The following is issued on behalf of the Commission on Poverty:
 
     The "Be a Government Official for a Day" programme (the programme) successfully concluded today (August 16), following a  sharing session and certificate presentation ceremony held at the Central Government Offices, Tamar.
 
     Between July 16 and August 1, the 34 senior secondary students selected for participating in the programme had the opportunity to shadow respectively the three Secretaries and 13 Bureau Directors of the Government for a day to gain hands-on experience of the Principal Officials' work and a better understanding of the Government's operation. 
 
     At the sharing session, the students shared their experience and observations with their school principals, teachers, families, friends and the Principal Officials they shadowed.
 
     The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairperson of the Commission on Poverty, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, presented certificates of participation to students at the end of the sharing session.  He commended them for their active participation, allowing Principal Officials  to gain better understanding of the young generation's view on the work of the Government.  On the other hand, the young participants could make use of the one-on-one interactions with Principal Officials to find inspiration for planning and consolidating their development plans and targets in the future.  Mr Cheung stated that the programme provided a direct channel for senior government officials to communicate and exchange views with young people.  In light of the enthusiastic response and the positive experience gained in the programme this year, the Government would actively consider launching a new round of programme next year. 
 
     The programme is a new initiative launched by the Commission of Poverty under the "Life Buddies" Mentoring Scheme this year.  A total of 1 163 applications from students of more than 300 secondary schools were received.  An experienced non-governmental organisation was engaged to help selected students get prepared for the job shadowing beforehand and consolidate their experiences afterwards.  Details of the programme are available at the "Life Buddies" website (www.lifebuddies.hk/en) and social network page (www.facebook.com/lifebuddieshk).
 

          

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Mr Yoshimasa Hayashi, at the Chief Executive's Office this afternoon (August 16).
 
     Welcoming Mr Hayashi's visit to Hong Kong again, Mrs Lam said that she was pleased to meet with him with both of them in different capacities today since they met in Hong Kong three years ago when Mr Hayashi was the then Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Noting that Hong Kong and Japan have been enjoying a close relationship, she said that Hong Kong has been Japan's largest export market for food and agricultural products in the past 10 years and the number of Hong Kong visitors to Japan hit a record high last year, with about 450 flights between the two places every week connecting Hong Kong and 15 destinations in Japan.
 
     Mrs Lam noted that the policy areas under Mr Hayashi, including education, culture, sports, science and technology, are areas which Hong Kong is committed to developing and actively exploring with other places for more collaboration. She said that she will visit Japan later this year and expressed the hope that the trip will foster further collaboration between Hong Kong and Japan, especially in gerontechnology, in which Japan has rich experience. She also welcomed more students from Japan to study in Hong Kong and encouraged Japanese scientific and research institutions to establish a presence in Hong Kong to seize together the opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 16) investigating a case of suspected food poisoning, and hence reminded the public to beware of vegetables containing calcium oxalate raphide.

     The female patient, aged 49, developed tongue pain and swelling, lip pain and swelling, epigastric pain and slurring of speech shortly after consuming a wild taro at home in Tuen Mun yesterday (August 15). She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital on the same day. She is now in a serious condition. The clinical diagnosis was suspected calcium oxalate raphide poisoning.

     Initial investigations revealed that the wild taro the patient had consumed was picked near her residence. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.

     Taro is a popular ingredient used to prepare various dishes and desserts. However, some plants look like taro but contain toxins which can cause food poisoning. Those containing calcium oxalate raphide (a needle-shaped crystal of the chemical) can injure the skin and mucous membranes and cause irritation, such as numbness and burning sensation of the tongue, mouth and lips, and swelling of the tongue and lips. Consumption of vegetables accidentally mixed with calcium oxalate raphide-containing plants may also cause food poisoning.

     Members of the public should:
 

• Not pick and consume wild plants;
• Purchase vegetables from reliable suppliers; and
• Remove any plants mixed with edible vegetables and wash them thoroughly before cooking and consumption.

     The public may visit the pages on Food Poisoning Related to the Giant Alocasia and Calcium Oxalate Food Poisoning of the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for more information and health advice.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (August 16) announced the two-week drug replacement exercise for the anti-hypertensive drug Valtensin will end tomorrow (August 17) as scheduled. In response to the earlier announcement by the Department of Health (DH) to recall an anti-hypertensive drug, Valtensin (80mg tablets and 160mg tablets, containing the active drug ingredient valsartan), which was found to contain an impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine, public hospitals started to provide patients with an optional drug replacement from August 4 for two weeks.
 
     As of yesterday (August 15), over 3,000 patients had their drugs replaced under the exercise. In addition, some other patients concerned had their medications reviewed during their follow-up consultations. 
 
     The HA earlier announced the setting up of drug replacement counters at 18 designated public hospitals during the period from August 4 to 17 for patients who had been dispensed with the drug Valtensin on or before July 6 to opt for replacement with an alternative supply of valsartan tablets from other suppliers.
 
     "The drug replacement counters at the 18 designated public hospitals will cease to operate at 9pm tomorrow. Afterwards, those who did not have their drugs replaced but would like to do so can go to the pharmacies of the same 18 public hospitals (see list below) from next Monday (August 20) for drug replacement during office hours," the spokesperson added.
 
     All public hospitals have already ceased to dispense the drug concerned, Valtensin (80 mg tablets and 160mg tablets), since July 6 in response to the DH recall. The spokesperson stressed that according to the assessment of clinical experts, there is no immediate risk to patients for continual intake of the drug. The experts are also of the view that an abrupt stop in taking the drug might cause an adverse effect on a patient's condition. Hence, patients who were dispensed with the drug are recommended to not stop taking it until they attend their next follow-up consultations, in which the patients would be prescribed with the appropriate replacement medication after medical assessment.
 
     "Patients who choose to replace their drugs on hand should bring along their ID card with the drugs, or ask their delegate to bring along a copy of the patient's ID card and the drugs on hand, and go to any of the pharmacies of the 18 designated public hospitals as listed below for drug replacement after verification by the pharmacist on their respective dispensing records. No payment is required for the drug replacement."
 
     The HA will also continue to closely liaise with the DH on the matter.  

     The pharmacies of 18 designated public hospitals are listed below:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Currency Section of the HKMA Information Centre (Information Centre) was reopened to the public with a fresh new look today (August 16).
 
     In light of the launch of the 2018 New Series Hong Kong Banknotes, the Currency Section of the Information Centre has undergone a complete revamp to introduce the design, security features, production process, and other fun facts about Hong Kong currency notes and coins in a more interactive way, including using educational games, multimedia displays and mechanical devices. Apart from exhibiting the notes and coins currently in circulation in Hong Kong, the newly revamped Currency Section also features a new interactive device which displays the electronic images of the designs of Hong Kong currency notes issued over the past 150 years and coins in circulation over the past 60 years. Another spotlight of the redesigned Currency Section is a new art installation "Chanting Notes", a bauhinia tree created with shredded currency notes, which contrasts nicely with another artwork currently exhibited in the Information Centre called "Small Change, Big Ode" that is made up of Hong Kong coins. Members of the public are welcome to visit the Information Centre.
 
     For more information, please visit our website.
 
Opening Hours of the Information Centre (Free admission)

 
Address: 55/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central
Enquiries to the Information Centre: 2878 1111