Category: MIL-OSI

CHP investigates cluster of acute gastroenteritis cases at training institute in Wong Chuk Hang 
　　As of noon today, the cluster involves 53 trainees (48 males and five female) aged between 20 and 40. They developed symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever from the evening of March 5 onwards. Among those affected, 33 individuals sought medical attention. All cases are mild, requiring no hospitalisation. They are currently in stable condition.
　　
　　The CHP is investigating the cluster of AGE cases from multiple angles, including the possibility of transmission via contaminated food, environment exposure or person-to-person contact. Preliminary investigation indicated that all affected individuals are boarding students at the institute who had shared meals multiple times at the institute’s food premises prior to falling ill. Currently, the CHP cannot rule out the possibility that some patients may have contracted AGE from consuming contaminated food. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been notified for follow-up investigation. Officers of the FEHD (including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety and the Environmental Hygiene Branch) immediately visited the food premises concerned to investigate and inspect the handling processes and food hygiene, and collected samples for testing. As a precautionary measure, the officers of the Centre for Food Safety have also directed the food premises to thoroughly clean and disinfect the premises, and provided health education related to food safety and environmental hygiene to the staff of the premises.
 
     The CHP will continue its epidemiological investigation and take appropriate follow-up actions, including collecting stool samples from patients for laboratory testing to identify the pathogen of this outbreak. The CHP officers have inspected the institute and provided the institute with recommended infection control measures. The CHP will put the institute under medical surveillance.
      
     “AGE can be caused by a number of different pathogens, including bacteria such as Salmonella and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus. AGE may occur in all ages. Alcohol-based handrub should not substitute hand hygiene with liquid soap and water, as alcohol does not effectively kill some viruses frequently causing AGE, e.g. norovirus,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
 
     Members of the public should take heed of the following preventive measures against gastroenteritis:
      ​Members of the public may visit the CHP’s webpages for more information and preventive advice on Viral GastroenteritisIssued at HKT 16:36

TD reminds public of termination of Autotoll ETC and VGoPAY services from March 16 
　　The TD again urged current Autotoll ETC or VGoPAY users paying tunnel tolls to immediately switch to other auto-payment means via the HKeToll website (www.hketoll.gov.hk 
　　A spokesman for the TD said that it has instructed the HKeToll toll service provider to proactively remind Autotoll ETC and VGoPAY users to switch to other auto-payment means promptly to avoid disruption. The TD will maintain close liaison with the regulatory authority concerned and has requested Autotoll Limited to properly follow up with its users.
 
　　Members of the public may call the HKeToll 24-hour customer service hotline at 3853 7333 for enquiries about setting up auto-payment means for HKeToll; or call Autotoll’s customer service hotline at 2627 8888 regarding the HZMB toll payments using Unitoll, as well as arrangements for cancelling Autotoll ETC or VGoPAY accounts or applying for refunds of account balances without delay.
Issued at HKT 10:00

Road Safety Council 52nd Anniversary I Love Mr Safegg Carnival held 
     The Road Safety Council 52nd Anniversary I Love Mr Safegg Carnival, organised by the Road Safety Council, was held today (March 8) at Kai Tak Station Square, Kowloon City.
 
     The opening ceremony was officiated by the Chairperson of the Road Safety Council and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Mr Yip Wan-lung; the Chairperson of the Road Safety Research Committee and Deputy Commissioner for Transport (Planning and Technical Services), Mr Patrick Ho; the Chairperson of the Road Safety Campaign Committee, Ms Karin Wong; and Road Safety Ambassadors, Ms Anne Heung and Ms Denise Yeung.
 
     Mr Yip remarked that over the past year, the Council and various stakeholders had spared no effort in securing a sustained reduction in traffic casualties in recent years. In 2025, the number of fatal and serious traffic accidents in Hong Kong reached the lowest recorded since 1954, positioning Hong Kong among the world’s leading cities for road safety performance.
 
     Mr Yip also stated that the Council had organised The Revamp of Sau Mau Ping Road Safety Town Design Competition in 2025 to encourage professionals and students in architecture and related design disciplines to propose innovative and creative design ideas to revitalise Sau Mau Ping Road Safety Town into a sustainable and vibrant hub for road safety advocacy.
 
     He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all members of the Council, government departments and other stakeholders for their continuous efforts and contributions. Looking ahead, the Council will continue to collaborate with all road safety stakeholders to organise a variety of promotional activities, deepening the community’s understanding of road safety across different age groups, with a vision of “Zero Accidents on the Road, Hong Kong’s Goal”.
 
     During the ceremony, awards were presented for The Revamp of Sau Mau Ping Road Safety Town Design Competition and the My Ideal Road Safety Town Drawing Competition. The award ceremony for the Safety Professional Driver Awards 2025 also took place, recognising seven outstanding bus captains from four franchised bus companies.
 
     The carnival featured an exhibition of winning entries from The Revamp of Sau Mau Ping Road Safety Town Design Competition, showcased the winning works from both the professional and student categories, along with physical models of the two champion designs to allow the public to explore the potential designs for the future road safety town. Additional attractions included a series of interactive booths under the theme of Mr Safegg, an inflatable bouncy castle, a new augmented reality game, creative workshops, and photo zones, all designed to convey road safety messages to the public in a fun and engaging way, encouraging the public to adopt correct attitudes and always remember to “Stay Alert, Stay Alive”.
Issued at HKT 17:00

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Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Ministry of Justice co-organise second edition of National Training Course for Talents Handling Foreign-related Arbitration (Hong Kong) 
     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and representatives of the Bureau of Public Legal Services Administration of the Ministry of Justice, the China Legal Service (H.K.) Limited and the China University of Political Science and Law attended the opening ceremony of the course. Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lam expressed again his gratitude to the Ministry of Justice for its support and trust in the Academy, and thanked the China Legal Service (H.K.) Limited and the China University of Political Science and Law for their strong support for the course. He said that Hong Kong, as the only common law jurisdiction in the country, possesses a robust arbitration legal framework and a pro-arbitration judiciary. Hong Kong’s Arbitration Ordinance is based on the internationally recognised United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and keeps abreast with developments in practice. Moreover, Hong Kong, as home to world-class arbitration institutions and a large pool of experienced arbitration practitioners, is highly praised by the international arbitration community. The Department of Justice is reviewing and considering amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance to maintain the long-term competitiveness of Hong Kong’s arbitration law.
 
     Building on the inaugural training course held in February 2025, this edition will run for two weeks in English, with two groups of participants each attending the training for one week. Through lectures, panel discussions, exchanges and visits, the course aims to introduce practical operations in areas including international commercial arbitration and international investment arbitration to around 80 participants, including Mainland in-house counsel, experienced arbitrators, lawyers and arbitration practitioners. Speakers include experienced legal professionals and international arbitration experts from Hong Kong, members of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Expert Committee and a representative from the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The course will help promote understanding and co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland in international dispute resolution, enhancing the ability of Mainland enterprises in handling dispute resolutions when going overseas.
 
     The Academy will capitalise on Hong Kong’s bilingual common law system and international status, and provide a platform for capacity building, knowledge, and experience sharing for legal professionals in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and other jurisdictions, in particular those along the Belt and Road. Also, it will promote exchanges of international legal talent and reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia‑Pacific region, and develop Hong Kong as a capacity-building hub, further contributing to the construction of foreign-related rule of law in the country.
Issued at HKT 12:02

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