Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 26) seized about 1.3 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $3.5 million and a duty potential of about $2.4 million at Man Kam To Control Point. … read more
Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (No… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Office of the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance:
The Chief Executive has caused a copy of the “Annual Report 2017” by the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance to be tabled at the Legislative Council sitting tomorrow (November 28).
To assist the public in understanding his report, as well as to answer any queries they may have, the Commissioner, Mr Azizul Rahman Suffiad, will hold a briefing for members of the public, Legislative Council Members and media representatives on December 4 (Tuesday) at 11am at the Function Hall, 1/F, Main Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong. Registration will start at 10.30am on that day.
Copies of the report will be available for collection after 2pm tomorrow at the Office of the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance at Units 1501-1504, 15/F, Sunlight Tower, 248 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
The report will also be uploaded to the webpage of the Secretariat, Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance (www.sciocs.gov.hk), tomorrow after the Legislative Council tabling.
For enquiries, please call 2834 3361. read more
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the “East Side Stories” community thematic carnival on December 9 (Sunday) from 2.30pm to 5.30pm at Aldrich Bay Park in Sai Wan Ho, featuring a variety of activities including performances, an exhibition and workshops to explore the stories of Eastern District. Members of the public are welcome to join in the fun with free admission.
Stand-up comedian Mary will be the emcee of the carnival, which will feature choral singing, woodwind quintet and a cappella performances, as well as a site-specific dance performance, an interactive music theatre show, pop-up theatre of Eastern District and playback theatre performances.
To enhance the public’s knowledge of the history and culture of Eastern District, the carnival will also feature a photo exhibition displaying scenes of old Shau Kei Wan. In addition, recordings of fishing songs will be played for carnival-goers to hear tunes dating back to when Hong Kong was still a fishing village.
Workshops on map drawing, paper modelling, story-telling, 3D origami and an “Open Secrets” corner will also be held for public enjoyment. Admission to all workshops is free with tickets. Tickets will be distributed from 2pm on the event day at the respective workshop booths on a first-come, first-served basis.
For enquiries about the carnival, please call 2591 1340 or visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/territoryevents/communitythematic/ctc2018_swh.html.
A total of 156 additional cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the third quarter of 2018, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 9 543 since 1984.
Reviewing the latest HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (November 27), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP, Dr Kenny Chan, said that sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission.
Dr Chan stressed the importance of proper use of condoms in reducing the risk of contracting HIV. Men who have sex with men (MSM), who dominate the epidemic, are strongly urged to use a condom for safer sex.
“HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, about half of those with HIV will progress to AIDS within 10 years. However, early HIV treatment prevents AIDS and significantly prolongs survival,” Dr Chan said, urging HIV-positive people to seek specialist care as soon as possible.
Of the 156 HIV cases, 133 males and 23 females, reported in the above quarter, 83 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 29 via heterosexual contact and one via injecting drug use. The routes of transmission of the remaining 43 cases have yet to be determined due to inadequate information.
The new cases were reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (72 cases), private hospitals and clinics (27 cases), and the DH’s Social Hygiene Clinics (21 cases). Among all newly reported cases, 111 (71 per cent) have already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority.
In addition, 34 new cases of AIDS were reported in the above quarter, bringing the total number of reported AIDS cases to 1 959 since 1985. Among the new cases, 53 per cent were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact and 44 per cent were related to heterosexual contact.
In the above quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis pneumonia, a kind of chest infection.
“Members of the public, particularly high-risk groups, should use the condom consistently and properly. Those with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. People who use drugs should discontinue using drugs or receive methadone treatment instead. If injection of drug is unavoidable, do use disposable needle each and every time, and do not share or re-use needles. ” Dr Chan said.
The public can call the DH’s AIDS Hotline (2780 2211) for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV antibody test. The public may visit the DH’s Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com), the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.com) and the Harm Reduction website (www.harmreduction.gov.hk) for more information on HIV/AIDS.
