The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 13) investigating an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection (URI) at a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in Tin Shui Wai, and appealed to members of the public and staff of institutions to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.

     The outbreak involves 13 boys and eight girls aged 2 to 5 who developed fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat since December 2. Twenty of them sought medical attention. Among them, one child required hospitalisation and was discharged following treatment. A nasopharyngeal swab of a child tested positive for adenovirus and parainfluenza virus type 2 upon laboratory testing. All of them are now in a stable condition.
 
      Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the school to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory infections. The school has been put under medical surveillance.

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

• Receive a seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
• Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     
     Members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, should wear a face mask and consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 13) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Mid Suffolk District of Suffolk County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the district with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 9 270 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 1.82 million poultry eggs from the UK in the first nine months of this year, according to the Census and Statistics Department.
      
     "The CFS has contacted the British authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     â€‹The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, today (December 13) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Dr Ng Cho-nam.

     "Dr Ng had actively participated in environmental protection and promotion of nature conservation, and had made invaluable contributions over the years. He had subsequently served in a number of committees related to the Development Bureau, including the Town Planning Board, the Habourfront Commission, the Task Force on Land Supply, the Community Involvement Committee on Greening, the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies. I am forever grateful for his valuable advice to the Government on issues relating to city planning and development, greening, nature and heritage conservation, and on promoting sustainable development in Hong Kong.

     "I am saddened at the passing of Dr Ng and extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mr Wong said.

     The weapons that appear in Hong Kong kung fu and wuxia films come in a wide variety, with designs and fighting capabilities that showcase the dynamic vision of filmmakers and the creativity of action choreographers. To showcase these powerful and unique weapons, a dedicated exhibition entitled "Multifarious Arrays of Weaponry in Hong Kong Cinema", organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is being held from today (December 13) to March 8, 2020, at the Exhibition Hall of the HKFA.
 
     A star attraction of this fascinating exhibition is the careful reconstruction of the set in "Enter the Dragon" (1973), where the final duel between Bruce Lee and Sek Kin takes place. The nunchaku and tasselled spear used by the duo for training are on display. The recreated set promises to help visitors feel as if they are about to witness the dramatic battle between the two martial arts masters.
 
     In addition, the exhibition showcases various prop weapons, including the leather whip and the willow-leaf sabre used by Kwan Tak-hing in "The Magic Whip" (1968) and the Wong Fei-hung film series respectively. The broken sabre from "The One-Armed Swordsman" (1967) is on display, as are the long sword and the machete from "The Bride with White Hair" (1993), the bronze sword from "An Empress and the Warriors" (2008), and the flying guillotine from "The Guillotines” (2012). Visitors will also see the short tonfa (a fighting stick with a handle) from "SPL 2" (2015). Videos of interviews with numerous action choreographers and stuntmen as well as demonstrations on different kinds of weapons will also be shown at the venue.

     To tie in with the exhibition, a seminar entitled "The Sparks Between Weapons and Kung Fu", hosted by film critic Po Fung, will be held at 2pm on February 15, 2020, at the HKFA Cinema. The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.
 
     Admission to the exhibition and seminar is free. For details, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/programmes/weaponry/index.html.

                

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (December 13) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Dr Ng Cho-nam.

     "Dr Ng had spared no effort in promoting environmental protection over the past few decades. He was the chairman of the Conservancy Association and the chairman of the Environmental Impact Assessment Subcommittee of the Advisory Council on the Environment. He was a member of the Council for Sustainable Development, the Energy Advisory Committee, the Steering Committee on Biodiveristy Strategy and Action Plan, the Environmental Campaign Committee, and the Country and Marine Parks Board, among others. He showed lifelong devotion to serving society and made significant contributions. He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2014," Mr Wong said.

     "Dr Ng has actively participated in the conservation of remote countryside areas, such as the rehabilitation of Lai Chi Wo, in recent years, with a view to promoting biodiversity. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Ng. On behalf of the Environment Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mr Wong said.