â€‹The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Kowloon Bay this afternoon (July 20), in which a male worker was suspected to have received an electric shock while moving a cable of an electric arc welding machine. He became unconscious and was certified dead in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victim's family.        

      The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and will issue suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending all electric arc welding work on the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."     

     The spokesman added, "We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."             

      The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.             

      In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.              

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.              

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. 

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies (HKAPMC) join hands to launch today (July 20) the "Community Testing of COVID-19 for Frontline Property Management Workers" (CTPM). COVID-19 testing service provided by the testing agency (China Dragon Inspection & Certification (H.K.) Ltd.) will be arranged for frontline property management (PM) workers (including security and cleansing workers).

     "The epidemic situation of Hong Kong has become severe since early July. To strengthen the anti-epidemic efforts, the Government has decided to provide virus testing for high risk groups to safeguard public health. Frontline PM workers will be provided with voluntary one-off free virus testing service," a spokesman for the HAD said. 

     The target beneficiaries of the CTPM are the around 100 000 frontline PM workers serving private residential, commercial, industrial and composite buildings, and more than 60 000 frontline PM workers serving buildings under different Government departments, the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society. The exact number of workers that can receive the tests will be subject to the overall testing capacity. Workers participate in the CTPM on a voluntary basis.

     "The testing service for frontline PM workers starts today. The HKAPMC will co-ordinate various PM associations and companies to participate in the CTPM. The HKAPMC will also divide the workers into groups and make arrangements to facilitate the testing agency in collecting specimen, with a view to enhancing the testing efficiency. The testing costs incurred will be fully covered by the 'Anti-epidemic Fund'," the spokesman added.

     Under the CTPM, the HKAPMC will arrange with the testing agency to provide one-stop service covering specimen collection and testing. The testing agency will deploy staff to deliver specimen bottles to relevant buildings for collecting deep throat saliva samples, and collect the specimen in the subsequent one to two days for testing. Cases with positive results will be relayed to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for follow-up. The HKAPMC and the testing agency will work closely with the HAD, and determine the priority of testing adopting a risk-based approach, subject to manpower resources available, and the geographical distribution of PM workers.

     The CTPM will accord higher priority to frontline PM workers serving the residential and commercial buildings, shopping malls and relevant facilities in Kowloon East, so as to step up the anti-epidemic efforts and protect the PM workers and residents therein. The testing agency has delivered specimen bottles in Yau Tong last Friday (July 17), and has collected the specimen for testing today. The testing agency will continue to provide testing services to frontline PM workers in other districts.

     The HAD strongly appeals to the PM sector for their active participation in the CTPM, their compliance with the social distancing measures announced by the Government measures, as well as their efforts in stepping up the health protection work in the properties they manage.

     For details on the CTPM, please contact the HKAPMC (hotline: 2186 6101).

      

     Police today (July 20) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tsing Yi.

     Yeung Wah-kwong, aged 38, went missing after he left his residence in Cheung Hong Estate on July 7 afternoon. His family made a report to Police yesterday (July 19).

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 59 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion, short black hair, beard and a birthmark on the left side of his face. He was last seen wearing a grey short-sleeved T-shirt, multi-coloured shorts, black slippers and carrying a black waist bag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or 6099 3830 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The spokesperson of the New Territories West Cluster made the following update today (July 20) regarding staff of the Tuen Mun Eye Centre (TMEC) confirmed COVID-19 infection:
      
     Since most of the TMEC clerical staff need to be quarantined, in addition that patient medical records are suggested to be disinfected and setting aside for 10 days, only limited service can be provided at TMEC for the time being and longer time in the service workflow is expected. For enquiry or rescheduling, please call 2478 5122 during office hours.
 
 

     The Department of Health (DH) today (July 20) urged members of the public who consulted a listed Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP), Fan Fung-kam, practising at the G/F, 7 Yee On Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, not to consume the yellowish powder (see photo) she prescribed as it was found to contain undeclared Western drug ingredients.

     The DH received a notification of a suspected poisoning case involving a 61-year-old female from the Hospital Authority (HA) earlier. The patient consulted the above CMP for joint pain and was prescribed with the yellowish powder. After taking the powder, the patient developed tiredness, bilateral legs swellings, facial puffiness etc.  Laboratory investigation by the HA detected the presence of Western drug ingredients "dexamethasone acetate" and "piroxicam" in the yellowish powder sample from the patient. The patient had attended Union Christian Hospital and was later discharged with continuation of treatment.
      
     Upon receipt of notification, the DH raided the above CMP's practising premises immediately and seized a quantity of powder and one type of blue/white capsules. Preliminary testing results from the Government Laboratory revealed that both the yellowish powder sample from the patient and the type of blue/white capsules contained Western drug ingredients "dexamethasone acetate" and "piroxicam". In response to the incident, a woman aged 61 was arrested by the Police today for illegal sale and possession of part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products. Investigation is ongoing.

     "Dexamethasone acetate and piroxicam are part 1 poisons and prescription medicines.  Dexamethasone acetate is a corticosteroid for treating inflammation. Inappropriate use of corticosteroid may cause serious side effects such as Cushing's syndrome, with symptoms including moon face and muscle atrophy. Piroxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve pain and inflammation. Its known side-effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, peptic ulcer and renal impairment," a spokesman for the DH explained.

     The DH will set up a hotline (2961 8949) for public enquiries related to the yellowish powder or blue/white capsules prescribed by the above CMP. The hotline will operate from 9am to 5pm from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays) starting tomorrow (July 21).
      
     According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), illegal sale and possession of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. Upon completion of the investigations, the DH will consult the Department of Justice on prosecution matters. The DH will also refer the case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for consideration of possible disciplinary action.

     Members of the public who have been prescribed with powder by the above CMP who feel unwell or are in doubt should consult healthcare professionals as soon as possible. They should submit the medicines to the DH's Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office at 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.