The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 16) investigating a suspected food poisoning outbreak affecting 19 persons. The CHP reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

     The patients, comprising three men and 16 women aged 23 to 61, developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever about five to 46 hours after having dinner at a food premises in Southern District on January 10.
 
     Seven of the affected persons sought medical advice. Among them, one required hospitalisation and was discharged after treatment. They have been in stable condition.

     "We have alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
 

• Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters at a buffet;
• Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
• Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
• Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Drink boiled water;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 20 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $2.3 million at Man Kam To Control Point on January 14.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted an incoming container truck at Man Kam To Control Point on that day. The batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including shoes, handbags, watches and mobile phone accessories, was found inside the container. The 53-year-old male driver was then arrested.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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

  

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 16) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Hajdu-Bihar County, Hungary and a notification from the General Veterinary Inspectorate, Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the Kolski district of Wielkopolskie and MyÅ›liborski district of Zachodniopomorskie in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the abovementioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
       
     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Hungary for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 2 315 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Hungary and about 13 060 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 23.2 million poultry eggs from Poland in the first nine months of last year.
      
     "The CFS has contacted the Hungarian and Polish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Marine Department (MD) conducted the Navigational Safety Seminar 2020 today (January 16) to reinforce and enhance the awareness of navigational safety among members of the industry. The Deputy Director of Marine, Mr Wong Sai-fat, reminded coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels that they have the responsibility to fully comply with marine legislation to uphold safety at sea.

     Mr Wong pointed out that coxswains and crew members should take appropriate and adequate safety precautions and prepare contingency arrangements before setting sail. Vessels should have sufficient life-saving and fire-fighting equipment. Coxswains and crew members should ensure that vessels, engines and equipment are maintained in conditions that are suitable for navigation. In addition, they should carry the contact numbers of the port traffic control unit and units that provide emergency services, and be fully aware of the latest weather conditions and related MD Notices.

     In addition, to avoid accidents caused by fatigue, owners and operators of all local vessels must ensure that all crew members, including coxswains, have sufficient rest periods to avoid fatigue at work. Coxswains and crew members should also strengthen lookouts, sail at safe speeds and comply with regulations for preventing collisions while navigating in restricted visibility.

     To strengthen the provision and usage of lifejackets on local vessels and enhance marine safety during major events at sea, new legislative requirements came into effect on December 23, 2019. All local vessels are required to carry suitable lifejackets, the quantity of which should be not less than the total number of persons the vessel is licensed to carry. During major events at sea, children on board must wear lifejackets at all times and a list of persons on board should be kept by the coxswain of the vessel for emergency purposes. Coxswains, crew members and passengers must comply with the new legislative requirements.

     Moreover, to protect members of the public engaged in water sports and facilities in fish culture zones, a legislative amendment will come into effect on April 1, 2020. Under the new amendment regulation, the number of speed-restricted zones (SRZs) will be increased from 22 to 30. The restriction period of SRZs and the penalty level will also be amended.
 
     The MD organises regular education seminars and publicity campaigns to step up marine safety promotion. Over the past three years, the MD has posted information at three marine ferry terminals to remind passengers on high-speed craft plying between Hong Kong and Macao to fasten their seat belts. Similar publicity will be conducted again this year.

     Today's annual seminar was attended by about 200 representatives from the shipping industries, coxswains and operators of local vessels, and representatives of marine works projects. The issues discussed covered the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea and its implementation in Hong Kong waters, new legislative requirements on lifejackets for local vessels, new legislative requirements relating to major events at sea, case analyses of marine accidents as well as recommendations on relevant investigation reports. Leaflets on navigational safety were also distributed at the seminar.

    

     Hong Kong Customs today (January 16) seized about 140 000 suspected illicit heat-not-burn (HNB) products in Sheung Shui, with an estimated market value of about $400,000 and a duty potential of about $270,000.

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Sheung Shui in the early hours today, Customs officers intercepted two men and four women and found the batch of suspected illicit HNB products in their personal baggage.

     The six persons, aged between 23 and 40, were arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any HNB products containing tobacco in content are also dutiable goods subject to the control of the DCO. Any person who imports, possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may call the Customs' hotline at 2815 7711 to enquire whether a specific tobacco or smoking product is under the regulation of the DCO. They may also report any suspected violation of the DCO to Customs' 24-hour hotline at 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).