Hong Kong Customs alerts public to two models of unsafe toys
Hong Kong Customs today (May 16) urged members of the public to stay alert to a model of unsafe slingshot toy and a model of unsafe tangram. Test results indicated that the slingshot toy could pose an injury risk to children's or other people's eyes or faces, and that the components of the tangram may pose suffocation risks to children. To avoid accidents, parents should immediately stop letting their children play with the slingshot and tangram toys. Traders should also remove the slingshot and tangram toys from their shelves.
Hong Kong Customs, Photo source: reference image
Customs officers earlier test-purchased various toys from the Lunar New Year fair stalls for safety testing. Test results revealed that one model of slingshot toy had a projectile with a certain amount of kinetic energy but did not have a leading part made of a resilient material. It also did not carry the required warnings and cautions about the potential hazards, nor did it carry the required identification markings under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO). It could cause injuries to other people if the object was aimed at the eyes or the face.
Customs also discovered one model of tangram contained small components but lacked the required warnings and cautions about age recommendations and the potential hazards. It also did not carry the required identification markings under the TCPSO. It could pose a danger of suffocation for children if accidentally swallowed.
In the operation, Customs seized a total of about 700slingshot toys and tangrams. A prohibition notice on the related person was also served to prohibit the continued sale of the unsafe toys by the retailer. Customs officers also conducted a territory-wide surveillance of the toys, but no such toys were found available for sale.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and playing with slingshot toys and tangram toys:
- Pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels;
- Pay attention to and follow the instructions associated with the toys;
- Do not put items other than original accessories into toys for shooting;
- Do not shoot items into eyes or faces; and
- Beware of whether the small parts of toys are easily detachable. Detached small parts may block a child's throat and lead to suffocation if swallowed.
Customs is committed to the protection of consumer interests and regularly conducts spot checks and safety tests on toys and children's products to ensure that they are reasonably safe for use by consumers.
Under the TCPSO it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys or children's products. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.
Members of the public may report information relating to suspected unsafe toys or children's products via Customs' 24-hour hotline182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs today (May 16) urged members of the public to stay alert to a model of unsafe sling shot toy and a model of unsafe tangram. Photo shows two of the components of the unsafe tangram concerned, which could pose a danger of suffocation for children if accidentally swallowed. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs today (May 16) urged members of the public to stay alert to a model of unsafe slingshot toy and a model of unsafe tangram. Photo shows the slingshot toy concerned; test results indicate that the toy could pose an injury risk to children's or other people's eyes or faces. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CHP investigates local case of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 16) is investigating a local case of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus (HEV). The CHP urged the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene, and to implement effective rodent prevention and control measures to prevent rat HEV infection.
Case information
-----------------------
The case involves a 42-year-old male with chronic liver diseases. While attending a follow-up appointment at a private hospital for his pre-existing condition on May 5, he was found to have abnormal liver function. He was referred to the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital on the same day and admitted for further examination. His blood sample tested positive for rat HEV upon laboratory testing. The patient remained in stable condition and was discharged yesterday (May 15). His three household contacts are currently asymptomatic. They will be put under medical surveillance.
The CHP's epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient lives in Hung Hom and works in the same district. He reported no direct contact with rodents or rats, and did not see rats at his residence or workplace. The patient took brief trips in April but no rat HEV cases have been reported so far in the destinations concerned. Medical literature revealed that individuals with liver diseases (including chronic liver disease) belong to the high-risk group. They are more likely to present withhepatitis and abnormal liver function after infected by rat HEV. Based on current epidemiological data, the CHP considered thatthe case was more likely to have acquired the infection locally. The CHP does not rule out the possibility that the patient may have indirectly come into contact with places or food contaminated by rats or their excreta during the incubation period. Investigations into the source and route of infection are ongoing.
The CHP and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) personnel jointly conducted field inspections of the environmental hygiene conditions in the vicinity of the patient's residence, workplace and daily commute route. Minor signs of rodent activity were detected at the refuse collection rooms in the concerned residence and workplace. The FEHD will serve a notice under Section 47 of the Public Health and Municipal Ordinance (Cap. 132) to the concerned property management companies, requiring them to improve the hygienic conditions and carry out rodent control work within the time as specified in the notice. The FEHD will arrange for cleaning and disinfection work and enhance rodent prevention and control work in the vicinity of locations visited by the patient.
The CHP and the FEHD will continue to investigate and follow up on the case.
This is the first case of human infection of rat HEV recorded so far this year. In the past five years (from 2021 to 2025), Hong Kong recorded an average of zero to two cases of rat HEV per year.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis E
----------------------------------------
Symptoms of acute hepatitis E include fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, skin rash, joint pain, and a slightly enlarged and tender liver. In rare cases, acute hepatitis E can lead to fulminant hepatitis (acute liver failure) and death.
Elderly persons with a major underlying illness (especially those who have undergone organ transplantation), pregnant women, patients with chronic liver disease and patients with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (also known as G6PD Deficiency), should exercise extra caution if infected with HEV, as they may develop a serious illness.
Prevention
--------------
The possible routes of transmission of rat HEV to humans include ingestion of food or water contaminated by rodents or their excreta, exposure to environments or objects contaminated by rodents or their excreta and direct contact with rodents or their excreta. The HEV that usually causes human infection is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route.
To prevent Hepatitis E infection, the public should maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene. For example, they should wash their hands thoroughly before eating, store food properly or in the refrigerator, avoid leaving food at room temperature for a long time, and use 1:99 diluted household bleach for general household cleaning and disinfection as household detergents may not kill HEV.
The Five Keys to Food Safety should be adopted when handling food, i.e. Choose (choose safe raw materials), Clean (keep hands and utensils clean), Separate (separate raw and cooked food), Cook (cook thoroughly) and Safe Temperature (keep food at a safe temperature), to prevent food-borne diseases.
In general, rodents (such as rats) can transmit multiple diseases to humans, both directly and indirectly. The public is advised to take the following measures:
Eliminate sources of food and nesting places for rodents in the living environments. Store food in covered containers and handle pet food properly to prevent it frombecoming food for rodents;
Store all refuse and food remnants in dustbins with well-fitted covers. Dustbins must be emptied at least once a day;
Keep premises, especially refuse rooms and stairways, clean. Avoid accumulation of articles;
Inspect all flower beds and pavements regularly for signs of rodent infestation; and
Avoid the high-risk activities below to reduce rodent contact:
- Avoid contact with rodents and areas contaminated by rodent excreta;
- Avoid handling rodents with bare hands;
- Wash hands with liquid soap and water immediately after handling animals, and disinfect contaminated areas; and
- If a wound appears, clean the broken skin immediately and cover it properly with waterproof adhesive dressings.
Rodent control requires co-operation from all sectors of society. The CHP urged the public to strengthen rodent prevention and control measures and co-operate with government's efforts to reduce the risk of rat HEV transmission.
CHP investigates local case of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
