CHP investigates suspected food poisoning cluster
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 10) investigating a suspected food poisoning cluster affecting 11 tourists of two inbound tour groups comprising 61 tourists from the Mainland. The CHP reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.
The cluster involved eight males and three females aged between 55 and 68, who developed abdominal pain, diarrheoa, nausea, vomiting and fever after having lunch and dinner at two restaurants in To Kwa Wan on September 9.
All affected persons sought medical advice. None of them required hospitalisation. All patients are in stable condition.
Initial investigations by the CHP revealed that the affected persons had consumed common food. The personnel from the CHP and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have conducted an inspection at the restaurant where the affected persons had dinner, took food sample for laboratory testing. The CFS's personnel also instructed the concerned premise to suspend operation with immediate effect, carry out cleaning and disinfection of the premises, and improve food preparation process and food hygiene. The officers do not rule out that the causes of food poisoning include cross-contamination of food, premature preparation of food and failure to reheat thoroughly. The personnel from the CFS will conduct inspection at the restaurant where the affected persons had lunch. The CHP and CFS's investigations are ongoing.
The CHP has contacted with the Travel Industry Authority and the travel agencies. Preliminary information shows that no other tourists have been affected. The CHP will maintain liaison with relevant parties and continue to monitor the situations of relevant tourists.
To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:
Source: AI-generated images
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
