Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 2) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places of visit. The case is detailed below:
 

Sex	Female
Age	87
Affected area involved	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
High-risk exposure	Nil
Hospital	Ruttonjee Hospital
Condition	Serious
MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result	Pending

     “Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV),” a spokesman for the CHP said.    

     Locally, the CHP’s surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization’s latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP’s health advice on MERS. read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 1) seized about 700 grams of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $600,000 at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday afternoon. During Customs clearance, a packet of suspected heroin was found underneath the insole of each of the shoes worn by him. He was then arrested.

     The 19-year-old man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 3).

     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.

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

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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 2) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs about an outbreak of highly pa… read more

     â€‹The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 2) held the 8th Friends of EcoPark Award Presentation Ceremony to commend over 200 organisations from both the public and private sectors in recognition of their support for EcoPark tenants and to encourage further collaboration to enhance the development of the local recycling industry.

     Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that the number of awardees this year had reached a record high. He thanked all the awardees for their support for the EcoPark tenants and the recycling industry. In addition to reducing waste at source, he said that upcycling is also a key component in the circular economy. With the Mainland’s progressive tightening of import requirements on recyclables, it is of utmost importance to foster the sustainable development of the local recycling industry with support from various sectors of the community. Mr Wong appealed to the awardees to continue working with the recycling industry and encouraged more trade stakeholders to become “Friends of EcoPark”.

     Launched by the EPD in 2010, the Friends of EcoPark scheme aims at helping EcoPark tenants to extend their sourcing of recyclables and the collection network, and to promote their recycled products by fostering partnerships between the private and public sectors and EcoPark tenants. The number of participating companies and organisations is on an increasing trend, comprising a wide range of business groups such as hotels, catering, construction, logistics, retail, cleaning and property management, as well as various public utilities and organisations from the public sector.

     The EPD will continue to encourage more partnership initiatives between enterprises and tenants through the scheme to promote the sustainable development of recycling operations. For more information about the Friends of EcoPark scheme or collaboration opportunities with EcoPark tenants, please visit the EcoPark’s website at www.ecopark.com.hk or call its hotline on 2496 7633.

     Also officiating at today’s ceremony were the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs, Ms Tanya Chan and Dr Junius Ho; the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund, Mr Jimmy Kwok; and the Chairman of Tuen Mun District Council, Mr Leung Kin-man. read more

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (October 2) visited the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and met with its management and staff of various grades to learn more about their work and exchange views on matters of concern.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law first met with the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, and directorate staff to get an update on the Department’s work in safeguarding community health through promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, as well as the challenges confronting them.

     Mr Law then toured the Central Notification Office and the Outbreak Teams under the Communicable Disease Division of the Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch. He was briefed by colleagues about their work in monitoring intelligence related to communicable diseases in Hong Kong collected through the notification mechanism, as well as work related to epidemiological investigation and control of communicable diseases.

     Mr Law later proceeded to the Emergency Hotline Centre of the Public Health Nursing Division to learn more about its health related enquiry service during a public health emergency. He also visited the simulation ward of the Infection Control Branch, which was purpose-built for providing infection control training to health care professionals.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concern them. He encouraged colleagues to continue maintaining vigilance and to always be prepared for a public health emergency so as to safeguard the health of Hong Kong people.

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