Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Department of Health (DH) today (October 5) urged the public not to buy or consume a virility product named Hamer Candy Ginseng & Coffee as it was found to contain an undeclared and controlled substance.
 
     Based on the DH’s market surveillance, a sample of the above product was purchased from a company in Kwun Tong for analysis. The test results from the Government Laboratory confirmed that the sample contains nortadalafil, which is a Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (PPO) (Cap 138) and an analogue of another Part 1 poison, tadalafil.
 
     The DH and the Police carried out a joint operation today and raided the above company. A man aged 70 was arrested for illegal sale and possession of a Part 1 poison.
 
     The DH’s investigation is continuing.
 
     Tadalafil is used for erectile dysfunction and should only be used under the advice of a doctor. Side effects of tadalafil include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness and transient vision disturbances. It may interact with some drugs (such as nitroglycerin for treatment of angina) and cause decrease in blood pressure to dangerous levels. Improper use of tadalafil may pose serious health risks, especially for patients with heart problems. Nortadalafil, being chemically similar to tadalafil, is expected to pose similar health risks.
 
     According to the PPO, illegal sale or possession of Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
 
     A DH spokesperson strongly urged members of the public not to buy or consume any product of doubtful composition. People who have purchased the above product should stop taking it immediately and consult healthcare professionals for advice if in doubt or feeling unwell after consumption. They may submit the product to the DH’s Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.
 
     The public may visit the Drug Office’s webpage for the health message on sexual dysfunction and virility products and information on virility products found to contain undeclared Western medicines.

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     Police today (October 5) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sau Mau Ping.      Cheung Shun-king, aged 77, went missing after he left his residence in Upper Ngau … read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 5) released the latest grading of water quality of 38 gazetted beaches* that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay**).
        
     Twenty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:                   

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Shek O Beach
Discovery Bay	South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach***	St Stephen’s Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach***	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Trio Beach***
Lo So Shing Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers’ Beach	Golden Beach
Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach	Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Pui O Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Ting Kau Beach

 
Grade 3 beach is:

Casam Beach

 
* The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on September 17 that, due to urgent clearance work and maintenance of shark prevention nets after the Typhoon Mangkhut, all beaches in Southern, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts are temporarily closed until further notice.

** Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

*** The Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works recently damaged by typhoon is under repair. The public is advised to avoid water contact recreational activities at Kiu Tsui Beach, Trio Beach and Hap Mun Bay Beach where water quality may be temporarily affected until further notice.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend.  Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (October 7) to facilitate a public procession to be held on Hong Kong Island.      The following roads will be intermittently close… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Road Safety Council:

     The Road Safety Council (RSC), New Territories North Traffic Headquarters of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol (New Territories North) jointly held an Elderly Pedestrian Safety Campaign this afternoon (October 5) in Tai Po Civic Centre.
 
     Messages on elderly pedestrian road safety were successfully disseminated to the public. The event featured a music performance by the Hong Kong and Kowloon Kaifong Women’s Association Sun Fong Chung College Silver Band, an elderly drama performance by Tuen Mun District Elderly Police Call, a music performance by the NTHYK Tai Po District Secondary School Chinese Orchestra, a marching performance by Sam Shui Natives Association Huen King Wing School and a music performance by the Promotion Officer of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol, Ms Susan Tse.

     Today’s ceremony was officiated by a member of the RSC, Dr Liu Kai-ming; the Senior Superintendent of Traffic New Territories North of the Hong Kong Police Force, Mr Lee Chi-wai; Superintendent of Police and Divisional Commander of Tai Po Division of the Hong Kong Police Force Mr Ma Sing-yuen; the Regional Commander of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol (New Territories North), Mr Alarie Lai; Ms Tse; the Assistant District Officer (Tai Po) of the Home Affairs Department, Ms Iris Lee; and the Chairman of the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Tai Po District Council, Dr Lau Chee-sing. read more