CHP investigates imported Mpox case
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (December 29) that it is investigating an imported Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case. The public is reminded to be vigilant and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. High-risk target groups are strongly advised to receive the Mpox vaccinations.
The case involves a male. He developed rash on December 18 while overseas, followed by skin ulcers and a fever. After returning to Hong Kong on December 25, he attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tin Shui Wai Hospital. Due to persistent symptoms, he attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Pok Oi Hospital on December 27, and was arranged to admit to Tuen Mun Hospital for isolation. His sample tested positive for the Mpox virus upon laboratory testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. The patient is currently in stable condition.
According to the patient, he has not received the Mpox vaccination. He stayed overseas throughout the entire incubation period and had a history of high-risk exposure during that period. No epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier could be identified so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigation into the case and will report it to the World Health Organization.
Hong Kong has put in place the Preparedness and Response Plan for Mpox since June 2022 and activated the alert response level under the Plan after the first confirmed case of Mpox in September of the same year. The CHP has implemented a series of measures (including enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, public education and vaccination), which have been effective in preventing local outbreaks of Mpox in the past three years.
Since 2022, a total of 84 Mpox cases (67 local and 17 imported) have been recorded in Hong Kong, of which 16 cases were recorded this year. All the patients were male. Epidemiological investigations revealed that most cases had history of high-risk sexual behaviour, including having sex with strangers or without wearing condoms when having sex. Hong Kong has not yet detected any new Mpox strain (Clade Ib) cases.
The CHP reminded high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccinations in order to lower the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. In addition, persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once. They should not engage in activities with others that may expose others to their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of being infected.
The CHP has set up a telephone hotline (2125 2373), which operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays. Those who suspect or are concerned that they may have had high-risk contact with confirmed cases, particularly men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, can use the hotline to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice.
Furthermore, the DH provides vaccination services to high-risk groups of Mpox. The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:
individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
healthcare workersresponsible forcaring forpatients with confirmed Mpox;
laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in caseof Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.
High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.
Meanwhile, the DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.
For more details, please visit the CHP's page onMpoxandMpox Vaccination Programme.
Source: AI-found images
Remarks by SDEV at media session on land sale programme for January to March 2026, tender arrangements for Hung Shui Kiu pilot area under large-scale land disposal and establishment of Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company (with video)
Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, at a media session today (December 29) on the land sale programme for January to March 2026, the tender arrangements for Hung Shui Kiu pilot area under large-scale land disposal and the establishment of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company:
Reporter: Some questions on the land parcel tender tomorrow. What are the latest requirements that are different from the original proposal of the land parcel scheme? How would the Government attract developers to bid the land parcels, and is the Government confident in securing a tender, and will similar arrangements be made in the future regarding other large-scale land disposal projects as well? Thank you.
Secretary for Development: Your question is about the first large-scale development pilot area in Hung Shui Kiu. Because for this past year, we have been engaging potential bidders in various discussion forums. We have also conducted a formal expression of interest exercise with written submissions received. So, it is with regard to comments received that we have adjusted some of the parameters for this tender exercise, including, for example, the addition of one additional residential site to improve the viability of the whole land parcel. In all, previously, we have offered two residential sites, but right now, we are offering three residential sites in the entire parcel. And also, we have introduced premium by phases arrangement, and also what I would describe as surrender and offset arrangement to minimise the cash flow burden on the potential bidders. We have also allowed a longer tender period, which is also in response to a particular comment raised by the potential bidders. So, we believe that having made all these adjustments, which are in response to comments made, we are optimistic that we will have good tender bids. And we will assess our tender based on a two-envelope approach, with as high as 70 per cent of the marks going to technical proposals, which is the non-premium part of the tender. And this demonstrates that the importance we attach to the quality of the business enterprises to go into the enterprise land parcels within this large-scale development area.
Reporter: In terms of land sales, how many units are the Government providing in the whole fiscal year? And with the Government providing more than it intended, what does it say about the market outlook? Secondly, regarding the industrial park at Hung Shui Kiu, is there a rough ballpark figure on how much money will the Park Company be granted to operate at the initial phase? And are there any requirements or qualities that the Government is seeking for when appointing board members and the Chief Executive Officer?
Secretary for Development: On your first question, which is about the overall land supply for private housing in the current financial year. As I have tried to set out just now, if all things go smoothly, the overall outturn in terms of land supply for private housing for the current financial year will be able to support 15 750 residential units, which is around 20 per cent above the initial target of 13 200 we have set for this financial year. We are encouraged to see this overshooting because it reflects that the private market is gaining momentum and picking up again. And we are glad to facilitate through our land sales as well, and this is why we are rolling out two sites this quarter, even though we know that we will possibly exceed the target. Because actually, for private housing projects, apart from helping to fulfil the target demand a few years down the road when the projects are completed, the very movement of the projects in terms of kick-starting the planning and the construction works are a kind of economic activity, it helps sustain the employment in the entire development sector from the professionals to frontline workers. And as some of you may have known, actually the unemployment rate for the construction sector is relatively high for the past year compared to other sectors, largely because of the slowing down of the new private housing supply projects. And that's why we are glad to see the market picking up momentum again, and we are willing to facilitate this trend.
On your second question about the Park Company for the Hung Shui Kiu industrial land, right now we have yet to decide the capital injection to be given for this company because it will be decided in the context of the coming Budget. As to the qualifications of the directors and the Chief Executive Officer to be appointed to run this Park Company, I think largely they will have to be people coming from different professions with expertise and experience in the running of different industries. Also, we would very much like our directors and the Chief Executive Officer to have vision and foresight so that they can help Hong Kong lead the way in enterprise development.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Source: AI-found images
