The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) today (July 23) announced the following incident regarding a delayed follow-up on a Computerised Tomography investigation report for a patient:
      
     A 68-year-old male patient was admitted to the surgical ward of TKOH via the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) on July 19 2014 for epigastric pain, fever and septic shock. He was arranged for Computerised Tomography of abdomen and pelvis on July 21 and the results showed ruptured calculus cholecystitis, severe cholangitis and common bile ductal stone. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for drainage and emergency operation for cholecystectomy were performed on the same day. The condition of patient was stable post-operatively and he was discharged on July 31.
      
     On June 28 2018, the patient was admitted to the medical ward of Pok Oi Hospital (POH) via AED for treatment of anaemia. While reviewing the Computerised Tomography of abdomen and pelvis report performed at TKOH in 2014, the physician at POH noted that a right anterior mediastinal shadow was also reported in addition to the findings of ruptured calculus cholecystitis, severe cholangitis and common bile ductal stone. Since the upper extend of the shadow was not covered in the examination report by TKOH, the radiologist of TKOH during image reporting then suggested a Computerised Tomography of thorax should be further performed for the patient. However, it was noticed that no further investigation on thorax and follow-up had been arranged by the TKOH surgeon as the treatment has been concentrated on cholecystitis.

     Upon noticed the situation, the doctor of POH then suggested the patient to undergo a Computerised Tomography scan of thorax. The investigation was conducted and completed on July 6 2018, and the right anterior mediastinal mass was found increased in size. The patient was then transferred by POH to Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) medical ward on July 16 for further investigation including biopsy of the concerned lesion for confirmation of pathology and to offer appropriate treatment accordingly. The related condition has also been conveyed to TKOH surgeon.  

     A meeting with the patient and his relatives was arranged for explaining the incident and discussing the management plan by TKOH doctors with apology and deep condolences extended. The condition of patient is stable and his subsequent follow up and treatment will be managed by TMH, while the Patient Relations Officer will render necessary support to the patient and his relatives.

     TKOH has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office and an investigation will be conducted for reviewing the related workflow and making recommendations. Healthcare professionals have been reminded to stay alert to the investigation results of patients in order to ensure timely documentation and follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) today (July 23) announced the following incident regarding a delayed follow-up on a Computerised Tomography investigation report for a patient:
      
     A 68-year-old male patient was admitted to the surgical ward of TKOH via the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) on July 19 2014 for epigastric pain, fever and septic shock. He was arranged for Computerised Tomography of abdomen and pelvis on July 21 and the results showed ruptured calculus cholecystitis, severe cholangitis and common bile ductal stone. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for drainage and emergency operation for cholecystectomy were performed on the same day. The condition of patient was stable post-operatively and he was discharged on July 31.
      
     On June 28 2018, the patient was admitted to the medical ward of Pok Oi Hospital (POH) via AED for treatment of anaemia. While reviewing the Computerised Tomography of abdomen and pelvis report performed at TKOH in 2014, the physician at POH noted that a right anterior mediastinal shadow was also reported in addition to the findings of ruptured calculus cholecystitis, severe cholangitis and common bile ductal stone. Since the upper extend of the shadow was not covered in the examination report by TKOH, the radiologist of TKOH during image reporting then suggested a Computerised Tomography of thorax should be further performed for the patient. However, it was noticed that no further investigation on thorax and follow-up had been arranged by the TKOH surgeon as the treatment has been concentrated on cholecystitis.

     Upon noticed the situation, the doctor of POH then suggested the patient to undergo a Computerised Tomography scan of thorax. The investigation was conducted and completed on July 6 2018, and the right anterior mediastinal mass was found increased in size. The patient was then transferred by POH to Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) medical ward on July 16 for further investigation including biopsy of the concerned lesion for confirmation of pathology and to offer appropriate treatment accordingly. The related condition has also been conveyed to TKOH surgeon.  

     A meeting with the patient and his relatives was arranged for explaining the incident and discussing the management plan by TKOH doctors with apology and deep condolences extended. The condition of patient is stable and his subsequent follow up and treatment will be managed by TMH, while the Patient Relations Officer will render necessary support to the patient and his relatives.

     TKOH has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office and an investigation will be conducted for reviewing the related workflow and making recommendations. Healthcare professionals have been reminded to stay alert to the investigation results of patients in order to ensure timely documentation and follow-up.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will visit Beijing from July 25 to 28. The Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will accompany Mrs Lam on the visit. The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will join parts of the visit.
 
     Mrs Lam will depart for Beijing in the evening on July 25 and will watch a performance by the Sing Fai Cantonese Opera Promotion Association from Hong Kong in the evening on July 27, which will be part of a Chinese opera show that brings together different local opera performances from across the nation. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Ministry of Culture signed the Agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Enhancing the Arrangement for Closer Cultural Relations in November last year to provide more chances for Hong Kong arts organisations to perform in the Mainland. Arranged and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Sing Fai Cantonese Opera Promotion Association's performance in Beijing will provide opportunities for 30 Hong Kong actors aged 6 to over 20 to promote Cantonese opera to Mainland audiences and showcase the results of the Hong Kong new generation in learning Cantonese opera.
 
     While in Beijing, Mrs Lam will also pay visits to central ministries and other organisations and meet young participants from Hong Kong who have joined internship programmes in the Mainland.
 
     Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on July 28. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive.

     Professor Peng Liyuan visited Yau Yat Chuen School when she accompanied President Xi Jinping on his visit to inspect Hong Kong last year. The students wrote a letter to Professor Peng earlier this year, attaching a picture drawn by them, and Professor Peng wrote them a personal reply.  
 
     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (July 23) specially hosted the three students who had written to Professor Peng at Government House to present them personally Professor Peng’s letter.
 
     During the gathering, Mrs Lam read out the letter and conveyed Professor Peng’s warm regards to the teachers and children of the school. “President Xi Jinping and Professor Peng Liyuan celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong to the Motherland with us last year, showing their care for Hong Kong. During her trip to Hong Kong, Professor Peng visited the kindergarten as part of her busy schedule. While at the kindergarten, she watched a performance by the students, played games with them and presented gifts to them. Now she has written them a personal reply, fully showing her care for Hong Kong students. I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Peng on behalf of the people of Hong Kong,” Mrs Lam said.
 
     Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ms Qiu Hong, entrusted by the Director of the Liaison Office, Mr Wang Zhimin, attended the gathering. The Chairman of the School Management Committee of Yau Yat Chuen School, Mr Yu Kwok-chun; the school's Supervisor, Mr Kenneth Fang; the school's Principal, Ms Lee Ming-chu; parents of the students; and some teaching staff of the school also attended the gathering. The school, with some 1 100 students, is a non-profit-making kindergarten that joined the Free Quality Kindergarten Education Scheme.

        

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 23) announced that a sample of ham and egg bun was found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus, a pathogen. The CFS is following up on the case.

     "Subsequent to announcing that a sample of ham and egg bun taken from a convenience store in Sheung Wan was found to contain excessive Bacillus cereus, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another ham and egg bun sample of the same kind but with a different production date taken from the same convenience store for testing during follow-up investigation. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 1.1 million per gram. Under the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if ready-to-eat food contains Bacillus cereus at a level of more than 100 000 per gram, it is considered unsatisfactory," a CFS spokesman said.
      
     "The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity. The vendor has already, according to the CFS' instructions, stopped selling the affected kind of food at all branch stores and the food factory concerned has also stopped production of the affected product. The above-mentioned unsatisfactory sample was taken before the sale of the affected product was stopped. The CFS has also inspected the food factory and its hygiene conditions are satisfactory. Health education on food safety and hygiene has been provided for the staff of the vendor and the food factory. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted," the spokesman said.

     According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
      
     Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident, and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.