Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (October 8) investigating a probable case of botulism, and again reminded the public that botulinum toxin injections should only be prescribed and performed by registered doctors.

     The female patient, aged 25 with good past health, developed generalised weakness, difficulty in swallowing and shortness of breath since October 3. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on October 7 and was in a stable condition. The clinical diagnosis was suspected iatrogenic botulism. She subsequently left the hospital without notifying hospital staff members.

     “According to the information provided by QEH, the patient received botulinum toxin injection in both calves in the Mainland on October 2. Investigations are ongoing,” a spokesman for the DH said.

     “When botulinum toxin is used for cosmetic purposes, its cosmetic effects after injections 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,” the spokesman added.

     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.​ read more

     Germany’s Queenz of Piano are set to delight music lovers with a concert in November as part of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Music Delight Series. The piano duo of Jennifer Rüth and Ming will play their two grand pianos with amazing audacity in the boundary-crossing performance.
 
     Chosen for Germany’s Thüringer Kleinkunstpreis award in 2015 for their musical, acrobatic and unique works of art, the Queenz of Piano demonstrate how to have plenty of fun in a classical concert while simultaneously traversing the border between classical and pop music played on two grand pianos. They play classical music and pop and rock music in a fiery, groovy, charming and especially magical way, using sensational approaches the audience may not have heard before. Playing their grand pianos, they create sounds reminiscent of those of a guitar, a zither, a bouzouki, a bongo drum and even a Japanese koto.
 
     The pianists will offer a superb combination of female charm and mesmerising piano entertainment in the show, which is geared towards those who love music and humour and not just for lovers of classical or modern pop music.
 
     Concert by Queenz of Piano will be held at 8pm on November 17 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets priced at $120, $180 and $220 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk).
 
     For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_591.html. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (October 10) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, th… read more

     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, this afternoon (October 8) visited Sha Tin District, where he called at a primary school in Yiu On Estate, Ma On Shan, and met with members of the Sha Tin District Council.
 
     Accompanied by the District Officer (Sha Tin), Miss Amy Chan, Mr Yeung first visited PLK Chong Kee Ting Primary School. He was briefed by school managers, the school head and teachers on the school’s characteristics, including life-wide learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and art education.
 
     While touring the school campus, he took the opportunity to learn more about students’ learning outcomes, such as their innovative inventions, Chinese opera and unicycling performances. He also chatted with parents and students, and took part in video shooting for the Fun to Move@JC Project. The school is one of the participants of the project.
 
     Mr Yeung said that home-school co-operation is conducive to students’ whole-person development. The Education Commission set up the Task Force on Home-school Co-operation and Parent Education last December for the purpose of reviewing the existing approach in promoting home-school co-operation and parent education, and formulating the direction and strategy for further developments.
 
     He added that the Government would seek to put in place as early as possible the measures with extensive support of stakeholders, with a view to giving a boost to home-school co-operation and helping children grow up happily and healthily.
 
     Mr Yeung then met with the Chairman of the Sha Tin District Council, Mr Ho Hau-cheung, and members to exchange views on education and other district matters. read more

     A Hong Kong resident employer who employed an illegal worker was jailed at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on October 5.

     Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators earlier received a referral from the Hong Kong Police Force to further investigate an illegal employment case. Enforcement officers arrested a male Vietnamese worker, aged 36, conveying goods in San Po Kong. A Hong Kong resident employer of the illegal worker was also arrested.

    The illegal worker was jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts earlier. The Hong Kong resident employer was charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on October 5 with being an employer of a person who is not lawfully employable as he did not take all practicable steps to ascertain whether the applicant was lawfully employable prior to employment. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to seven weeks’ imprisonment.

     The ImmD spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000. read more