Police today (September 6) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Yuen Long.

     Chan Yiu-chuen, aged 75, went missing after he was last seen on Yuen Long Tung Tai Street on September 3. The staff of the caring centre made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 65 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeved T-shirt, black shorts and purple slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3127 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (September 6) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and urged the public to heighten vigilance and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox.

     The case involves a 33-year-old male patient with good past health. He had presented with exhaustion and localised rash since August 25 and later visited the Fanling Social Hygiene Clinic of the DH on September 4. He is in stable condition and arrangements were made for him to be admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital. According to the patient, he had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period.

     An initial investigation revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. No epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case, including the high-risk exposure history of the patient during the incubation period, contact tracing and infection source investigations. The CHP will report the case to the World Health Organization.

     High-risk target groups are strongly advised to receive Mpox vaccination as soon as possible. The CHP has conducted epidemiological analysis against the 41 confirmed cases recorded as at August 31 this year, of which most of the cases (40 cases) involved men who have sex with men (MSM). Over 90 per cent (38 cases) of the cases indicated that they had high-risk sexual practices during the incubation periods, and 30 cases indicated that they had high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation periods. Also, 33 patients did not receive Mpox vaccination or did not complete the two-dose course. Over 85 per cent of the unvaccinated cases presented with more severe symptoms. Currently, no serious or death case had been recorded.

     According to the above epidemiological analysis, the cases recorded in Hong Kong mainly involved those who had engaged in high-risk sexual practices, including having sex with strangers or unsafe sex. The CHP appeals again to high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccination with a view to lowering the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. Persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once, and they should not engage in activities with others during which other people may have contact with their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection.

     The CHP had earlier set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373). The hotline operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5pm, which enables those who suspect or are concerned they have had high-risk contact with confirmed patients, in particular MSM or those who have sexual practices with strangers, to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice.

     The Government has activated the Alert level of the preparedness and response plan for the disease in September last year and will continue to assess the risk in view of the latest scientific evidence and situation, and implement corresponding control measures.

     The Mpox vaccination programme for high-risk groups commenced on October 5 last year. Under the programme, the following high-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination on a voluntary basis:
 

1. Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
2. Healthcare workers responsible for caring of patients with confirmed Mpox;
3. Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
4. Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrence in animals in Hong Kong.

     High-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccination at the designated Mpox vaccination centre (situated at 2/F, CHP building, 147C Argyle Street, Mong Kok) by appointment through email (mpv_booking@dh.gov.hk) or telephone booking line (2547 1900) during office hours. They can also receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at all of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS). Further information of the clinics including their locations is available at www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcf.html and www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_shcm.html.

     Meanwhile, the DH's Integrated Treatment Centre in Kowloon Bay, and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will continue to provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

     â€‹For more details, please visit the CHP's page on Mpox.

     The Intellectual Property Department (IPD) held the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the "No Fakes Pledge" Scheme cum Long-term Members Commendation Ceremony today (September 6) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Scheme and to commend members' long-term participation.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, said the "No Fakes Pledge" successfully promotes respect for intellectual property (IP) rights to retailers and the public, which is an essential part of the strong IP protection regime, providing a solid foundation for the development of Hong Kong as a regional IP trading centre.
 
     "With the solid support from issuing bodies and supporting organisations over the past 25 years, the Scheme has successfully garnered appreciation and recognition from retailers, consumers and tourists. It is encouraging to see the keen participation of retailers, with over 1 750 retail merchants and more than 7 400 outlets joining the Scheme at present," Mr Wong said.
 
     Mr Wong added that the IPD will continue to promote the No Fakes Pledge Scheme to consumers and tourists through various channels to enhance their awareness of the Scheme and bolster Hong Kong's reputation as a shoppers' paradise.
 
     At the ceremony, representatives of the issuing bodies also presented certificates of commendation to 104 long-term member retailers that have participated in the Scheme for 20 consecutive years. The issuing bodies of the Scheme comprise the Educational Booksellers' Association, the Hong Kong & Kowloon Electrical Appliances Merchants' Association, the Hong Kong Books & Stationery Industry Association, the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Council, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacy, the Hong Kong Record Merchants Association, the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, the Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry, the Cosmetic & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries, the General Chamber of Hong Kong Ceramic Tiles and Sanitary Wares, and the Jewellers' and Goldsmiths' Association of Hong Kong. The supporting organisations include the Consumer Council, the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, and the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited.
 
     For details of the Scheme, please visit the IPD website (www.ipd.gov.hk/en/promotional-activities/promotion-education/index_id_8.html).

  

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt, and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on September 5 to noon today (September 6), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological level of 130 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
     
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological tests. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
     
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly was detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
 (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological level of 2 093 samples of food imported from Japan (including 1 155 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 650 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) issued a circular memorandum to all schools in Hong Kong today (September 6), announcing arrangements for the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) in the 2023/24 school year.
      
     The EDB will conduct a total of five rounds of the BLNST for degree holders and non-degree holders respectively in this school year.
      
     The first round of the BLNST is scheduled for October 28. The target participants are persons without a bachelor's degree and planning to join or change schools to take up teaching posts at secondary and primary schools as well as kindergartens. Applications can be made through the EDB's online application system (www.edb.gov.hk/en/blnst) from 9am on September 8 to 5pm on September 21. Limited places for the test will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that a pass result in the test at a non-degree level is only applicable for applying for non-graduate teaching posts. Those who have already obtained a pass result in the BLNST organised by the EDB, the Civil Service Bureau or recruiting departments/grades will not be accepted to sit for the test again.
      
     Starting from this school year, all newly appointed teachers in public sector schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme schools and kindergartens joining the kindergarten education scheme (including newly joined teachers and teachers changing schools) are required to pass the BLNST in order to be considered for appointment. The requirement applies to all ranks of the teacher grade including principals.
      
     Details about the BLNST are available on the EDB webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/blnst). The second to fifth rounds of the test will be held in December 2023 and April, June and July 2024 respectively. Relevant arrangements will be announced in due course.