The Department of Health (DH) today (July 6) urged clients who consulted a registered Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP), KU Chu-yu, practising at Room 11, 2/F, Fu Tao Building, 98 Argyle Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, should take note of a cream product he prescribed as it contained undeclared Western drug ingredients.

     Acting upon a notification of suspected poisoning case reported by the Hospital Authority recently, the DH raided the above CMP’s premises and seized a quantity of cream product for analysis. Today, test result from the Government Laboratory confirmed that sample of an unlabelledyellow cream product (see photo) contained undeclared Western drug ingredients namely clobetasol propionate, terbinafine and miconazole. In response to the relevant event, a man aged 39 was arrested by the Police today for illegal possession of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical product.
 
     Clobetasol propionate is a corticosteroid and prescription medicine for treating inflammation. Inappropriate use of corticosteroids may cause serious side effects such as Cushing's syndrome, with symptoms including moon face and muscle atrophy. Terbinafine and miconazole are antifungal medicines commonly used for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin. They can cause side effects such as itching, irritation and allergic reaction when used topically.
 
     While investigations are still ongoing, the DH has instructed the above CMP to contact his concerned clients for medical surveillance.  The DH will set up a hotline (2961 8745) for public enquiries related to the yellow cream product prescribed by the CMP. The hotline will operate from 9am to 5pm from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays) starting tomorrow (July 7).
 
     According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), illegal 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 would 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 medicines by the above CMP who feel unwell or are in doubt should consult health-care professionals as soon as possible. They may 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.

  

     Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Implementation Rules) were gazetted today (July 6) and will take effect on July 7.

     The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) passed on June 30 the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law) and listed the legislation in Annex III to the Basic Law in accordance with the procedures under Article 18 of the Basic Law. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government promulgated the National Security Law in the gazette for implementation at 11pm the same day. Article 43 of the National Security Law stipulates various measures that the department for safeguarding national security of the Police Force of HKSAR may take when handling cases concerning offence endangering national security, and authorises the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, in conjunction with the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR (National Security Committee) to make relevant implementation rules for the purpose of applying the measures stipulated under Article 43.

     At the first meeting of the National Security Committee today, the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the National Security Committee, exercised the power under Article 43 of the National Security Law to make relevant implementation rules for law enforcement agencies such as the department for safeguarding national security of the Hong Kong Police Force to implement the measures stipulated under Article 43. The Implementation Rules provide for rules that relevant officers should observe when carrying out the specific measures concerned to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for offences endangering national security, and relevant offences and penalties for the effective implementation of the measures, so as to improve the enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security.

     The Government spokesman pointed out that the aforementioned Implementation Rules, formulated for the exercise of various measures by relevant officers, clearly set out in detail the procedural requirements, circumstances that must be met and conditions for approval, etc. when implementing those measures. The purpose is to ensure that when relevant officers exercise powers and apply measures under Article 43 of the National Security Law to enforce the Law, the objectives of preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for any acts and activities endangering national security can be achieved, while the requirement under the General Principles of the National Security Law to respect and protect human rights, as well as the protection of various rights and freedom in accordance with the law can be complied with.

     The Implementation Rules have the force of law, and details are as follows:

1. Search of Places for Evidence

      The relevant rules are formulated with reference to various existing ordinances regarding the permission to conduct urgent search under exceptional circumstances, including the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance (Cap. 238) and the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). For investigation of an offence endangering national security, a police officer may apply to a magistrate for a warrant to enter and search a place for evidence. Under exceptional circumstances (for instance, in urgent situations), a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police may authorise his officers to enter the relevant place to search for evidence without a warrant.

2. Restriction on Persons under Investigation from Leaving Hong Kong

     With reference to provisions under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201) which restrict a person under investigation from leaving Hong Kong, the rules authorise police officers to apply to a magistrate for a warrant to require a person who is suspected to have committed offences endangering national security to surrender his travel document, and to restrict that person from leaving Hong Kong, lest some of the persons involved in the case abscond overseas. A person who has surrendered a travel document may make application in writing to the Commissioner of Police or to a magistrate for its return and for permission to leave Hong Kong.

3. Freezing, Restraint, Confiscation and Forfeiture of Property Related to Offences Endangering National Security

     The arrangements concerned are formulated with reference to the existing powers and provisions under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) and the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance (Cap. 575). If the Secretary for Security has reasonable grounds to suspect that any property is property related to an offence endangering national security, he may, by notice in writing, direct that a person must not deal with the property. The Court of First Instance may, on the application by the Secretary for Justice, order the confiscation of the property related to the offence. Anyone who knows or suspects that any property is property related to an offence endangering national security is obliged to make a disclosure to the Police Force as soon as is reasonably practicable, and must not disclose to another person any information which is likely to prejudice any investigation which might be conducted following that first-mentioned disclosure. In addition, the Secretary for Justice may make an application to the Court of First Instance for a restraint order or charging order to prohibit any person from dealing with any realisable property, or impose on any realisable property that is specified in the order a charge for securing the payment of money to the Government. Furthermore, the Secretary for Justice may also make an application to the court for confiscating the proceeds arising from an offence endangering national security and ordering the amount due be paid within a fixed period. 

4. Removal of Messages Endangering National Security and Request for Assistance

     If the Commissioner of Police has reasonable grounds to suspect that an electronic message published on an electronic platform is likely to constitute an offence endangering national security or is likely to cause the occurrence of an offence endangering national security, he may, with the approval of the Secretary for Security, authorise a designated police officer to request the relevant message publisher(s), platform service provider(s), hosting service provider(s) and/or network service provider(s) to remove the message; restrict or cease access by any person to the message; or restrict or cease access by any person to the platform or its relevant part(s). It is a reasonable defence if the technology necessary for complying with the requirement was not reasonably available to the publisher or relevant service provider; or there was a risk of incurring substantial loss to, or otherwise substantially prejudicing the right of, a third party.

     If the publisher fails to cooperate immediately, and the relevant information on the Internet will continue to seriously affect members of the public, police officers may apply to the magistrate for a warrant to seize the relevant electronic device and take any action for removing that information as soon as practicable. Relevant officers may also apply to the magistrate for a warrant under specific circumstances to authorise police officers to request the relevant service provider to provide the identification record or decryption assistance as the case requires.

5. Requiring Foreign and Taiwan Political Organisations and Agents to Provide Information on Activities Concerning Hong Kong

     If the Commissioner of Police reasonably believes that it is necessary for the prevention and investigation of an offence endangering national security, the Commissioner of Police may, with the approval of the Secretary for Security, by written notice served on a foreign political organisation or Taiwan political organisation, or a foreign agent or a Taiwan agent, require the organisation or agent to provide the Commissioner of Police with the prescribed information (including the activities, the personal particulars, as well as the assets, income, sources of income, and expenditure of the organisation in Hong Kong) in a prescribed manner within the specified period. The relevant rules are formulated with reference to the prevailing provisions of the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151) under which Societies Officers may request the provision of information from societies.

6. Application on Authorisation for Interception of Communications and Covert Surveillance

     To effectively prevent and detect offences endangering national security and protect the confidentiality of information related to national security, all applications for interception of communications and covert surveillance operations must be approved by the Chief Executive. Applications for the less intrusive covert surveillance may be made to a directorate officer of the Police Force designated by the Chief Executive. The authorising authority has to ensure that the covert operation concerned satisfies the proportionality and necessity tests before granting the authorisation. According to Article 43 of the National Security Law, the National Security Committee shall be responsible for supervising the implementation of the stipulated measures by the Police Force. On the other hand, the Implementation Rules provide that the Chief Executive may appoint an independent person to assist the National Security Committee in performing the aforementioned supervising responsibility. Furthermore, the Secretary for Security issues Operating Principles and Guidelines for the purpose of providing operating principles and guidance to officers of the HKPF regarding the making of relevant applications and the exercise of powers. Officers of the HKPF are required to comply with the provisions in the Operating Principles and Guidelines when performing any function under the relevant rules.  The Operating Principles and Guidelines will be gazetted at the same time with the Implementation Rules.

7. Requirement to Furnish Information and Produce Materials

     For the purpose of assisting an investigation into an offence endangering national security or the proceeds obtained with the commission of the relevant offence, the Secretary for Justice or police officers may apply to the court for an order to require the person concerned to answer questions within a specified time period, or to furnish or produce the relevant information or material.  The provisions are formulated with reference to the relevant powers and provisions under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) and the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance (Cap. 575) currently. 

     To ensure the effective implementation of the above relevant measures, there is also a need to provide in the Implementation Rules relevant penalties for contravention of the requirements.  For instance, if a person who published a message fails to comply with the requirement of the police to remove the message endangering national security without reasonable excuse, the person is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for one year. If a service provider fails to comply with the requirement to remove messages endangering national security, or to restrict or cease access to messages or platforms, or the request to provide assistance, the service provider is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for six months. Furthermore, a foreign political organisation or Taiwan political organisation, or a foreign agent or a Taiwan agent, who fails to provide information as requested by the Police is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for six months unless it can prove that it has exercised due diligence and there have been reasons beyond its control. If any information provided is false, incorrect, or incomplete, the person who provided the information is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for two years, unless the person has grounds to believe that the relevant information was true, correct and complete. As for other items, the relevant offences and defence (if specified) are largely the same as the existing provisions in the laws that the Implementation Rules have made reference to. The provision of defence provisions under appropriate circumstances provide appropriate defence for people who fail to comply with the requirements.  The above Implementation Rules are in compliance with the requirements concerned under the National Security Law and the Basic Law, including the requirements concerning the respect and protection of human rights.

     Government representatives will attend a joint panel meeting of the Panel on Security, the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services and the Panel on Constitutional Affairs of the Legislative Council on July 7 to brief Members on the content of National Security Law and the Implementation Rules.

     At around 6pm today (July 6), crowds gathered and shouted in a shopping mall on Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, breaching public peace. Police hence entered the mall to maintain order, gave repeated warnings to the crowd and requested them to leave immediately. However, some protestors refused to follow Police’s instructions and continued to assemble and shout. Police therefore took resolute law enforcement action. During the operation, a total of three men and five women, aged 17 to 68, were arrested for suspected taking part in an unauthorised assembly and obstructing police officers in due execution of their duties.

     Police requested the crowd to leave immediately and stop breaching public peace or they may be arrested.

     In the light of a recent local confirmed case of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) being a food handler, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 6) reminded the food business operators and food handlers should comply with the directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) (the Regulation) by adopting measures to observe social distancing and to pay attention on personal, food and environmental hygiene, so as to reduce the risk of spreading diseases.

     The directions in relation to catering business premises issued under the Regulation by the Secretary for Food and Health are still in force. The directions currently in force include the following requirements: tables must be arranged in a way to ensure there is a distance of at least 1.5 m or some form of partition which could serve as effective buffer between one table and another table; a person must wear a mask except when eating/drinking; body temperature screening must be conducted before the person is allowed to enter the catering premises; and hand sanitisers must be provided for any person at the premises, etc.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "To minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in food premises, the food business operators and food handlers should comply with relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease and to take further appropriate measures in maintaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness as well as paying attention to personal, food and environmental hygiene."

     The FEHD reiterates again the recommendations made to food business operators and food handlers in writing on May 6, 2020, including adopting the following measures:
 
(1) Food handlers should suspend from engaging in any food handling work when suffering or suspected to be suffering from an infectious disease or symptoms of illness such as flu, diarrhoea, vomiting, jaundice, fever, sore throat and abdominal pain. Wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms. Seek medical advice promptly;
 
(2) Food handlers should maintain good personal hygiene (e.g. washing hands before or after handling food, after clean-up is carried out, after handling refuse or other dirty items, and after visiting the toilet);
           
(3) Food handlers should wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel or hand dryer. The cleaned hands should not touch the water tap directly again (for example: using a paper towel to wrap the faucet before turn it off); and
 
(4) Trays, in particular the rim of trays, must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every time after used by customers. If tray lining is used, it shall also be replaced every time after use.

     For continuous upkeep of environmental hygiene, food business operators and food handlers must make concerted and persistent efforts to ensure cleanliness and hygiene of the premises and food safety. The FEHD will take stringent enforcement actions against offenders in defiance of legislation on environmental hygiene and food safety issues.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     At around 6pm today (July 6), crowds gathered and shouted in a shopping mall on Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, breaching public peace. Police hence entered the mall for law enforcement, raised the yellow warning flag and gave repeated warnings to the crowd as they were suspected to have participated in an unlawful assembly. Police requested the crowd to stop gathering and leave immediately, or they might be arrested.

     Police will continue to closely monitor the situation and will take resolute law enforcement action if anyone disrupts public order or breaches public peace.