Seventy-three companies were honoured today (December 2) at the 2019 Hong Kong Awards for Industries (HKAI) presentation ceremony held at the Hong Kong Science Park.

     The Grand Award winners were the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (innovation and creativity), SAE Magnetics (Hong Kong) Limited (smart productivity), Winner Medical (Hong Kong) Limited (upgrading and transformation), Zunosaki Limited (consumer product design) and Chen Hsong Holdings Limited (equipment and machinery design).

     A total of 231 entries were received in the 2019 HKAI. The winners were decided by the final judging panels chaired by Professor Way Kuo. 

     The HKAI aims to recognise the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong enterprises in pursuit of advanced technology and high value-added activities, and to commend excellence in enhancing competitiveness, service quality, and various aspects of their performance.

     The 2019 HKAI covered seven categories, namely the customer service category organised by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, the innovation and creativity category organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the smart productivity category organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the technological achievement category organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the upgrading and transformation category organised by the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council, the consumer product design category organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, and the equipment and machinery design category organised by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong. The Trade and Industry Department serves as the Secretariat of the Organising Committee of the HKAI.

      

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a special operation codenamed "Propeller" from October 28 to November 30 with a view to stepping up enforcement action against drug trafficking activities between Hong Kong and Macao. A total of seven outbound drug trafficking cases were detected at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal and the China Ferry Terminal, seizing about 180 grams of different kinds of suspected dangerous drugs with an estimated market value of about $175,000.

     The suspected dangerous drugs seized during the operation, including cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine, were found concealed inside the underwear or shoes the arrested persons wore, and were packed in small packages ready for distribution.

     Seven men including a 17-year-old student were arrested. The other six are aged between 18 and 61.

     With the Christmas holidays approaching, the Customs reminded members of the public, in particular youths, that criminals may post recruitment advertisements on unknown websites and social media platforms to lure students and young people into carrying dangerous drugs or various controlled items. Citizens should not take any chances and think that by hiding small quantities of dangerous drugs they can easily evade investigation and would not be caught. They also should not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns.

     Trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence and will lead to a criminal record upon conviction. This would exert considerable impact on further education as well as other aspects.

     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.

     Customs will continue stringent law enforcement at every boundary control point to combat cross-boundary trafficking activities involving dangerous drugs.

     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).

      

     A woman who went missing in Western District has been located.

     Law Bik-wah, aged 81, went missing after she left an elderly home on Des Voeux Road West on November 28 afternoon. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.

     Police located the woman in a hospital on Queen’s Road East in Wan Chai this afternoon (December 2). No suspicious circumstances were detected.

     Police today (December 2) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan.

     Tam Fong, aged 91, was last seen at a hospital on Wing Hong Street in the small hours of November 30. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.5 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue vest, grey long-sleeved shirt, grey trousers and white slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8038 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (December 2) announced a case of measles infection, involving a one-year-old boy with good past health. The CHP discovered this case during its medical surveillance for home contacts of a previously confirmed measles case announced earlier.

     The boy developed a fever and rash since November 29. He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department at Queen Mary Hospital on the same day for medical advice and was admitted for treatment immediately. He was discharged on November 30, and was admitted again today at Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital for treatment.

     A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He is in a stable condition and has not yet received measles vaccination. He had no travel history during the incubation and communicable periods.

     The patient lives with a previously confirmed case (a 38-year-old woman) announced on November 26. His other home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.

     Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. Investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the DH said, "Those who might have had contact with the patient during the period of communicability are urged to observe if they have developed measles-related symptoms, and to seek medical treatment immediately if such symptoms appear. If they need to visit any health care facilities during the period of medical surveillance, they should also report whether they have symptoms and prior measles exposure history to the healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities concerned to prevent any potential spread."

     The spokesman explained that measles is a highly infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It can be transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons, and, less commonly, by articles soiled with nose and throat secretions. A patient can pass the disease to other persons from four days before to four days after the appearance of a skin rash.

     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," the spokesman advised. 

     "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Members of the public who are planning to travel to places with high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received a measles vaccination during childhood. The history of measles vaccinations in Hong Kong is available in the CHP's measles thematic page. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination history or unknown immunity against measles, are urged to consult their doctor for advice on vaccinations at least two weeks before departure," the spokesman said.

     Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
 

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of a rash to prevent the spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

     For more information on measles, the public may call the 24-hour health education hotline 2833 0111 or visit the CHP's measles thematic page. For news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong or the latest travel health advice, please visit the website of the DH's Travel Health Service.