Police today (February 6) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tin Sum. Yau Man-hong, Andy, aged 39, went missing after he left a hostel on Chui Tin Street yesterday (F… read more
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 5) seized about 11.5 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $32 million and a duty potential of about $22 million in Yuen Long.
During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted yesterday evening in Yau Tam Mei, Yuen Long, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside a fenced area. A 40-foot-long container and two lorries suspected to be involved have been detained. A 50-year-old man suspected to be in connection with the case was also arrested.
Investigation is ongoing. Customs will continue to trace the source and the flow of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will continue to enhance enforcement against illicit cigarette activities on all fronts through intelligence analysis. The department will also step up enforcement before the coming Lunar New Year holiday.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at 9am today (February 6), 78 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 9 828 patients with confirmed o… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, February 6, the CHP was investigating 19 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 10 609 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 10 608 confirmed cases and one probable case).
Among the newly reported cases announced, three are imported cases.
A total of 661 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days (January 23 to February 5), including 620 local cases of which 231 are from unknown sources.
The CHP’s epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the list of buildings with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and the latest local situation of COVID-19 available on the website “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
Meanwhile, the CHP reminded those who had visited specified venues under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to receive COVID-19 nucleic acid testing according to the compulsory testing notice. The public are also urged to seek medical attention early if symptoms develop.
Regarding the severe epidemic situation, the CHP called on members of the public to avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. They should put on a surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out. The CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with everyday tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.
The spokesman said, “Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
“The CHP also strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
“As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly, regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps) and cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use. After using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs.”
Moreover, the Government has launched the website “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates. Members of the public may also gain access to information via the COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline launched by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Simply by saving 9617 1823 in their phone contacts or clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi, they will be able to obtain information on COVID-19 as well as the “StayHomeSafe” mobile app and wristband via WhatsApp.
To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infections, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly. read more
​A Government spokesman said today (February 6) that consent was given to partial resumption of works for the public housing development project at North West Kowloon Reclamation Site 1 (East) (the Project) which was suspended earlier due to minor settlement. Works in the area outside 30 metres distance from the affected MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)’s underground water cooling mains can be resumed.
“Since the reading recorded in a utility settlement monitoring checkpoint installed at the MTRCL’s underground water cooling mains at Tung Chau Street near Tonkin Street junction exceeded the pre-set trigger level, the works of the Project were suspended on June 29, 2020,” the spokesman said. The Government announced the situation on June 30, 2020, and the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) and MTRCL had confirmed the safety of the relevant railway facilities. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) had confirmed the safe operation of the railway.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)’s building professional team for the said works subsequently submitted to the ICU an investigation report on the incident and a proposal of mitigation measures to alleviate the effects of the said works on the safe operation of railway and the railway facilities. The HA’s building professional team then requested partial resumption of the suspended works in area outside 30m distance from the affected MTRCL’s underground water cooling mains.
Based on the investigation report and mitigation measures proposal submitted by the HA’s building professional team, the resumption of works in area outside 30m distance from the MTRCL’s underground water cooling mains would not cause any adverse effect to the underground water cooling mains. The ICU is satisfied with the proposal for the partial resumption of works. The ICU and MTRCL have confirmed the safety of the railway facilities concerned. The EMSD has reviewed the relevant report submitted by the MTRCL in relation to safe operation of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway fulfilled the operational safety requirements. The EMSD has also confirmed that the MTRCL has put in place stringent monitoring measures to ensure the safety of railway operation.
Having considered the above advice, the request for partial resumption of works in area outside 30m distance from the MTRCL’s underground water cooling mains was accepted on February 5, 2021, and the relevant suspended works also resumed on February 6, 2021.
The ICU, EMSD and MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway. read more