Author Archives: hksar gov

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 4) seized about 620 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.7 million and a duty potential of about $1.2 million at Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming lorry declared as carrying assorted goods at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes concealed inside 516 speakers, which were placed inside 86 cartons mix-loaded with other goods on board the lorry.

     A 41-year-old male driver was arrested and the lorry was detained.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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

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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      US Dollar Liquidity Facility tender result:   Tender date : August 5, 2020 (Wednesday) Settlement date : … read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association:        The Beat Drugs Fund (BDF) is inviting applications for the 2020 Funding Exercise of the Regular Funding Scheme (RFS) from today (… read more

     The Social Welfare Department has been informed by three flag day organisers that the regional flag-selling activities in public places originally scheduled to be held today (August 5) have been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.
 
     Three charities had been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today. They are, on Hong Kong Island, Methodist Centre; in Kowloon, the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council; and in the New Territories, the Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the organisations concerned. Contact information of the organisations is as follows:
 

Region	Name of Organisation	Contact Person	Contact Number
Hong Kong Island	Methodist Centre	Mr Chan	2527 3451
Kowloon	The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council	Ms Fong	2527 4567
New Territories	The Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod	Miss Cheung	2304 3338

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search/). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_flagdays/) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
 
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) today (August 4) made the following announcement concerning a preliminary positive case of COVID-19 infection:

     An 81-year-old male patient with chronic disease attended the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of KWH on July 22 due to diarrhea. The patient was then admitted to a surveillance ward and COVID-19 test was arranged for him. The test result was negative and the patient was transferred to the general medical ward for treatment on the same day. The patient was later discharged from the hospital on July 29.

     The patient presented with cough and diarrhea on July 31 and attended the AED of KWH again due to fever on August 3. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen was tested and was preliminary positive for COVID-19. The patient was transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Queen Mary Hospital today for isolation and treatment with serious condition.
      
     The hospital checked his previous admission records and found that a 69-year-old male patient who stayed in the same cubicle with the patient on July 22 was confirmed with COVID-19 infection (case number: 2282) and transferred to isolation ward on the same day. His condition later deteriorated and was transferred to ICU of Princess Margaret Hospital on August 1.  The relationship between the two COVID-19 cases was under investigation.
      
     According to the guideline of Centre for Health Protection (CHP), the infectious period was two days before onset of symptoms. The hospital’s infection control team immediately conducted contact tracing and confirmed that seven patients had stayed in the same cubicle with the 81-year-old tested preliminary positive patient and were therefore classified as close contacts. Among the patients, one passed away due to his underlying disease. For the remaining five patients who were staying in KWH were being quarantined and viral tests had been arranged for them. One of the five patients was tested negative and results for the other four patients were pending. CHP would follow up on the quarantine arrangements for the remaining one patient who had been discharged. Besides, four male patients who had stayed in the same cubicle with the 69-year-old male patient were also classified as close contacts. Quarantine would be arranged for the two patients who were still hospitalised. Viral tests will be arranged for the remaining two discharged patients.

     15 healthcare workers provided treatment and care to the patient were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with the infection control guidelines of the Hospital Authority. No staff member had been classified as close contact at the moment. As a precautionary measure, the hospital had arranged viral tests and medical surveillance for colleagues concerned.
      
     The hospital had arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection of the ward concerned and reminded patients to wear masks and ensure hand hygiene at all times. The hospital would continue to closely monitor the health of staff members and patients and also maintain communication with the CHP to follow up on the latest situation. read more