Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 18) seized about 30 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $6.2 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Vancouver, Canada, yesterday evening. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected cannabis buds was found concealed inside his two suitcases. The man was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 36, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 20).

     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 also reminds that cannabis and tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Ordinance. Importation of products (including food and drinks) containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of food and drinks.

     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).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (February 19):
 
     An 85-year-old male patient in a male medical convalescent ward in KH was confirmed as carrying Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on February 10. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened the patients who had contact with the index patient. Three more male patients (aged 75 to 82) were confirmed as being VRE carriers without any symptoms of infection. Three of them are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition. The remaining one passed away due to his underlying disease.
 
     Infection control measures at the ward concerned have already been stepped up according to the prevailing guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close medical surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     A company was fined $16,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (February 19) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in July last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).

     The OLA officers found that the exit route had been obstructed. Also, the club's staff failed to show the registered drawing upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 12 and 17 of the CoC were breached.

     The company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: 
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the email should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. 
 

     Police today (February 19) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwai Chung.
      
     Hung On-shui, aged 58, went missing after she was last seen in a care home on Wo Tong Tsui Street yesterday (February 18) afternoon. The staff of the care home made a report to Police on the same day.
      
     She is about 1.5 metres tall, 41 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short grey hair. She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt with pink dots pattern, black trousers and blue slippers.

      Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9689 7445 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.