The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 11) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Redcar and Cleveland of North Yorkshire County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 90 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, about 11 040 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 420 000 poultry eggs from the UK last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the British authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital made the following announcement today (February 11):
 
     Three male patients (aged 65 to 87) of a medical ward have been confirmed as having Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter since January 30. Among the patients, a 65-year-old patient passed away on February 5 due to his underlying illness, one patient is still hospitalised under isolation with stable condition, and the other patient had been discharged earlier.
 
     Following the activation of the Emergency Response Level in public hospitals, the visiting arrangements for the ward have been suspended. The following enhanced infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines:
 
1. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the conditions of other patients in the ward.

     The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a fresh provision shop in Sai Ying Pun to suspend business for seven days as the operator repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) and the Preservatives in Food Regulation by selling restricted food without permission and frozen pork containing preservatives.
 
     The shop, located on the ground floor and cockloft at 24 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun, was ordered to suspend business from today (February 11) to February 17.
 
     "In November and December last year, four convictions for the above-mentioned breaches were recorded against the shop. A total fine of $11,200 and costs of analysis of $6,129 were levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the seven-day licence suspension," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
 
     The spokesman reminded the licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR and other relevant regulations, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
 
     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD's website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html).

The following is issued on behalf of the Travel Industry Authority:

     The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) announced today (February 11) the appointment of Ms Annie Fonda as the Executive Director of the TIA with effect from February 16, 2021.

     "Ms Fonda has extensive experience serving in the Government and a statutory body in which she had demonstrated outstanding leadership and management skills. I am sure that she could discharge the role and functions of the Executive Director competently, and lead the TIA's Executive Office to overcome the challenges ahead," the Chairman of the TIA, Mr Ma Ho-fai, said.

     The TIA is a new regulatory body of the travel industry established under the Travel Industry Ordinance. It is primarily responsible for the licensing and regulation of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts. Upon completion of all necessary preparation, the TIA would take over the licensing and trade regulatory functions from the Travel Agents Registry and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong respectively for the full implementation of the new regulatory regime in early 2022.

     The Executive Director was selected through a competitive process by a selection panel chaired by the Chairman of the TIA.

Profile of Ms Annie Fonda
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     Ms Fonda was the Director of Operations and Professional Development in the Estate Agents Authority between 2014 and 2020, where she led her team to handle duties including complaint handling, investigation, law enforcement, continuing professional development and information technology.

     Ms Fonda is also well experienced in law enforcement and operations, and had worked in the Hong Kong Police Force for 27 years. She had served in many frontline positions, such as the commander for the Police Tactical Unit and the Emergency Unit. Before her retirement in 2010, Ms Fonda was a Superintendent in the Hong Kong Police Force.

     To align with the announcement by the Government to fully resume normal public services, the Fire Services Department (FSD) announced today (February 11) that its fire protection services, including applications for various licences/license renewals, applications for dangerous goods vehicle inspections, fire service installations acceptance inspections of new buildings, compliance inspections of ventilating systems, processing of building plans and handling of matters relating to building fire safety improvement works, will be fully resumed from February 18 (Thursday).
      
     The Shroff Office and Receipt and Dispatch Counter of the Licensing and Certification Command Headquarters at 5/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building, and the Receipt and Dispatch Counters of the Fire Safety Command Headquarters at 7/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building, together with other fire protection units will also provide services from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4.30pm on Monday to Friday (except public holidays). In order to reduce social contact to contain the spread of the virus, members of the public are encouraged to settle payments electronically as much as practicable. For further details, please refer to the payment methods detailed in the payment notice.
      
     For enquiries regarding licensing matters, including fire services certificates, dangerous goods licences, applications for dangerous goods vehicle inspections, fire service installations acceptance inspections of new buildings, compliance inspections of ventilating systems and fee payments, please call the hotline on 2733 7619 during office hours. Regarding matters relating to the collection of building plans at the Fire Safety Command Headquarters at 7/F, Fire Services Headquarters Building, please call 2170 9665 during office hours.
      
     For complaints regarding fire hazards or dangerous goods, please call the FSD Complaint Hotline on 2723 8787.