners were Niina Nomura of Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, Akino Shirane of Mukogawa Women's University and Aiko Yamashita of Hokkaido University.

     The four winners will serve as Hong Kong student ambassadors to promote a better understanding of Hong Kong among university students in Japan. They will go to Hong Kong this year for a familiarisation visit and attend a 10-day exchange programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. They will also be offered internships and invited to join various events related to Hong Kong held in Japan.

     The Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Ms Shirley Yung, who was also one of the panel judges, said, "Through this programme, the ambassadors will be able to see Hong Kong at first hand, experience our university life and see what it is like working in a Hong Kong-related organisation."

     The programme is supported by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Cathay Pacific Airways; Dah Chong Hong (Japan) Ltd; the Hong Kong Tourism Board; the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and the Japan Hong Kong Society.

     The panel of judges comprised Ms Yung; Professor Kenneth Pechter of Hosei University Business School; the Deputy Editor of The Japan News, Kenichi Okumura; and the Regional Director of Japan of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Kazunori Hori.