Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, at a media session after meeting with the new District Council … read more
​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 10) that the import into and sale within Hong Kong of shellfishes harvested in production areas 35.11 and 35.06 … read more
In view of the latest situation in Iran, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (January 10) issued a Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) on Iran.
A Government spokesman said, “Residents who intend to visit the country should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel, including leisure travel. Those already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid large gatherings of people.”
The Security Bureau will closely monitor the situation there. Any update will be issued through the media and the bureau’s Mobile App and OTA webpage www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota.
Residents in Iran who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department (ImmD) at (852) 1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in Iran at the consular protection hotline: (98) 912-2176035.
Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of the Outbound Travel Information service (www.gov.hk/roti) of the ImmD to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the ImmD to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means, including SMS on mobile phones, on a timely basis when necessary. read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 10) investigating a case of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and urged members of the public to be vigilant against hepatitis E infection and to strictly observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene.
The case involves a 17-year-old male. He was admitted to Hong Kong Children Hospital for management due to underlying illnesses in August last year and had passed away on December 27 in the same year due to his underlying illnesses. He was found to have liver function derangement during admission.
The patient’s previous blood specimens tested positive for rat HEV upon retrospective laboratory testing.
The CHP’s epidemiological investigations revealed that the patient resided in Kwai Tsing District.
“Based on the available epidemiological information, the source and the route of infection could not be determined. The CHP’s investigation is ongoing,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
“The CHP has already informed the Pest Control Advisory Section of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department about the case to carry out rodent control measures and a survey as appropriate,” the spokesman added.
The exact mode of transmission of rat HEV to humans is unknown at the moment. Possible routes of transmission include ingestion of food or water contaminated by rodents or their excreta, exposure to environments or objects contaminated by rodents or their excreta and direct contact with rodents or their excreta. The usual HEV causing human infection is transmitted mainly through the faecal-oral route.
To prevent hepatitis E infection, members of the public should maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene. For example, they should wash hands thoroughly before eating, store food properly or in the refrigerator, not leave food at room temperature for a long time, and use 1:99 diluted household bleach for general household cleaning and disinfection as household detergent may not be able to kill HEV. High-risk individuals, such as elderly persons with a major underlying illness (especially those who have undergone organ transplantation), pregnant women, patients with chronic liver disease and patients with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (also known as G6PD Deficiency), who are infected with HEV may develop a serious illness, so they should exercise extra caution.
The Five Keys to Food Safety should be adopted when handling food, i.e. Choose (choose safe raw materials), Clean (keep hands and utensils clean), Separate (separate raw and cooked food), Cook (cook thoroughly) and Safe Temperature (keep food at a safe temperature), to prevent food-borne diseases.
Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 4 kilograms of suspected 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) with an estimated market value of about $600,000 at Hong Kong International Airport and Chai Wan on January 4 and yesterday (January 9).
Customs officers inspected an air parcel arriving in Hong Kong from Germany on January 4 and found the batch of suspected dangerous drugs concealed in food packages inside 14 paper boxes.
Upon follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 41-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case in Chai Wan. A small amount of suspected MDMA was further seized at the woman’s residential unit in the same district.
The arrested woman has been charged with two counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She will appear at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 11). The arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs will maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcels and express courier channels.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
