Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Hong Kong Customs, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Police Force conduct joint enforcement action during mega event       
     During the operation, the enforcement officers conducted test-buy operations and suspected that five mobile hawkers were visitors taking up employment or establishing or joining in business in Hong Kong. The five mobile hawkers were subsequently arrested by immigration officers on suspicion of being illegal workers. The arrested illegal workers were five women, aged 20 to 40.
      
     Customs, the ImmD and the Police will continue to step up high-profile patrol and enforcement to resolutely combat different kinds of illegal activities in the vicinity of the event venues during mega events.

     Customs reminds consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
      
     Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any infringing goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years. Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 22:00

AMS sets new Guinness World Record with bandages by thousand people       
     Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of the AMS, Dr Ronald Lam, said that not only does the record symbolise the 75-year history and development of the AMS, but it also showcases the professionalism and service spirit of the AMS in providing first aid services.
      
     The Commissioner’s Commendation Ceremony was also held on the same day to recognise the outstanding performance of AMS members in providing first-aid and nursing care services to 2 600 casualties in the “Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026”. Among them, 25 members were commended for demonstrating a high degree of professionalism, swift response and teamwork in saving three runners who had suffered cardiac arrest.
      
     Since its establishment in 1950, the AMS has been actively participating in rescue operations, providing medical support at major public events and undertaking public health, dedicating itself to protecting the safety and health of the public.
Issued at HKT 19:00

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Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illegally imported live birds (with photo)      
     Customs officers today intercepted an incoming 26-year-old female passenger at the arrival hall of the said control point. Upon examination, 112 live birds contained in bird cages were seized from the trolley she carried, and she was subsequently arrested.

     The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up investigation.
      
     Under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations, it is an offence to import any bird unless it is accompanied by a valid health certificate. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $25,000.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected activities of illegal import of live birds to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 20:52

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth $2.2 million       
     In the first case, a 36-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 5kg of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market value of about $1 million from her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.
         
     In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Tsuen Wan yesterday afternoon, Customs intercepted a man and a woman, aged 44 and 38. Customs officers later escorted them to nearby industrial premises for a search and seized about 5kg of suspected cannabis buds, about 2kg of suspected cannabis resin, about 1kg of suspected cannabis-infused gummy candies, about 4kg of suspected cannabis-infused chocolate, 65 suspected cannabis oil products, 32 g of suspected methamphetamine, and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia. They were then arrested. The estimated market value of the drug seizures was about $1.2 million.
          
     After investigation, the arrested woman in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on February 9.  Investigation of the second case is ongoing.
      
     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
      
     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
          
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
          
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 20:13

Kick-off ceremony of “Creating Health Values of Chinese Medicine” Event Series and first promotional event held today       
     The ceremony was officiated by Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung. The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CMHHK Operator, Mr Wong Kwai-huen, also attended.
      
     Mr Leung expressed the hope that CMHHK and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) would leverage Hong Kong’s unique role to promote the inheritance, innovation and development of CM and facilitate further exchanges between CM and other traditional medicines abroad.
      
     Professor Lo said, “This event demonstrates our commitment to advancing the CM cultural inheritance as set out in the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint. Built on cross-institutional and cross-sectoral collaboration, the event aims to facilitate citizens’ in-depth understanding of the advantages of CM services and disseminate knowledge on the appropriate selection of CM for disease prevention and treatment to improve personal health. The event also showcases the mission of CMHHK and the GCMTI, as the CM flagship projects in Hong Kong, in creating health values.
      
      “CMHHK and the GCMTI will further deepen efforts to enhance the values of CM. In collaboration with the industry and relevant stakeholders, they will promote CM culture and knowledge, the adoption of CM approaches in daily living, and the use of CM services to members of the public through diverse activities, with a view to strengthening public confidence in and recognition of CM.”
      
     Following the kick-off ceremony, a number of representatives from the CM sector and schools participated in the keynote sessions and panel discussion under the theme of “Inception of Chinese Medicine Flagship Projects in Hong Kong and Inheritance of Lingnan Chinese Medicine”.
Issued at HKT 19:00

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Service arrangements of GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities during Lunar New Year      A spokesman for the EPD said, “During the closure of the Recycling Stores, the public may still place recyclables into the self-service recycling cage trolleys/receptacles provided outside some of the Recycling Stores (no GREEN$ services). People should not leave the recyclables outside the stores or on the street when the self-service recycling facilities are full, to avoid impact on nearby residents and the environment. The operators of Recycling Stores will regularly monitor the conditions of self-service facilities every day and clear the recyclables as needed. In addition, during the closure of Recycling Stations, the public can place recyclables into the self-service recycling facilities inside the stations or outside the gates and may seek assistance from the security guards stationed at the facilities if needed.”

     The spokesman stressed that the EPD has discussed with the operators to strengthen the monitoring of conditions outside each recycling point during the closure over the LNY holidays, including through CCTV and regular inspections. The operators will deploy staff to promptly clear recyclables where required.Issued at HKT 11:00

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Water Supplies Department’s clarification on water loss issue in Fairview Park     
     The WSD has consistently discharged its regulatory and enforcement duties in accordance with the law in relation to the water loss issue in Fairview Park. As leakage was detected in the inside service of the Fairview Park, the WSD, pursuant to the powers conferred under section 7 of the Waterworks Ordinance, required the registered agent to follow up and rectify the problem. However, the Association has repeatedly and incorrectly attributed the responsibility for the inside service to the WSD, who is in fact the regulator, and has persistently requested the WSD to undertake the maintenance responsibility of the inside service of the housing estate, including detailed inspection and replacement of watermains. This misrepresentation is completely out of order.

     Furthermore, clause 42 of the special conditions of Fairview Park’s land lease only stipulates that the Government is responsible for maintenance of the water mains only if they were laid by the Government and are located beneath the roads which have been surrendered to the Government. In fact, the majority of the water mains within Fairview Park were laid by the grantee of the land and therefore the above-mentioned clause 42 is not applicable to these water mains. During the construction of Fairview Park, for the purposes of supplying water to the premises, the WSD only laid a small portion of water mains beneath the roads at the entrance and the areas within the housing estate near the entrance. These roads are still private land and have not been surrendered to the Government. Accordingly, under Section 7 of the Waterworks Ordinance and the land lease, the consumers or the registered agent shall be responsible for custody and maintenance of the water mains within Fairview Park. Despite WSD’s repeated explanations, the Association continues to misinterpret the land lease provisions. The WSD urges the Association to cease disseminating inaccurate information.Issued at HKT 23:57

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CHP reminds public not to consume raw oysters and observe food safety as two more food poisoning clusters involving raw oyster consumption reported 
New food poisoning clusters
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     The clusters involve two males and three females aged between 30 and 38. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 14 to 49 hours after having dinner at Chef’s Cuts located at Unit 229 and 230, 2/F, THE SOUTHSIDE, 11 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, on January 30.
      
     Three of the affected persons sought medical advice but did not require hospitalisation. All of the affected individuals are currently in stable condition.
      
     A preliminary investigation revealed that raw oyster was the food item that the affected individuals had in common at the aforementioned restaurant. Officers of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch) conducted an investigation at the restaurant and the raw oyster suppliers Jeton International Food and 88 Investment Holdings Limited. The CFS immediately instructed Jeton International Food and 88 Investment Holdings Limited to suspend the sale and supply of raw oysters, and issued press release on the follow-up actions on February 6, instructing the trade should stop selling raw oysters supplied by the company concerned immediately if they possess them. All of the newly reported cases consumed raw oysters concerned before preventive and control measures instituted by the CFS.
      
     The investigation of the CHP and the CFS is ongoing.

Recent surge in norovirus-related food poisoning cases
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     “Food poisoning cases have continuously increased over the past few weeks, 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 27 cases have been recorded in the first week of February. Over the past three weeks (between January 18 and February 7), the CHP has recorded 34 food poisoning cases, affecting 108 persons. Among which, 30 cases (88 per cent) were related to norovirus, affecting 94 persons. Epidemiological investigation showed that all the affected persons of the food poisoning cases related to norovirus had consumed raw oysters during the incubation period. Among the affected persons, five persons were hospitalised for treatment. All are in stable condition. The CHP has notified the CFS on all the food poisoning cases for follow up,” 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). According to the CHP’s surveillance data, the AGE activity level has continued to increase since early January, including AGE outbreaks in institutions and schools. Laboratory testing indicated that over 60 per cent of the outbreaks were caused by norovirus. In addition, there have been increases in the norovirus activity in other popular travel destinations for Hong Kong citizens, including Japan and Korea. Members of the public should remain vigilant and maintain personal, environmental and food hygiene at all times to minimise the risk of being infected while travelling,” Dr Tsui added.
 
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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DSJ to visit Indonesia      
     At the Conference, Dr Cheung will share views on how Hong Kong plays its distinctive role as a “super connector” in fostering ties and collaboration between the Chinese Mainland and various regions, including Southeast Asia, by leveraging its unique advantages under “one country, two systems”, a robust rule of law environment based on common law regime, and its top-notch legal, financial and other professional services.
      
     Dr Cheung will return to Hong Kong on February 11.
Issued at HKT 11:25

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