The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, July 19, 2019 is 105.1 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     In view of the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central Committee on Infectious Disease and Emergency Responses of the Hospital Authority (HA) today (July 19) convened an ad hoc meeting, which was joined by representatives from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), to discuss the risk assessment and preparedness of public hospitals. It was agreed that the following key measures will be implemented for early detection, isolation and diagnosis of possible cases to mitigate the risk of the virus being spread in Hong Kong.
 

• HA will enhance the monitoring and reporting of symptomatic patients, who have a travel history to the DRC in the past three weeks.
• The concerned patients will be transferred to the HA Infectious Disease Centre for isolation and arrangement of clinical tests at the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP, from which the test result will be available in a few hours.
• Frontline staff will be reminded of the appropriate infection control measures and personal protection equipment on the designated intranet website and news bulletins.

     HA will continue to closely collaborate with the CHP to monitor developments and keep the general public and professionals posted on the most updated situation and relevant information. The enhanced measures will be reviewed at appropriate times.

     Police today (July 19) appealed to the public for information on a boy who went missing in Tuen Mun.

     Sze Wa-yan, aged 15, went missing after he left his residence at Siu Lam Tsuen on July 4 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
    
     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair.
     
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing boy or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3128 or 6273 5787, or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

Attention TV/Radio Announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that the lifesaving services at Golden Beach and Cafeteria New Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (July 19). The lifesaving services at the beaches were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.

     Correctional Services officers stopped a male remand person in custody committing self-harm at Stanley Prison today (July 19).

     At 00.36am today, the 35-year-old person in custody was found cutting his wrist using the edge of a cabinet drawer inside the cell of the institution hospital. An officer immediately ordered him to stop the act and called for reinforcement. The person in custody was found conscious. After examination and treatment by the institution medical officer, he was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. A clinical psychologist of the department will follow up on the case.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in its custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, the improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first aid services."

     The person in custody was remanded for the offence of wounding with intent in January 2019.