Police today (May 31) reclassified a person fell from height and body found case in Sheung Shui on May 29 as murder and suicide in which a 61-year-old man and his 88-year-old father-in-law died.

     At about 8.23pm on May 29, Police received a report that a man was lying on Luen Chit Street, suspected of having fallen from height.

     Police officers sped to the scene and located the 61-year-old man. Sustaining multiple injuries, he was certified dead at scene. Officers later located the man’s 88-year-old father-in-law lying inside a unit on 1 Luen Chit Street. Sustaining injuries to his head, hands and legs, he was certified at scene.

     Upon further investigation, Police suspected that the 61-year-old man had attacked his father-in-law before falling from the unit.

     A hammer in suspected connection with the case was found inside the unit.

     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the causes of their deaths.

     Investigation by the District Crime Squad of Tai Po District is underway.

     The Government has launched earlier the second round of the subsidy scheme for the promotion of contactless payment in public markets under the Anti-epidemic Fund, and extended the scope to cover licensed hawkers. A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 31) encouraged eligible tenants of public market stalls and licensed hawkers to apply for the subsidy, and reminded them to submit applications before the deadline at 5pm, June 30.

     The FEHD conducted a series of publicity and promotional activities to appeal to market stall tenants and licensed hawkers to use the contactless payment method for transactions, including distribution of leaflets to market stall tenants at Wan Chai Market and Fa Yuen Street Market, licensed hawkers at Tai Yuen Street and Cross Street hawker areas in Wan Chai, Fa Yuen Street hawker area in Mong Kok, Temple Street and Bowring Street hawker areas in Yau Tsim, as well as Apliu Street, Pei Ho Street and Kweilin Street hawker areas in Sham Shui Po. FEHD representatives also exchanged views with the tenants and hawkers on the issue, answered their related enquiries and reiterated that the use of contactless payment could reduce cash exchanges, thereby enhancing public hygiene and reducing the risk of virus transmission.

     The FEHD also organised a briefing session at the end of April to introduce and promote the contactless payment method to representatives of hawker associations, and facilitated direct communication between service providers and the trade, so that the trade could have a better understanding of various service plans. In addition, the FEHD worked with the trade representatives to hold an exchange session in Sham Shui Po and set up street counters at the Mong Kok Cooked Food Market as well as fixed-pitch hawker areas at Tung Choi Street and Temple Street in mid-May to address enquires of market stall tenants and licensed hawkers and assist them to apply for the subsidy under the scheme on site. 

     The FEHD spokesman said, "A one-off subsidy is provided to eligible tenants of FEHD market stalls (including cooked food stalls) and licensed hawkers at a flat rate of $5,000 for use to meet the initial set-up costs as well as service and other fees in relation to the provision of at least one contactless payment means, which would be processed through a licensed bank or a stored value facility licensee regulated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, or a debit/credit card scheme, for customers. The subsidy scheme is expected to benefit about 9 000 stall tenants in FEHD markets and 5 700 licensed hawkers."

     Tenants and licensed hawkers are required to submit an application to the FEHD and obtain approval in principle before signing a service contract with a service provider in relation to the provision of at least one contactless payment means, and the tenants and hawkers have to produce a valid service contract of no less than a duration of two years signed by them. The FEHD will conduct inspections to ensure completion of installation before disbursing the subsidy.

     The FEHD spokesman appealed again to eligible tenants of public market stalls and licensed hawkers to participate in the scheme, calling on those who wish to apply for the subsidy to obtain application forms from District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD and submit their applications on or before June 30. 

    

     On World No Tobacco Day today (May 31), the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, called on smokers to attempt to quit in order to reduce their risk of tobacco-related diseases and death. The DH also launched the Quit in June campaign running throughout June to promote tobacco-free life, and reminded members of the public of the increased risk of developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 associated with smoking.
 
     The World Health Organization has marked May 31 as World No Tobacco Day annually to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate effective tobacco control policy to reduce tobacco consumption.
 
     Addressing the Smoke-free Publicity Programme for World No Tobacco Day today, Dr Chan said, "Quitting is beneficial to smokers of all ages and brings immediate and long-term health benefits. Smokers who stay tobacco-free for four weeks would be five times more likely to quit for good."
 
     Dr Chan added, "The Department of Health (DH) subvents a number of non-governmental organisations to provide a wide range of free smoking cessation services and support. Smokers can also make use of the mail-to-quit service from these service providers to have stop-smoking medicines delivered to their homes by post."
 
     Smokers are urged to call the Quitline (1833 183) or visit the designated website www.livetobaccofree.hk for more information on quitting and the available supporting tools and services. They can also download the "Quit Smoking" mobile app to keep track of their progress in quitting and get tips to deal with cravings and stay tobacco-free.
 
     In response to World No Tobacco Day, a spokesman for the DH also cautioned against the use of any alternative smoking products such as heated tobacco products. "These products contain amounts of nicotine similar to those of cigarettes in order to sustain tobacco addiction. Smokers should seek smoking cessation support with proven effectiveness and safety," the spokesman said.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Travel Industry Authority:
 
     The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) welcomes the Government's announcement today (May 31) on the introduction of a day of vaccination leave for each vaccination dose received by government employees, and will make a similar arrangement.

     Police today (May 31) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Tsuen Wan.

     Cheung Man-lok, aged 15, went missing after she left her residence on Castle Peak Road – Sham Tseng on May 29 morning. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.53 metres tall, 43 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and long black hair. She was last seen wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, black sport trousers (with a white stripe on both sides) and slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173, 6099 3830 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.