The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 30) said that two new confirmed melioidosis infection cases had been recorded in the past week (August 23 to 29).

     The first case involves a 93-year-old female with underlying illness who lives in Sham Shui Po. She developed a cough since July 26 and was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre on August 15 for cough with sputum. She is in stable condition. Her clinical sample was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing.

    The second case involves another 93-year-old female with underlying illness who lives in Sham Shui Po. She developed a fever and shortness of breath since August 21 and was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre on the same day. She is in stable condition. Her clinical sample was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing.

     The CHP is investigating the infection source of the cases. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. So far, 12 melioidosis infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong this year. In 2023, 17 melioidosis infection cases were recorded.

     A spokesman for the CHP reiterated that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment. Melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year. According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms. The melioidosis bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or storms, and the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms. As such, the number of melioidosis cases may increase.

     The CHP reminded members of the public that melioidosis can be spread by contaminated soil and water during and after typhoons and storms. Where practicable, people should stay indoors during typhoons and storms, avoid travelling to areas with potential flooding, and do not wade in or have contact with muddy water and soil. In addition, high-risk individuals should avoid paths near stormwater drains where aerosols may be generated from contaminated water.

     Members of the public should also take the following preventive measures against infection:
 
• Avoid contact with contaminated soil;
• Wear appropriate protective clothing or footwear when participating in activities with possible contact with soil or water, e.g. using gloves and wearing boots. High-risk individuals may also consider wearing a surgical mask;
• Wash or shower after exposure to contaminated water or soil;
• Always clean any wounds as soon as possible and cover any cuts or grazes with waterproof dressings;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water after handling soil or gardening;
• Observe food hygiene and avoid drinking raw water; and
• Travellers can contract the disease through outdoor water sports. The risk of infection can be minimised by avoiding exposure to water sources (such as rivers, ponds or lakes) that might be contaminated.

     The CHP appealed to members of the public to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms, in particular people with diabetes or other immunocompromised conditions, in order to receive appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment. For more information on melioidosis, please visit the website of the CHP at www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/101110.html.

     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau today (August 30) again appealed to members of the public for heightened vigilance against counterfeit mobile apps purporting to be made by the Office.
 
     The spokesman for the Office said that some mobile apps which carry the Office's name and logo are again circulating online for public downloading recently. The Office solemnly clarified that it has no connection with those mobile apps. Members of the public should stay vigilant and are strongly advised not to visit or download them. The Office has not provided mobile apps on any online platform about the joint development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
     The Office has reported the incident to the Police for follow-up.
 
     For enquiries about the online information of the Office, please call 2810 2059 or email to enquiry@bayarea.gov.hk.

     The Government announced today (August 30) its financial results for the four months ended July 31, 2024.
 
     Expenditure for the period April to July 2024 amounted to HK$242.6 billion and revenue HK$90.1 billion, resulting in a cumulative year-to-date deficit of HK$135.4 billion after taking into account the proceeds of HK$24.9 billion received from issuance of Government Bonds and repayment of HK$7.8 billion principal on Government Bonds.
 
     A Government spokesperson said that the cumulative year-to-date deficit for the period was mainly due to the fact that some major types of revenue including salaries and profits taxes are mostly received towards the end of a financial year.
 
     The fiscal reserves stood at HK$599.2 billion as at July 31, 2024.
 
     Detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
 
TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT (Note 1)
 

 
Government Debts as at July 31, 2024 (Note 3)
    HK$209,519 million
Debts Guaranteed by Government as at July 31, 2024 (Note 4)
    HK$140,091 million

TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES
 

 
Notes:

1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at July 31, 2024, was HK$262,199 million.

2. Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident banks.

3. These were the Green Bonds (equivalent to HK$209,519 million as at July 31, 2024) issued under the Government Green Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$9,950 million with maturity from January 2026 to January 2053), euros (5,330 million euros with maturity from January 2025 to November 2041), Renminbi (RMB41,500 million with maturity from November 2024 to July 2054) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$42,000 million with maturity from May 2025 to October 2026). They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$216,641 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,813 million as at July 31, 2024) issued under the Government Bond Programme (with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund). Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme (including Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$124,141 million, which may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders), bonds with nominal value of HK$9,500 million, HK$26,844 million and HK$1,500 million were repaid upon maturity on August 7, 2024, August 12, 2024 and August 19, 2024 respectively; bonds with nominal value of HK$11,000 million will mature within the period from September 2024 to July 2025 and the rest within the period from August 2025 to May 2042.

4. Includes guarantees provided under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2001, the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2008, the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme launched in 2012, and Loan Guarantee Scheme for Cross-boundary Passenger Transport Trade, Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis and Loan Guarantee Scheme for Travel Sector launched in 2023.

5. Includes HK$265,217 million, being the balance of the Land Fund held in the name of "Future Fund", for long-term investments up to December 31, 2030. The Future Fund also includes HK$4,800 million, being one-third of the actual surplus in 2015-16 as top-up.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (August 30) issued a circular memorandum to all secondary day schools, primary schools, special schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong, announcing the arrangements for the provision of a student grant to day-school students in the 2024/25 school year.
 
     An EDB spokesman said, "The Government provides a student grant of $2,500 for secondary day-school, primary school and kindergarten students every school year. The provision of the grant has been regularised starting from the 2020/21 school year to alleviate the burden of educational expenses on parents."
 
     The student grant is non-means-tested. All students, at the date of application, studying in secondary day-schools, primary schools, special schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong are eligible for the grant. Students of evening schools, students of private studies, holders of student visas for entry into Hong Kong for studies and students holding Recognisance Forms issued by the Immigration Department are not within the scope of the subsidy.
 
     The spokesman continued, "The following students are deemed eligible for the grant owing to special circumstances: (a) children at the age of 2 years and 8 months or above as at September 1 of the 2024/25 school year concerned attending a Special Child Care Centre subsidised by the Social Welfare Department owing to special needs; (b) newly arrived children attending a full-time Initiation Programme funded by the EDB; and (c) students taking full-time programmes for Secondary Three school leavers offered by the Vocational Training Council. We will issue letters to relevant organisations and institutions today to inform them of the details."

    The spokesman added, "Starting from the 2024/25 school year, electronic submission of student grant applications (e-submission) will be expanded to cover all school types. Parents may log in to the e-platform via an 'iAM Smart+' account with a digital signing function to submit applications for all their eligible children in one go.  For the 2024/25 school year, the e-platform will open from 6am on September 13 to 11.59pm on October 2. Parents are encouraged to use e-submission to enjoy more convenient and efficient e-service. A series of videos on e-submission is available on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/student-parents/support-subsidies/student-grant/e-submission.html)."
 
     To cater for the needs of individual parents, apart from e-submission, the EDB provides an option for parents to return the completed applications in paper form to schools. Only one application, either in electronic form or paper form, can be submitted for each eligible student. Schools are required to submit the completed forms to the EDB for follow-up on or before November 13. The EDB will normally disburse the subsidy in about six weeks after receiving the duly completed application forms and will inform parents of the application progress via SMS and email as appropriate.
 
     Details of the student grant are available on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/student-parents/support-subsidies/student-grant/index.html). 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (August 30) that it had completed an investigation and disciplinary proceedings for WeChat Pay Hong Kong Limited (WPHK) under the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance (Chapter 584 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (PSSVFO). The Monetary Authority (MA) has ordered WPHK to pay a pecuniary penalty of HK$875,000 for contravening section 8Q of the PSSVFO as it failed to fulfil the minimum criterion under section 6(2)(b) of Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the PSSVFO.
      
     The disciplinary action (Note 1) follows the filing of a self-report by WPHK and further investigation by the HKMA which found that, during the period from 25 August 2016 to 24 October 2021, WPHK failed to have in place adequate and appropriate systems of control to comply with the relevant paragraphs of the Guideline on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (For Stored Value Facility (SVF) Licensees) (Guideline) (Note 2).
  
     Specifically, the contravention relates to deficiencies in WPHK's systems of control in two areas, namely:

1. undertaking customer due diligence (CDD) review upon trigger events; and 
2. applying enhanced due diligence measures to mitigate and manage the risks in a situation that by its nature may present a high money laundering and terrorist financing risk.

 
     In deciding the disciplinary action, the MA took into account all relevant circumstances and factors, including but not limited to the following: 

1. the seriousness of the investigation findings; 
2. the need to send a clear deterrent message to the industry about the importance of effective controls and procedures to address money laundering and terrorist financing risks;
3. WPHK has taken remedial measures to address the deficiencies identified by the HKMA and enhance its systems of control; 
4. WPHK has filed a self-report to bring the matter to the attention of the HKMA; and
5. WPHK has no previous disciplinary record and is co-operative in resolving concerns identified by the HKMA. 

 
     The Executive Director (Enforcement and AML) of the HKMA, Mr Raymond Chan, said, "SVF licensees should apply enhanced due diligence measures on their customers in situations involving potentially high risk of money laundering and terrorist financing. These enhanced due diligence measures should be effective in ensuring that the associated money laundering and terrorist financing risks are properly managed."
  
Note 1: The disciplinary action is taken under section 33Q of the PSSVFO.
Note 2: Paragraphs 5.2 and 4.8.1 of the Guideline (October 2018 version and September 2020 version), and paragraphs 4.7.1 and 4.11.1 of the Guideline (September 2016 version and February 2018 version).