Police yesterday (February 25) held the Regional Traffic Day in Kowloon West to raise public awareness of road safety through stringent enforcement actions.

     A total of 281 officers from Traffic Kowloon West and District Traffic Teams of Kowloon City, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Districts were deployed to take enforcement actions at traffic black spots in Kowloon West.

     The operation resulted in the issue of 2,087 fixed penalty tickets and 137 summonses. Among the fixed penalty tickets and summonses issued, a total of 1,896 penalty tickets were issued for illegal parking and the rest were for other traffic offences.

     Police figures revealed that a total of 283 traffic accidents involving casualties occurred in Kowloon West in the first month of 2019, of which 67 cases involved pedestrian injuries.

     Police will continue to take regular enforcement actions to ensure road safety.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 26) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Police are investigating a murder and suicide case in Western District last night (February 25) in which a 42-year-old man, his 40-year-old wife and seven-year-old son died.

     At about 8.25pm, Police received a report that gas leakage was found from a unit on 83 Second Street in Western District. Police officers sped to the scene and after firemen forcibly opened the door, the 42-year-old man, his 40-year-old wife and seven-year-old son were found lying on the bed inside a bedroom. A basin with burnt charcoal was found inside the unit. The trio was certified dead at scene.

     Initial investigation revealed that the boy had been administered some pills before. His parents were suspected to have burnt charcoal afterwards in an attempt to commit suicide together with their son.

     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the causes of their deaths.

     Investigation by the District Crime Squad of Western District is underway.

     Police today (February 25) laid a holding charge against a 55-year-old woman with one count of murder.

     The woman was arrested yesterday (February 24) in suspected connection with a murder and attempted suicide case reported in Tseung Kwan O on February 23 in which her 23-year-old son died.

     The case will be mentioned at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 26).

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 25) investigating an influenza A outbreak at a kindergarten in Yuen Long, and again reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.

     The outbreak at the AM and PM classes of the kindergarten involved 24 and 30 school children respectively, 24 boys and 30 girls aged 3 to 6, who have developed fever, cough and sore throat since February 22. All of them sought medical attention. Among them, five required hospitalisation and one of them was discharged following treatment. All patients have been in a stable condition. The respiratory specimens of twelve children tested positive for influenza A upon laboratory testing.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the kindergarten to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory tract infections. The school has been placed under medical surveillance.

     "The latest surveillance data showed that the local influenza activity has continued to decrease from the peak level in January but remained above the baseline threshold. We urge the community to continue heightening its vigilance against seasonal influenza. As young children are particularly affected in this influenza season, we appeal to parents who have not yet arranged vaccination for their children in this season to do so as soon as possible to strengthen their personal protection," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Apart from children, people aged 50 to 64 years, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses who have not yet received influenza vaccination this season are also urged to get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination. Medical advice should be sought promptly if influenza-like symptoms develop so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as early as possible to prevent potential complications. Parents and carers are reminded to render assistance in prevention, care and control for vulnerable people.

     Besides receiving seasonal influenza vaccination as early as possible for personal protection, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses. For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.