Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government issues Red Outbound Travel Alert for Democratic Republic of Congo in view of Ebola outbreak in Africa
The HKSAR Government emphasised that no confirmed cases of Ebola disease have ever been recorded locally. At present, the risk of Ebola disease is primarily confined to outbreak areas and the immediate public health impact to Hong Kong is currently low.
Red Outbound Travel Alert
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The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The scale of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo showed signs of spread. It has spread to cities in the northern provinces, including Bunia and Goma, with increasing number of confirmed, suspected and fatal cases. Furthermore, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus involved in this outbreak. Local conflicts have also led to large-scale population movements. All of these factors have increased the risk of spread of the virus. The Department of Health (DH) has assessed the risk of local transmission spreading to other regions as very high. The HKSAR Government has therefore issued a Red OTA for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Hong Kong residents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department (ImmD) at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile Application, send message to the 1868 WhatsApp and 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form, or contact the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at consular protection hotline: (243) 851474669. Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service (www.gov.hk/roti
Strengthening screening to guard against imported cases
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To prevent against imported cases, the DH has strengthened port health measures comprehensively. The DH has all along conducted health screenings for inbound travellers at all boundary control points. There are no direct flights between Hong Kong and the countries affected by the outbreak. However, as travellers may arrive in Hong Kong via other locations, primarily Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, from Africa, the DH has immediately strengthened health screenings for passengers arriving on flights from Addis Ababa. Staff have been deployed at arrival gates of the air-bridge to conduct temperature checks and health screenings for passengers disembarking from these specific flights.
The DH is also broadcasting announcements in the airport arrival hall and through airlines to urge passengers who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda within the past 21 days to proactively declare their travel history to the DH staff on site for further health assessment. From May 17 to 20, 11 individuals who declared having visited the relevant regions underwent health assessments by the DH. No suspected cases of Ebola disease were identified. The DH staff also provided these individuals with health information on the spot, reminding them to seek immediate medical advice at accident and emergency departments if they develop symptoms within 21 days of arrival in Hong Kong.
The DH today sent another letter to all doctors in Hong Kong to remind them to remain highly vigilant. Any person who has travelled to affected areas (including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda) within the past 21 days and exhibits relevant symptoms must be managed as a suspected case and reported immediately to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) via the 24-hour hotline provided in the letter.
The Infection Control Branch of the CHP, in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Control Training Centre of the Hospital Authority (HA), will organise a seminar next week for healthcare professionals from both public and private medical institutions. The seminar will cover the latest situation regarding the Ebola disease outbreak, diagnosis, clinical management and infection control measures with a view to enhancing healthcare professionals’ understanding of the disease and their ability to respond effectively.
Testing and clinical management capabilities with high biosafety standards
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Although the immediate public health impact of Ebola disease in Hong Kong is currently low, all relevant government departments have made the necessary preparations in case of occurrence of suspected or confirmed cases.
The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the CHP comprises laboratories with high biosafety standards, capable of conducting, testing for high-risk pathogens, and which also possess sufficient testing and genetic analysis capabilities and facilities. The PHLSB has procured laboratory reagents to perform testing for all suspected cases of Ebola disease. In collaboration with the HA, the DH has established procedures for handling high-risk specimens related to suspected cases to ensure that, should a suspected case arise in Hong Kong, testing can be conducted as quickly as possible to enable early detection and diagnosis, and prevent an outbreak.
Currently, no preventive vaccine or antiviral treatment for the Bundibugyo virus has been developed worldwide. Should suspected or confirmed cases appear in Hong Kong, they will be referred to public hospitals under the HA for dedicated treatment, standardised diagnosis and follow-up managements, in order to fully safeguard public health and safety.
The HA will continue to adopt the strategy of “early detection, early isolation, early notification”. The HA has reminded frontline healthcare workers to strengthen the screening for patients by gathering relevant information such as symptoms, contact history, occupation, and travel history, particularly in cases where patients exhibit relevant symptoms (such as fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, or severe signs of bleeding under skin) as well as whether the person has been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, has had close contact with a symptomatic person who recently traveled to these two countries, or has had close contact with a confirmed Ebola disease patient, within the past 21 days.
If a suspected case is identified, the patient will be immediately transferred to the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre (HAIDC) at Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and treatment. The DH will be notified as soon as possible. The patient’s clinical specimens will be sent to the PHLSB for further testing. All suspected and confirmed Ebola disease cases will be admitted to the airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) of the HAIDC. If necessary, the HA will also deploy AIIRs in various public hospitals to receive close contacts.
The HA has also reminded frontline healthcare workers to remain vigilant and to strictly implement all infection control measures, including airborne, droplet, and contact precautions. Public hospitals currently have sufficient isolation facilities to receive patients requiring isolation, and there is ample stock of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect frontline healthcare workers. The HA has formulated contingency plans and clinical guidelines for frontline healthcare workers to refer to and will further strengthen training to ensure that frontline healthcare workers are familiar with the relevant procedures, including the donning and doffing of PPE, to reduce the risk of infection and safeguard the public.
The DH also works closely with the Outbreak Control and Response Team (OCRT) of the Fire Services Department to ensure readiness for collaboration in handling and transporting patients suspected of being infected with high consequence infectious diseases. The OCRT is responsible for co-ordinating and implementing frontline response measures for high-risk infectious disease cases, including on-site risk assessments, infection control measures and interdepartmental co-operation. Relevant personnel have received specialised training. Furthermore, the OCRT’s Infection Control and Critical Care Transfer Ambulance is equipped with a high-efficiency negative pressure system and specialised equipment for critical care transport. When necessary, this ambulance can be deployed to handle cases related to high consequence infectious diseases, thereby effectively reducing the risk of transmission and providing appropriate support. This will further enhance Hong Kong’s overall response capacity for the current Ebola outbreak.
In addition, the DH will follow established mechanisms to trace close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases. It has also inspected and ensured that the quarantine facilities (currently located at Penny’s Bay) are ready for use if necessary.
Although no confirmed cases of Ebola disease have ever been recorded in Hong Kong, as an international city, Hong Kong remains vigilant and prepared for potential risks at all times. Last November, the DH conducted an interdepartmental exercise on Ebola disease to ensure that all stakeholders are familiar with the workflows and arrangements outlined in the Response Plan, thereby enhancing the HKSAR Government’s response capabilities for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Risk communication and community engagement
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Ebola disease is a severe acute viral illness. Six viruses of the Ebola virus genus have been identified, including the BVD (Bundibugyo virus disease) involved in the current outbreak. The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals. Human-to-human transmission resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such body fluids. According to information from the WHO, the average case fatality rates from past Ebola disease outbreaks was around 50 per cent.
The HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close contact with the WHO, the Chinese Mainland, and other relevant health authorities, closely monitor the development of the Ebola disease outbreak, and adjust its prevention and control strategies as necessary.
Issued at HKT 21:16
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Soft ice-cream sample detected with coliform bacteria count exceeding legal limit
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 21) that a sample of soft ice-cream was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident.
A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned soft ice-cream sample from a licensed itinerant hawker (mobile van) in Central for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 310 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit.”
“The CFS has informed the person-in-charge of the licence concerned of the irregularity and instructed the person-in-charge to stop selling and to dispose all the affected soft ice-cream immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to person-in-charge of the licence concerned, and instructed to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection to the mobile van,” the spokesman said.
Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.
Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drugs case and seizes suspected drugs worth about $21 million
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs on May 13 and yesterday (May 20) seized a total of about 55 kilograms of suspected ketamine, one suspected etomidate capsule, 4 grams of suspected cannabis buds, 0.5g of suspected cocaine and one drug-inhaling apparatus, with an estimated market value of about $21 million at Hong Kong International Airport, Kwai Chung and Yuen Long. Two people were arrested.
Through risk assessment, Customs on May 13 inspected an air cargo consignment, declared as a water purification system, arriving in Hong Kong from the Netherlands at Hong Kong International Airport. Upon inspection, Customs officers detected suspicious X-ray images in the consignment and found a total of about 55kg of suspected ketamine concealed in two water purification systems.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation yesterday and arrested a 35-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman in Kwai Chung and Yuen Long respectively. One suspected etomidate capsule, 4g of suspected cannabis buds, 0.5g of suspected cocaine and one drug-inhaling apparatus were further seized from them upon body search and premises search. The investigation of the case is ongoing.
Customs will continue to enhance 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 returns. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.
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.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Director-General of InvestHK visits Henan to promote new opportunities for Mainland enterprises to go global via Hong Kong
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Ms Alpha Lau, completed her official visit to Zhengzhou, Henan Province, which took place from May 19 to 21. During the visit, she promoted to local government departments, enterprises, and the media the new opportunities for Mainland enterprises to go global using Hong Kong as a platform, aiming to deepen synergy and co-operation between Henan and Hong Kong to jointly capture global business opportunities.
This mission featured a seminar titled “Henan-Hong Kong Join Hands to Sail Global” yesterday (May 20) that attracted approximately 320 participants from different sectors in Henan Province. Co-organised by InvestHK, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Henan Province, the Henan Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan, the seminar was joined by Ms Lau; Deputy Director of the Henan Provincial Development and Reform Commission Ms Chen Jing; Deputy Director of the Henan Provincial Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Mr Sun Zhaomin; and the Director of the Henan Liaison Unit of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan, Mr Bob Chui.
Ms Lau stated in her opening speech at the seminar, “Hong Kong and Henan enjoy a long-term partnership. Hong Kong is the largest contributor of foreign investment to Henan, and Henan has the highest number of enterprises from the Central Region that have gone for an IPO (initial public offering) in Hong Kong. The ties between Hong Kong and Henan are growing stronger.” She noted, “InvestHK has spared no effort in aligning its strategies with the National 15th Five-Year Plan through continued investment promotion and facilitation efforts. Following our promotion of Hong Kong as a cross-boundary supply chain management centre to Henan last year, we are setting a higher benchmark this year. We aim to elevate Hong Kong’s role from a supply chain hub into a premier springboard and platform for Henan enterprises looking to expand globally. As a core member of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, InvestHK stands ready to fully support Henan enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong to scale their businesses internationally.”
Ms Chen said in her remarks, “As a major economic and populous province, Henan offers a massive market and excellent transport links. Hong Kong is Henan’s largest source of foreign investment and its premier offshore financing platform. Hong Kong-backed enterprises account for about 70 per cent of foreign capital in Henan, and Henan’s investments in Hong Kong account for over 40 per cent of its total outbound investment. There remains great potential for collaboration between Henan and Hong Kong. On the inbound side, Henan will host targeted matchmaking events to better connect supply and industrial chains, with a focus on attracting Hong Kong companies in finance, technology, and low-carbon sectors. On the outbound front, Henan will support the China Henan International Cooperation Group in building a service ecosystem for local firms going global, including setting up special funds and backing well-run, reputable companies. By leveraging Hong Kong’s financial system, legal environment, and global networks, Henan aims to help its enterprises succeed overseas while advancing high-quality, open development.”
The Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of InvestHK Wuhan Office, Mr Zhou Yikai, delivered a keynote speech on Hong Kong’s business environment and development trends. He highlighted Hong Kong’s core strengths in finance, law, talent, and global reach. Drawing on recent policies and statistics, he outlined InvestHK’s one-stop customised services for Mainland enterprises and encouraged Henan companies to use Hong Kong as a springboard for overseas expansion.
To further elaborate on Hong Kong’s professional strengths for Henan enterprises, and better help them leverage Hong Kong as a platform to go global, InvestHK invited experts to share their insights. The Chairman of Yushang International Business Management (Zhengzhou) Co Ltd, Mr Zhang Wei, introduced how the China Henan International Cooperation Group connects Henan companies with the resources they need to go global. The Secretary-General of the Treasury Centre Committee of the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, Mr Sean Sun, Partner of Deloitte China Tax & Business Advisory Services Mr Leo Zhu, and Hong Kong office Partner of Haiwen & Partners Mr Edward Liu each drew on their expertise in their respective fields to provide practical guidance for Henan enterprises going global by leveraging Hong Kong’s professional services.
Following the seminar, Ms Lau met with the leaders of the Henan Provincial Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and had detailed exchanges of views with them on Hong Kong and Henan business co-operation opportunities.
Ms Lau’s visit in Zhengzhou also included meetings with local financial institutions and leading enterprises in information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, and intelligent computing. During these visits, she discussed with corporate leaders their plans to establish or expand businesses in Hong Kong.
The promotion event in Zhengzhou marks the 10th city visited by the GoGlobal Task Force on the Chinese Mainland for investment promotion since its establishment in October 2025.
Oil spill sighted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said today (May 21) that, because of an oil spill, the red flag has been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District. The beach has been closed until further notice. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May
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