TC instructs TIA to take actions on suspected food poisoning incident involving Mainland inbound tour groups
The Tourism Commission (TC) is highly concerned about reports today (September 10) regarding Mainland inbound tour groups seeking medical attention at hospital owing to suspected food poisoning. The TC has immediately contacted the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) to understand the situation and provide appropriate assistance to the visitors concerned.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung,attachesgreat importancetothewell-being of visitorsto Hong Kong. In light of two recent incidents involving suspected food poisoningof visitors, the TC has instructed the TIA to gather informationof thecurrentincident and cooperatewiththe Centre for Food Safetyfor theirinvestigations. The TC has also directed the TIA to promptly contact thetravel agentconcernedas well asother travel agentsarrangingvisits bytheMainland inbound tour groupstotherelevantrestaurants onthe same day tounderstand moreaboutthe situation. The TIAnotedthattheincidentreported todayinvolved twoMainland inbound tour groups organised by the same travel agent, both of which visited two restaurants in Kowloon City receivingMainland tour groupsand some members of the tour groups also consumed other food they brought on their own. In addition, the TIAcontacted another68 travel agents whichhadorganisedvisits by othertour groupstothose two restaurants and confirmed that, apart from the 11 individuals from thetwotour groups who felt unwell,all other members ofthetwogroupsand other tour groups havenot exhibited similar symptoms. Should there be incidents breachinganycodes and guidelines,the TIAwilltake actionsto safeguard the well-being ofvisitors.
TheTIA has also sent representatives to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to understand the situation and provide assistance totheaffectedvisitors. It has also remindedtherelevant travel agents and restaurant operatorsreceivingMainlandinbound tour groupsto be vigilantandensure food and environmental hygiene, and to remind visitors topay attention to personal, food and environmental hygieneforensuringsafety.
CE to attend 27th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium and Beijing-Hong Kong Cooperation Promotion Conference in Beijing
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to depart for Beijing on September 19. They will attend the opening ceremony of the 27th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium and Beijing-Hong Kong Cooperation Promotion Conference (the Symposium) and a thematic promotion event on September 20. During the visit, Mr Lee will also attend the signing ceremony of a co-operation agreement on new industrialisation matters between the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the HKSAR Government.
This year's Symposium, which will promote complementarity to achieve shared prosperity as the theme, will feature 15 thematic promotion events and other supporting activities. An Invest Hong Kong-themed promotion event will be held for the first time, with keynote speeches and highlighted programmes focusing on Hong Kong's unique advantages, business environment, and measures to facilitate co-operation between enterprises of Beijing and Hong Kong.
Mr Lee noted that the HKSAR Government will vigorously promote Hong Kong's advantages and foster co-operation between Beijing and Hong Kong, with a view to attracting more Mainland enterprises to leverage Hong Kong to access the international market, facilitating exchanges between enterprises of Beijing and Hong Kong and injecting greater impetus into the two economies.
Members of the HKSAR Government delegation will include the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.
Through an arrangement by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the HKSAR Government is also organising a delegation to be led by major local chambers of commerce, comprising prominent members and representatives from enterprises of industrial and commercial sectors, to attend the Symposium.
Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on September 21. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive. During the absence of Mr Paul Chan, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will be the Acting Financial Secretary. During the absence of Mr Hui, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. During Mr Lam's absence, the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, will be the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics. During the absence of Professor Sun, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.
Source: AI-generated images
