The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, today (November 2) expressed deep sorrow over the passing away of renowned film producer, Mr Raymond Chow, and extended his heartfelt condolences to his family.

     Mr Yau said, "Mr Chow set up the Golden Harvest in the 1970s. The company has since produced a good number of movie classics, helped nurture a pool of Hong Kong talents and brought them to the international stage. We are most grateful for his great contribution to the development of the Hong Kong film industry."
 

     Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at Austrian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong: 15th Anniversary Heurigen today (November 2):
 
Wilhelm (Chairman of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, Mr Wilhelm Brauner), Monika (Consul General of Austria in Hong Kong, Mrs Monika Müller-Fembeck), Mr Roessler (Austrian Trade Commissioner for Hong Kong, Mr Franz Roessler), ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It gives me much pleasure to join you all this evening to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (AustroCham). Indeed, it was only a week ago that I addressed the Austrian community in honour of its national day and the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Austria.
      
     Established in December 2003, AustroCham has been playing a significant role in fostering closer ties between Austria and Hong Kong. Apart from bolstering business exchanges, AustroCham has been enriching our cosmopolitan city life by bringing us Austrian wine, cuisine and music, and like tonight, the fabulous live performance by the Vienna Boys Choir Academy Concert Choir.
      
     On the business front, Austria is one of our valuable trading partners in Europe. Hong Kong also serves as a window to facilitate trading between Austria and Mainland China, around 7.8 per cent of the total trade between Austria and Mainland China last year was routed through Hong Kong.
      
      Our good and close trade and economic relationship is certainly reflected in the visit of many senior Austrian officials to Hong Kong lately. We are particularly pleased to have received Mr Sabastian Kurz, the Federal Chancellor, and his delegation, comprising three Federal Ministers, in Hong Kong in August 2018.
      
     We are deeply impressed by Vienna's development as a smart city. As you know, Hong Kong is now actively pressing ahead with the development of innovation and technology, as well as smart city projects. We can certainly learn a lot from Vienna's experience.
      
     We do not just settle with being an international trade and financial centre. Capitalising on the advantages of "One Country, Two Systems", our strategic location at China's doorstep, rule of law, level-playing field for all business, simple and low tax system, superb infrastructure and free flow of capital and information, intellectual property, research and development capability, we have huge potential to become an international innovation and technology hub as well.
      
     Hong Kong has also been ranked first in economic freedom by the US-based Heritage Foundation for 24 consecutive years and the Fraser Institute of Canada since 1996. We are also named the second most competitive economy in the world by Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development this year. Hong Kong ranked fifth for ease of doing business out of nearly 200 economies in the World Bank's "Doing Business 2018" report.
      
     Hong Kong is the most ideal gateway for Austrian business to tap the Asian market. Riding on the memorandum of understanding on co-operation in technology start-up ecosystems signed between Hong Kong and Austria in 2016, I am confident that businesses of the two places, in particular innovation and technology companies and start-ups, could join hands on even closer collaboration. 
      
     The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) further offers Austrian companies set up in Hong Kong, preferential treatment to access the Mainland market. In addition, we forged with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last November a free trade agreement and an investment agreement. Expected to enter into force in January 2019, the two agreements will create new opportunities for business and bolster trade and investment flows between Hong Kong and ASEAN.
      
     With two mega national initiatives, that is the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, being actively pursued by the Central People's Government, Hong Kong's active participation and strategic location will serve as the most ideal springboard for overseas companies, including Austrian companies, to tap the resources and markets in the Belt and Road countries as well as Mainland cities in the Bay Area. And on the Greater Bay Area development, Hong Kong's connectivity to the Mainland is further strengthened since the Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge came on stream. The two important infrastructure will bolster the synergistic effect and create more business and development opportunities for Hong Kong, the Asia region and beyond.
      
     On this note, my warmest congratulations to AustroCham on its 15th Anniversary. I also wish the Chamber's every success in the years ahead.
      
     I wish you all a very enjoyable evening. Thank you.

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (November 2) that to meet passenger demand for departure from Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) during peak hours at weekend, new measures will be implemented to enhance the carrying capacity of shuttle bus services at Hong Kong Port.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said that since the HZMB has commenced operation for more than one week, it was observed that other than individual cross-boundary passengers, many tour groups have made use of shuttle bus services.
 
     During peak hours, the shuttle bus operator had deployed over 110 buses to provide more than 50 trips on the two routes hourly. However, as tour groups rushed to depart from and arrive at Hong Kong Port within several hours in the morning and evening, long queues therefore formed for waiting for shuttle buses especially during peak hours last Saturday and Sunday.
 
     The TD has all along discussed the matter with the shuttle bus operator and also been in liaison with cross-boundary coach trade and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong. After discussions, two measures will be implemented to deal with possible passenger surge at Hong Kong Port in the coming weekend, especially on Sunday.
 
     Firstly, to enhance the carrying capacity of shuttle bus services, the operator has pro-actively increased its fleet today from 120 buses to 138 buses. The TD has also requested the operator to make necessary service adjustments suitably according to the passenger demands in the three places and further improve the queuing and boarding/alighting arrangements. Also, the operator has rented 20 to 30 additional buses from the cross-boundary coach operators, bringing the total number of buses to be deployed to more than 150 buses, so as to meet the passenger demand during peak hours.
 
     Secondly, through the co-ordination by the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TICHK), the cross-boundary coach trade and the TD, a "pre-booked cross-boundary coach service" for tour groups will be provided starting this Sunday to divert passenger flow of a large number of tour groups from using shuttle bus services and make better use of the carrying capacity of the existing cross-boundary coaches.
 
     Through this pre-booking service, travel agencies can purchase cross-boundary coach tickets for journeys from Hong Kong Port to Zhuhai Port for their tour groups in advance. During the departure peak hours in the evening, 24 trips will be available for pre-booking per hour, carrying some 5 000 tour group passengers departing from Hong Kong so that passengers intended to use shuttle bus services can be diverted. The TICHK will co-ordinate the pre-booking arrangements to ensure all coaches to arrive at Zhuhai Port in an orderly manner.
 
     To facilitate the implementation of the above-mentioned new measures, directional signs will be erected in the vicinity of the pick-up areas for shuttle buses and cross-boundary coaches at Hong Kong Port to remind passengers of the diversion arrangements.
 
     The spokesman added that with reference to the existing arrangements for other boundary crossing points, the governments of the three places have started to discuss about the implementation of the special ad hoc quota system to allow cross-boundary coaches allocated with HZMB quotas to operate additional trips to meet the upsurge of the departing and arriving passengers during holidays and special occasions.
 
     Based on observations last Saturday and Sunday, the arrival and departure peaks were noted from 10am to noon and from 6pm to 8pm respectively. Passengers are advised to plan their journeys in advance in order to make their journeys more pleasant and smooth. Members of the public should also stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio.
 
     The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to closely monitor the public transport services to and from the Hong Kong Port in the coming weekend.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (November 2) investigating a probable case of botulism after receiving injection of botulinum toxin locally, and again urged the public that such injections should only be prescribed and performed by registered doctors.

     The female patient, aged 24 with underlying illness, developed generalised weakness, dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath since October 30. She was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital today. The clinical diagnosis was suspected iatrogenic botulism. She is now in a stable condition.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient received botulinum toxin injection at her face in a beauty premises in Tsim Sha Tsui on October 30. According to the patient, the injection was given by a doctor. Investigations are ongoing.

     "When botulinum toxin is used for cosmetic purposes, its cosmetic effects after injection are temporary and will gradually disappear. If referred to a doctor for the procedure, customers should look for his or her full name against the list of registered doctors of the Medical Council of Hong Kong as well as his or her professional qualifications and relevant experience," a spokesman for the CHP reminded.

     Due to the weakening of associated muscles and the fact that botulinum toxin may spread and affect other areas beyond the injection site, affected patients may have drooping of the eyelids, double vision or blurred vision, problems with chewing, hoarseness or even difficulties in swallowing, speaking or breathing, which may happen in hours, days or weeks after the injection.

     The DH urged the public to observe the health advice below before receiving botulinum toxin injections:
 

• Injections should only be performed by locally registered doctors;
• Understand the procedure, potential risks and complications before receiving injections. Consult a doctor for an informed decision;
• Do not receive an injection in case of history of allergy to botulinum toxin, or infection or inflammation on the injection site;
• Request the full name of the doctor in writing if referred by a beauty service provider for the procedure, as well as the professional qualifications and relevant experience; and
• If symptoms develop, such as fever or feeling unwell, seek medical attention immediately.

     The public may visit the DH's webpage on the differentiation between medical procedures and beauty services, the Drug Database of the Drug Office and the CHP's botulism page for more information.​

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 2) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection.

     The 5-year-old boy, with good past health, has presented with fever, cough, runny nose, abdominal pain and vomiting since October 27. He was admitted to St Teresa's Hospital on October 30 and was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit of Kwong Wah Hospital for further management on the next day. He is now in a stable condition.
 
     His respiratory specimen tested positive for influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with sepsis.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient did not receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for the current season and had no travel history in the incubation period. His home contacts remain asymptomatic so far. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
 
     The Vaccination Subsidy Scheme 2018/19 and the Government Vaccination Programme 2018/19 were launched on October 10 and 24 respectively. A spokesman for the CHP urged eligible persons to receive subsidised or free SIV in a timely manner to better protect themselves in the coming winter influenza season.
 
     "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. Given that influenza vaccines are safe and effective, all persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive SIV for personal protection," the spokesman said.
 
     "Based on past epidemiological patterns, the winter influenza season usually occurs from January to March/April each year. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, we urge eligible persons to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza. Vaccination among family members is key to protecting their personal and family's health."
 
     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

• Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub as an effective alternative;
• Wash or clean hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, or after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs;
• Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
• Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.