Month: February 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     In view of the recent surge in norovirus food poisoning cases related to consumption of raw oysters, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (February 5) urged the public to stay vigilant, maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times, and avoid consuming high-risk foods like raw oysters to prevent foodborne diseases. 
     
Recent surge in norovirus-related food poisoning cases
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     “Food poisoning cases have increased significantly in the recent month, rising from one case a week on average in late December last year to four cases a week on average in January. A total of 16 cases have been recorded in the first five days of February. Since January 18, the CHP has so far recorded 23 food poisoning cases, affecting 69 persons. Among which, 20 cases (87 per cent) were related to norovirus, affecting 57 persons. Epidemiological investigation showed that all cases were related to raw oyster consumption. The places of origin of the raw oysters include Korea, France, Ireland, Spain, etc. Among the affected persons, five persons were hospitalised for treatment. All are in stable condition. The CHP has notified the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) to follow up on the food poisoning cases,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
 
     “As oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw and partially cooked oysters are considered a high-risk food. Persons who consume undercooked or contaminated oysters may contract food-borne diseases such as norovirus, hepatitis A virus or other bacteria. In view of the drastic increase in food poisoning cases related to consumption of raw oysters recently, members of the public, especially pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, shall stay vigilant and avoid consumption of raw oysters or partially cooked bivalve shellfish to prevent infection,” Dr Tsui explained.
 
     “In addition to food poisoning, norovirus can also cause acute gastroenteritis (AGE). The CHP reminded members of the public that AGE outbreaks have been steadily increasing since early January through press release 
New food poisoning clusters
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     The CHP is investigating two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters affecting a total of four persons. The clusters involve one male and three females aged between 28 and 38. They developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about 20 to 42 hours after having dinner at Odelice located at Shop No. 628, 6/F, New Town Plaza Phase 1, 18 Shatin Centre Street, Shatin on January 31 and February 1 respectively.———————————————————- 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Home Affairs Department said the instant messaging application account of a sub-district care team in Kowloon City was suspected to have been hacked, possibly causing the leakage of 23 service users’ personal data.

The care team’s operating organisation has reported to Police, notified the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO) and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, as well as informed the service users affected immediately to remind them to be vigilant.

The operating organisation of the Sheung Lok Sub-district Care Team – Homantin Residents Association – reported the incident to the KCDO yesterday evening.

The 23 service users’ personal data, including their names, telephone numbers and addresses, may have been exposed. It may also involve seven of the individuals’ full or partial Hong Kong identity card numbers.

If anyone suspects a person impersonating a member of the Sheung Lok Sub-district Care Team, they may contact the care team concerned, the KCDO or call 182 111 to verify the person’s identity. In case of suspicious circumstances, call Police’s 24-hour Anti-Scam Helpline 18222.

The KCDO apologises to those affected for any inconvenience caused. It has set up a hotline 2712 9182 for enquiries.

Members of the public may visit the care teams’ dedicated webpage to learn about the anti-fraud measures.

The Home Affairs Department said care teams will never ask members of the public for bank account numbers.

It added that members and volunteers of care teams will wear care team uniforms and display care team member or volunteer certificates of identity when providing services.

The KCDO has issued a letter to the care team concerned, requesting it to heighten vigilance and strengthen security measures, as well as to continue to handle and keep personal data confidential strictly according to the guidelines.

The Home Affairs Department has also reminded all care teams accordingly.

The Sheung Lok Sub-district Care Team is reviewing and will further strengthen its security measures. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a cross-boundary joint operation with the Exit and Entry Administration Corps of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and the Immigration Authority of Zhuhai Municipal Public Security Bureau and successfully neutralised a cross-boundary forgery syndicate, resulting in the arrest of a total of 119 persons and the seizure of a large amount of forgery equipment and forged documents.

     In August last year, the Mainland authorities unearthed crucial intelligence related to a syndicate arranging Mainlanders to take up illegal employment in Hong Kong. The ImmD immediately collaborated with the Mainland authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation and successfully identified a cross-boundary forgery syndicate specialising in recruiting Mainlanders to take up illegal employment in Hong Kong. The syndicate had set up forgery workshops on the Mainland for producing forged documents and shipped the forged Hong Kong identity cards to different cities of the Mainland. Syndicate members would transport the forged Hong Kong identity cards into Hong Kong. The syndicate mastermind in Hong Kong would then distribute the forged Hong Kong identity cards to the illegal workers, provide them with accommodation and assist them in seeking employment.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the 41st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress today (February 5):

Professor Jason Yam (President of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology 2026 Congress), Professor Tetsuro Oshika (President of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology), Professor Richard Abbott (President of Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis), Dr Hong Wah Yung (President of the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong, Dr Yung Hong-wah), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Health Bureau (HHB) welcomed the recommendations made to the Government and the Department of Health (DH) in the Office of The Ombudsman (Ombudsman)’s direct investigation operation report entitled “Effectiveness of Administrative Support Provided for Complaint Handling by Secretariat of Medical Council of Hong Kong under Department of Health, and Department of Health’s Regulatory Role” (Report) released today (February 5). The HHB expressed gratitude to the Ombudsman for putting forward a series of pertinent and useful observations and views on strengthening the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) as the statutory regulatory body for the medical profession. With reference to the Ombudsman’s views and the Report, the HHB will formulate detailed proposals to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance (MRO), with a view to enabling the MCHK and its Secretariat to discharge their duties of upholding doctors’ professional conduct and continuously enhancing medical professional standards more effectively under the principle of professional autonomy.

Since the Ombudsman announced the launch of a full investigation on November 5 last year, the HHB and the DH have been fully co-operating with the Ombudsman’s investigation. Although the MCHK as a statutory professional regulatory body fell outside the scope of the Ombudsman’s investigation, the HHB and the DH have, in respect of matters covered by the investigation, liaised and communicated with the MCHK, and provided relevant information to the Ombudsman to facilitate the investigation and formulation of improvement measures. Many of the measures recommended in the Report on the support provided by the DH and the Secretariat of the MCHK for the complaint handling mechanism of the MCHK, as well as the Ombudsman’s series of observations and views on the current regulatory framework for the medical profession, align with the HHB’s overarching directions in reviewing the MRO, namely to ensure that the legislation for healthcare professions keeps pace with the times, meets societal needs and the public interest, and to enable the MCHK to discharge its various statutory functions more effectively, including its function in handling complaints.

Meanwhile, in response to the request made by the Secretary for Health in October last year, the MCHK has completed its review on improving the complaint handling mechanism and submitted a report and supplementary information to the HHB. In January this year, the HHB commenced a series of consultations on amending the MRO, meeting with patient groups, the two local medical schools, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the Hong Kong Medical Association and other medical professional bodies. The HHB also visited the MCHK yesterday (February 4) to exchange views with members on the amendment to the MRO. The HHB will further take into account the Ombudsman’s Report and the views of various stakeholders, and will formulate proposals to amend the MRO having regard to the operational needs of the MCHK. The HHB will also propose measures to strengthen the functions of the Secretariat of the MCHK under the DH. The HHB will brief the Panel on Health Services of the Legislative Council (LegCo) shortly on the proposed directions and enhancement proposals for the MRO, with a target of introducing an amendment bill into the LegCo in the first half of this year.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region