2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign Launched with Fun Day Events in Hong Kong

"2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign" launched

​In support of the China Cybersecurity Week, the "2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign" organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO) was officially launched today (September 7). It was kicked off with the "2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Fun Day", jointly organised by the DPO, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre. The Fun Day, themed "Together, We Create a Safe Cyberworld", aims to promote public awareness of cybersecurity through exhibitions, interactive games and seminars.

In addition to the Fun Day held today, the DPO will organise a series of activities from September to December to fully echo with the China Cybersecurity Week. It includes a DPO-led Hong Kong cybersecurity industry delegation visit to Nansha, Guangzhou, where industry representatives will take part in the China Cybersecurity Week Summit and Cybersecurity Expo to deepen exchange and collaboration with their counterparts in Guangdong. Also, the DPO will spearhead the first real-life cybersecurity attack and defence drill in Hong Kong in November.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, "Safeguarding cybersecurity is a long-term task that requires city-wide participation. We hope that through this series of activities of the cybersecurity week, we will not only enhance public awareness on this front, but also create a more secure and efficient cyberspace, for safeguarding the cybersecurity of our country and Hong Kong."

The "2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Week Fun Day" will be held from today until September 15 for nine days at D·PARK in Tsuen Wan. It features game booths to educate the public on cybersecurity in a lively manner. The award presentation ceremony of the Cybersecurity Tram Body Design Contest and a seminar on cybersecurity were also held today. The winning entries of the open category of the contest have been printed on the tram body and showcased to the public at various districts on Hong Kong Island from September 2 until September 29. On the other hand, cybersecurity experts introduced common cyber pitfalls, shared real-life cases and provided simple anti-scam security tips to the public in the seminar.

"2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign" launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign" launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign" launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign" launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign" launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CHP updates on latest situation of invasive Group B Streptococcus infection

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 16) continued its investigation into the latest situation of invasive Group B Streptococcus infection. The CHP appealed to members of the public for heightened vigilance and in particular, to pay attention when touching or handling raw freshwater fish and should wear gloves, as well as not to consume undercooked freshwater fish.

The CHP has been monitoring with the Hospital Authority (HA) the admission figures in relation to invasive Group B Streptococcus infection cases. Since the announcement of the situation of Group B Streptococcus infection belonged to serotype III sequence type 283 (ST283) on September 13, the CHP has today confirmed 13 additional ST283 cases involving patients recently admitted with invasive Group B Streptococcus infection. The CHP's epidemiological investigations showed that the 13 patients with ST283 infections involved seven males and six females, aged between 35 and 94. The patients mainly presented with sepsis (eight patients) and joint abscess (five patients). Together with the 27 cases of ST283 infection announced on September 13, this cluster involved a cumulative total of 40 patients residing in 18 districts throughout the territory. Their onset date of the disease were between August 8 and September 5, and 30 of them have underlying illnesses. The HA's information showed that among the 40 patients, 10 have been discharged, 25 hospitalised patients are in stable condition, three in serious condition and the other two with underlying illness passed away.

The CHP's analysis of samples of other recently admittedpatients is still in progress and it cannot rule out that the number of cases will further increase.

　

The CHP's epidemiological investigations revealed that 31 patients have contacted with or handled raw freshwater fish before onset of symptoms (five of them reported that they had wounds on their hands when handling raw freshwater fish), six patients cannot rule out that they have consumed undercooked freshwater fish (not freshwater fish sashimi), and the exposure history of the remaining three patients is under investigation.

Furthermore, none of the 40 patients were fishmongers or engaged in fish culture related jobs. As the patients resided in various districts throughout the territory, and the freshwater fishes concerned were bought from 23 markets in 11 districts respectively, the CHP considered that the affected freshwater fish may involve the wholesale level. After knowing that the genetic sequence of samples collected from a retail freshwater fish stall matched those found in some patients, the CHP immediately teamed up with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to conduct an inspection in the Freshwater Fish Market under the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market, and collect environmental samples for testing and analysis. The laboratory analysis is still in progress. So far, no abnormality has been observed regarding the freshwater fish in the wholesale fish markets. Besides, the CHP and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have conducted medical surveillance on over 200 workers and no symptomatic worker identified. The FEHD have strengthened the cleansing and disinfection of the relevant markets.

The CHP has issued a letter to doctors to enhance their alertness for Group B Streptococcus infection cases. The CHP's investigations, as well as prevention and control works, which include closely monitoring the admission cases, conducting genetic analysis of patients' bacterial samples, testing environmental samples, and strengthening health education to workers and the public, especially the education related to wound care and consumption of freshwater fish, are still ongoing. The AFCD will continue to monitor the health condition of freshwater fish supplied to Hong Kong and ensure that there are no abnormalities and to implement feasible measures to reduce proliferation of bacteria.

"Members of the public shall wear gloves when touching or handling raw freshwater fish. If symptoms such as inflamed wound and fever develop, they should seek medical attention promptly. Meanwhile, the public should refrain from consuming undercooked freshwater fish," a spokesman for the CHP reminded.

To prevent Group B Streptococcus (ST283) infection, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene and should keep their hands clean and practice good wound care at all times, especially:

To minimise the infection risks, workers of aquatic products or restaurants must wear gloves when handling aquatic products and avoid direct contact with aquatic products or dirty water with bare hands;

When buying aquatic products, the public must avoid direct contact with the aquatic products or use any towel provided by the stalls. They should wash hands with liquid soap and water as soon as possible if having contact with aquatic products which are not fully cooked. When handling aquatic products at home, the public should also wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;

Members of the public must not eat any freshwater fish sashimi, raw or undercooked freshwater aquatic products. When consuming hot pot food or congee items which consist of aquatic products, they should ensure that the food is thoroughly cooked in which the centre of the food should reach a temperature of at least 75 degrees Celsius so as to destroy pathogen; and

People must not touch aquatic products directly whenever there is a wound on hands. If a wound is sustained during handling aquatic products, the wound must be cleaned immediately and properly covered with waterproof adhesive dressings. Individuals should seek medical advice promptly when wound infection is found.

The public may visit the CHP'sInvasive Group B Streptococcus Infection associated with Sequence Type 283 (ST283)page for more information.

Source: AI-generated images