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Severe Typhoon Koinu passed south of Hong Kong on 8 and 9 October 2023, triggering the issuance of the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9, the second highest tropical cyclone (TC) warning signal in Hong Kong. Koinu was a difficult case for TC warning service due to its compact size and rather erratic movement over the coastal waters of Guangdong. To monitor Koinu's movement and wind structure, the Hong Kong Observatory utilized various observational platforms, including meteorological aircraft, ocean radar, and synthetic aperture radar on polar orbiting satellites. The paper presents major observations derived from these measurements. The aircraft probe and dropsonde data suggested boundary layer inflow, warm core structure, eyewall updraft, and high turbulence in the eyewall of the typhoon. The weather radar observations indicated the occurrence of a waterspout in the vicinity of the typhoon. Additionally, the study highlights the forecasting performance of the AI‐based Pangu‐Weather model, which could outperform the conventional global numerical weather prediction models in forecasting TC track in the region. The documentation of these observations aims to provide valuable references for weather forecasters and stimulate further research on forecasting this type of tropical cyclone. Key Points: Observations from meteorological aircraft, ocean radar, and synthetic aperture radar show the structure of Severe Typhoon KoinuWeather radar observations suggest the occurrence of a waterspout in the vicinity of KoinuAI‐based Pangu‐Weather model could outperform the conventional global numerical weather prediction models in forecasting Koinu's track [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water vapor plays an extremely important role in the monitoring and prediction of weather, and GNSS tomography can obtain 3D spatiotemporal change information and reliable water vapor profiles. In this paper, an improved global navigation satellite system (GNSS) tropospheric tomography technique using an ERA5 (the fifth generation ECMWF reanalysis) product is developed. First, the ERA5 product was adopted to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of water vapor, and a water vapor density threshold defining the top of the tomography was determined; then, the height of the grid top (GT) of different seasons was obtained through linear fitting; finally, the water vapor value between GT and tropopause is constrained using the data of the ERA5 product as the initial value. The new method for using the ERA5 product to determine the height of the GT of the tomographic grid reduces the height of the top layer of the grid and increases the number of effective GNSS rays. Data from nine CORS stations in Hong Kong in 2019 were selected for experiments. The results showed that the new algorithm increased the number of effective satellite signals by 14%. In addition, the ERA5 data, the radiosonde data, and the COSMIC‐2 data were used as reference values. The accuracy of the water vapor density obtained by the algorithm was improved by 25%, 17% and 9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and reliable assessment of wind energy potential has important implication to the wind energy industry. Most previous studies on wind energy assessment focused solely on wind speed, whereas the dependence of wind energy on wind direction was much less considered and documented. In this paper, a copula‐based method is proposed to better characterize the direction‐related wind energy potential at six typical sites in Hong Kong. The joint probability density function (JPDF) of wind speed and wind direction is constructed by a series of copula models. It shows that Frank copula has the best performance to fit the JPDF at hilltop and offshore sites while Gumbel copula outperforms other models at urban sites. The derived JPDFs are applied to estimate the direction‐related wind power density at the considered sites. The obtained maximum direction‐related wind energy density varies from 41.3 W/m2 at an urban site to 507.9 W/m2 at a hilltop site. These outcomes are expected to facilitate accurate micro‐site selection of wind turbines, thereby improving the economic benefits of wind farms in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the developed copula‐based method provides useful references for further investigations regarding direction‐related wind energy assessments at various terrain regions. Notably, the proposed copula‐based method can also be applied to characterize the direction‐related wind energy potential somewhere other than Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on several topics related to systems research. The "Systems Research and Behavioral Science" journal is calling for papers for its special issue regarding the function of systems thinking in facilitated decision modeling. The 10th International Symposium on Knowledge and Systems Science and the 6th International Conference on Knowledge Management (ICKM) will be jointly held in Hong Kong, China on December 3-4, 2009.

We study the impact of stock market liberalisation through the Mainland China–Hong Kong Stock Connect (CHSC) program on the corporate financialisation of listed firms in Mainland China using the generalised difference-in-difference model in this paper. The empirical results show that implementing the CHSC program significantly reduces corporate financialisation of the listed firms in Mainland China by mitigating internal agency conflicts and enhancing external monitoring. Further analysis indicates that the inhibiting effect of stock market liberalisation through the CHSC program on corporate financialisation is more pronounced for firms without cross-listing or qualified foreign institutional investors (QFII) ownership and firms with a more remarkable change of foreign ownership brought by the CHSC program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the impact of stock market liberalisation through the Mainland China–Hong Kong Stock Connect (CHSC) program on the corporate financialisation of listed firms in Mainland China using the generalised difference‐in‐difference model in this paper. The empirical results show that implementing the CHSC program significantly reduces corporate financialisation of the listed firms in Mainland China by mitigating internal agency conflicts and enhancing external monitoring. Further analysis indicates that the inhibiting effect of stock market liberalisation through the CHSC program on corporate financialisation is more pronounced for firms without cross‐listing or qualified foreign institutional investors (QFII) ownership and firms with a more remarkable change of foreign ownership brought by the CHSC program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health literacy (HL) refers to individuals' abilities to process and use health information to promote health. This study aimed to develop the first HL measurement tool for the Chinese Hong Kong population. Methods: A two‐phase methodology was adopted. In Phase I, evidence synthesis with a deductive method was conducted to formulate the item list from the literature. In Phase II, a modified e‐Delphi survey was conducted among stakeholders (i.e., healthcare providers and healthcare consumers) to confirm the content validity of the item list. The stakeholders were invited to rate the relevance of each draft item on a 4‐point scale and provide suggestions for revisions, removal or adding new items. Results: In Phase I, a total of 34 items covering functional, interactive and critical HL were generated. In Phase II, to obtain a balanced view from experts and laypeople, healthcare professionals (n = 12) and consumers (n = 12) were invited to participate in the Delphi panel. The response rates of the three rounds were 100%. After the third round, the consensus was reached for 31 items, and no further comments for adding or revising items were received. All items exhibited excellent content validity (item content validity index: 0.79–1.00; K*: 0.74–1.00). Conclusions: A Health Literacy Scale for Hong Kong was developed. Compared with existing HL scales, the scale fully operationalized the skills involved in functional, interactive and critical HL. The Delphi study shows evidence supporting the high content validity of all items in the scale. In future studies, these items should undergo rigorous testing to examine their psychometric properties in our target population groups. By illuminating the details in the development process, this paper provides a deeper understanding of the scale's scope and limitations for others who are interested in using this tool. Patient or Public Contribution: Public as healthcare consumers, in addition to healthcare providers, were involved in developing a new HL scale for this study. The input from the public contributed to examining the scale's content validity by judging whether all items reflected the skills that they need to find and use health‐related information in their daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: With the rapid expansion of pet animal populations worldwide, pet‐related zoonotic diseases are becoming an important issue in public health. Hong Kong (HK), located in southern China, is one of the most crowded urban centres in the world. The population of pets, especially exotic pets, in HK has grown significantly in recent decades, potentially elevating the risk of pet‐related zoonotic diseases. However, no studies have been conducted to explore the knowledge of HK public towards pet‐related zoonotic diseases and animal husbandry practices. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the level of awareness among the HK public of pet‐related zoonotic diseases and their understanding of proper animal husbandry practices. METHODS: The study was carried out in HK from June–August 2019 using both online and paper versions of a questionnaire. A total of 362 completed questionnaires (74.3% return rate) were collected and the responses analysed. RESULTS: Sixty percent of the participants were current or past pet owners or planned on becoming pet owners in the coming 2 years, irrespective of their income or size of their living space. Among the participants, pet owners (including those who planned pet ownership) had a relatively higher level of awareness of pet‐related zoonotic disease. However, the overall awareness of zoonotic diseases among both pet and non‐pet owners was low with a knowledge score of <50%. A similar trend was observed for knowledge about proper animal husbandry practices. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the HK public was generally not familiar with pet‐related zoonotic diseases and proper pet care. These knowledge gaps could potentially increase the risk of disease transmission. Further studies focusing on specific pet species and on people of different social‐economic backgrounds are needed to provide future direction of efforts to reduce the risk of pet‐related zoonotic diseases and to enhance pet‐related animal and human welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urbanization impacts on surface air temperature (SAT) change in the Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau region (GHMR) from 1979 to 2018 are examined using homogeneous surface observations, reanalysis, and remote sensing. Results show that the warming due to urbanization tends to be smaller or insignificant as the spatial scale increases. The urbanization contribution to the local warming can reach as high as 50% in the center of each metropolis, remains high (~25%) in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and decreases to about 10% in the whole GHMR. The warming in GHMR is nearly uniform throughout the day, and therefore, the observed trend of the diurnal temperature range (DTR) is not statistically significant. However, the urbanization contribution exhibits distinct seasonal variations, large in summer and autumn while smaller in winter and spring. Plain Language Summary: The Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau region (GHMR), especially the Greater Bay Area (GBA), is a region typical of China's economic development and rapid urbanization. To precisely assess how much the urbanization contributes to the regional warming, we comprehensively evaluate the urbanization warming and its uncertainties in GHMR by using more careful processed and assessed data (observations, reanalysis, and remote sensing) and different analysis methods. The results show that the warming due to urbanization tends to be smaller as the spatial scale increases: The contribution to the local warming can reach as high as 50% in the metropolis, remains high (~25%) in GBA, and decreases to about 10% in GHMR. In addition, this paper systematically discusses the uncertainty in urbanization contribution detection, which was often neglected in the past detection. Based on the significance tests, urbanization warming is nearly uniform throughout the day, while it exhibits distinct seasonal variation. Our study also has important implications for understanding the influences of human activities on regional climate change for other regions experiencing rapid urbanization processes. Key Points: The contribution of urbanization to regional warming is robust in homogenized SAT data and ERA5 reanalysis using different methodsThe spatial scale dependence of urbanization warming is investigated; the contribution of urbanization warming decreases when the scale increasesUrbanization contribution exhibits distinct seasonal variation based on the uncertainty assessment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most financial regulators agree that short sellers have an important role to play in ensuring an efficiently functioning market, it is interesting to note that many did not hesitate to ban short selling during the recent financial crisis. This apparent contradiction most likely stems from a lack of understanding about what motivates short trading. In this paper, we focus on the determinants of short selling during 'normal' trading in the Hong Kong stock market. We find that dividend payments, company fundamentals, risk, option trading, the interest rate spread and past returns and short selling are all significant determinants of short selling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant wind shear event occurred in the early morning of 27 December 2009 at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), leading to the diversion of three aircraft to the airport of Shenzhen (about 39 km to the north-northwest of HKIA). This paper documents the meteorological observations and predictions for the event. The significant wind shear arose from disruption of the prevailing easterly to southeasterly flow by the complex terrain to the south of the airport. It was well captured by the Doppler Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems at HKIA and, as such, the aircraft were given sufficient warning about the occurrence of significant wind shear. The headwind changes along the glide paths as measured by the LIDAR were consistent with the aircraft measurements. The observations of the remote-sensing instruments during the event, including the LIDAR, are described in the paper. Moreover, this paper discusses the possibility of including wind shear forecast information for flight planning purpose for this particular case. The forecast wind field near HKIA based on a high-resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) model is described. For the present wind shear event, it appears that the occurrence of terrain-disrupted airflow near HKIA may be forecast about 6 h ahead. The timing of significant wind shear is, however, not reproduced well in the NWP forecast. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, illegal felling of and damage to the incense tree Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng. have been reported in Hong Kong. Their native populations are under increasingly severe threat. Therefore, the development of a standard and efficient method to classify and document wounds on vulnerable trees is urgently needed for conservation purposes. In this study, photogrammetry was used to document wounds in A. sinensis through 3D modeling. A total of 752 wound records from 484 individual A. sinensis trees from Hong Kong were included to establish a new wound classification system. Our major findings include a novel standardized procedure for photogrammetric documentation and a wound classification system. The results of this study will facilitate A. sinensis conservation, by enhancing wound documentation and information transfer to law enforcement and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed 49,592 teleseismic receiver functions (RFs) recorded by 278 CEArray stations to image the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath the South China Block to understand the origins of deep velocity anomalies and their potential links to subduction and intraplate volcanism. We employed a fast‐marching method and a high‐resolution 3‐D velocity model (FWEA18) derived from full waveform inversion in computing P‐to‐S conversion times to better image the 410‐ and 660‐km discontinuities. Our results indicate that the common‐conversion‐point stacking of RFs using 3‐D conversion times yielded better migration images of the two discontinuities. The images revealed a slightly depressed 410‐km with a few small uplifted patches, and showed that the 660‐km beneath the western Yangtze Craton is depressed by 10–25 km, which is likely caused by the stagnant Paleo‐Pacific slab. The 660‐km beneath the southern Cathaysia Block has a 5–15 km high plateau with a topographic low at its central part. The lateral dimension of the topographic low is ∼150 km and is located beneath the central Pearl River Mount Basin near Hong Kong. We speculate that the topographic low occurs within the Hainan plume with a temperature excess of ∼300–400 K and is caused by the garnet phase transition. The displaced deep plume enters the MTZ and spreads nearly horizontally at the base. The plume evolves into two channels with a minor one toward the northeast and a major one toward the southwest, which keep moving upward to the 410‐km. The southwest channel is likely the source that feeds the Hainan volcanoes. Plain Language Summary: Using data from seismic stations in the South China Block, we investigated the mantle transition zone (MTZ) to understand the origins of deep velocity anomalies and their associations with subduction and intraplate volcanism. By applying advanced techniques and a ground‐truth reference model, we obtained clearer images of the 410‐ and 660‐km discontinuities. The images showed that the 410‐km discontinuity is slightly depressed with some small uplifted areas. Additionally, the 660‐km discontinuity beneath the western Yangtze Craton is depressed due to the presence of a stagnant slab from the ancient Pacific Ocean. In contrast, beneath the southern Cathaysia Block, the 660‐km discontinuity forms a high plateau with a central low area. This area located near Hong Kong may be related to a plume originating from the lower mantle. The plume, with elevated temperatures, enters the MTZ and spreads horizontally. It then evolves into two channels, with one moving toward the northeast and the other toward the southwest. The southwest channel likely supplies magma to the volcanoes in Hainan. These findings provide insights into the complex processes occurring deep within the Earth's mantle in the South China region. Key Points: FWEA18 is used in migrating CEArray receiver functions to image the mantle transition zone beneath the South China BlockThe 660‐km is depressed ∼10–25 km by stagnant slabs beneath the northwestern part of the blockThe Hainan volcanoes are fed by a displaced lower mantle plume beneath the central Pearl River Mouth Basin [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: The Hong Kong Journal of Legal Studies and the City University of Hong Kong Law Review provide valuable case studies of the student‐oriented model in the Hong Kong legal academic publishing context.The three essential features of student‐oriented publishing are (1) run by students; (2) managed by students; and (3) a focus on the learning experience of student editors and authors.The recommended features of student‐oriented publishing are (1) peer review by students; and (2) a focus on publication of student‐authored articles.Student‐oriented publishing encourages students to publish as authors and equips student editors with professional and personal skills.Student‐oriented law journals benefit both the professional and the academic communities. This is less apparent in Hong Kong due to the local publishing landscape and a weak academic–practice connection.Student‐oriented publishing can thrive in its own right and is complementary, rather than inferior, to publications run by senior academics and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the model of Chang et al. () with some modification and extension, this paper provides three main contributions to investor behavior literature in frontier stock markets, specifically the Vietnamese stock market. First, the study found the evidence of herd behavior in Vietnam, a frontier market, in both industry and market contexts. Second, the results show that investor herd behavior is driven by both up and down market scenarios. Third, the study observes that U.S. stock market affects herd behavior in the Vietnamese stock market. However, the Hong Kong stock market only impacts market information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) Real‐world Analysis of People with Drug‐Resistant Epilepsy (DRE) on PERampanel (WRAPPER) study assessed effectiveness and tolerability of adjunctive perampanel in people with DRE attending PWH. Methods: This was a prospective single‐center real‐world observational study involving 70 people with DRE between July 2016 and June 2021. A post hoc analysis after the initial study period of 16 weeks assessed outcomes for an extended period up to 52 weeks. Results: After 16 weeks, median dose of perampanel was 2 mg (IQR 24 mg). 50% responder rates were 40.0%, 41.5%, and 48.7% at 16, 26, and 52 weeks. Seizure freedom was 12.9%, 20.7%, and 25.6% at 16, 26, and 52 weeks. Monthly seizure frequency reduced from 3.0 (IQR 3.0–6.6) at baseline to 2.0 (IQR 2.0–6.0, p = 0.005) at 16 weeks; 2.0 (IQR 2.0–5.0, p = 0.01) at 26 weeks; and 2.0 (IQR 0.0–4.0, p = 0.018) at 52 weeks. Older age predicted 50% responders (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.14, p = 0.048). At 16 weeks, 51.4% (36/70) had treatment‐emergent adverse effects (TEAEs). Most common was seizure exacerbation at 35.7% (25/70) followed by fatigue at 15.7% (11/70). NPI‐12 and ZBI scores indicated no increase in neuropsychiatric symptoms on perampanel. Significance: Low‐dose 2–4 mg adjunctive perampanel for people with DRE conferred appreciable improvements in seizure reduction without significant neuropsychiatric adverse effects in the real‐world setting at a tertiary center in Hong Kong and had better antiseizure effect with advancing age. Plain Language Summary: This real‐world study from Hong Kong found low‐dose perampanel was effective and tolerable for people with drug‐resistant epilepsy. Furthermore, perampanel was also potentially more effective with advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal influenza viruses continue to cause severe medical and financial complications annually. Although there are many licenced influenza vaccines, there are billions of cases of influenza infection every year, resulting in the death of over half a million individuals. Furthermore, these figures can rise in the event of a pandemic, as seen throughout history, like the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic (50 million deaths) and the 1968 Hong Kong influenza pandemic (~4 million deaths). In this review, we have summarised many of the currently licenced influenza vaccines available across the world and current vaccines in clinical trials. We then briefly discuss the important role of CD8+ T cells during influenza infection and why future influenza vaccines should consider targeting CD8+ T cells. Finally, we assess the current landscape of known immunogenic CD8+ T‐cell epitopes and highlight the knowledge gaps required to be filled for the design of rational future influenza vaccines that incorporate CD8+ T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy is essential in the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits and chronic disease prevention. Objective: To assess the health literacy level among Hong Kong adolescents; to evaluate the association between access of an online health information platform (GoSmart Channel) and health literacy level; and to examine the association between health literacy level and various unhealthy behaviours. Design: This study recruited students from 10 local secondary schools in Hong Kong to assess the health literacy level among adolescents. Settings and Participants: Participants were required to complete a self‐administered questionnaire on health behaviours and health literacy using the Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA). Main Outcome Measure: Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression modelling. Results: A total of 777 responses were collected. Overall, most (74.4%) of the adolescents in Hong Kong have limited health literacy (HELMA score <66). The majority (63.7%) of adolescents relied on their parents for health information, while 11.4% of the respondents sought information from the GoSmart Channel. The intervention of GoSmart Channel was significantly associated with better health literacy in almost all aspects among adolescents. Desired levels of health literacy were significantly associated with better perceived health (adjusted odds ratio: 2.04, p =.001) and negatively associated with a range of unhealthy and risky behaviours including unhealthy dietary habits, poor hygienic measures and physical inactivity. Discussion and Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of improving health literacy among Hong Kong adolescents and the potential of technology‐based interventions. The findings suggest the need for continued efforts to promote health literacy and healthy behaviours among adolescents, especially given the limited health literacy levels observed in the study. Patient or Public Contribution: Members of the GoSmart.Net Built‐on Project patient and public involvement and engagement group advised about survey development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within a framework of ecological modernization theory this paper focuses on the process of environmental reform in Hong Kong. It argues that there is significant inertia within the environmental policy process in Hong Kong, but that with leadership from the business sector there exists the potential for positive change. We identify ways to further drive the process of environmental reform through an emphasis on the role of the business sector and technological innovation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last dozen years have seen a considerable investment of resources into the research and development of group support systems (GSS) technology. This paper describes how GSS was used to support a process improvement project in a Hong Kong accounting firm. Although the project encountered many difficulties, the application of action research facilitated the adaptation of the GSS to the shifting circumstances, and the project was successfully completed. A variety of lessons concerning the use of GSS are presented, while increased use of action research in complex organizational contexts is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we argue that it would be fruitful to regard personal networks as a form of capital capable of generating economic returns by drawing on our research findings on the recent wave of emigration from Hong Kong. By putting network capital on a par with economic and cultural capital, we seek to identify its distinctive features in terms of institutionalization, capacity, moral economy, and processes of conversion and reproduction. In substantiating our argument, we present some quantitative evidence from our survey data on the uneven distribution of kinship ties which can be mobilized for emigration among different occupational classes. We then make use of our in-depth interview data to show that there is a qualitative variation too in the type of networks used by different occupational classes for emigration purposes. We conclude by reflecting on the implications of the concept of network capital for the study of migration, class formation, and the global economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the model resolution is expected to be one way for improving air quality forecasts in urban areas. In this study, we evaluate the model performance in a large city at various resolutions to examine the best resolution for air pollution simulations. The comparison with measurements at a station near the traffic emissions shows the advantage of using high resolutions for capturing the extreme values. The statistical evaluation indicates that the highest model resolution (33 m) provides the best results for NOX concentration distributions near the traffic roads, while the improvement for roadside O3 with decreasing grid spacing stops at a certain point. The best model performance for the areas with a distance to the pollution sources is with the resolution of 100–300 m, at which the transport errors are equivalent to the emission biases. Plain Language Summary: As the increasing needs in the air quality forecasting in large cities, there is a trend in decreasing the model grid spacing to obtain more detailed pollutants distributions between neighborhoods or at street levels. To determine at which resolution the model can obtain the best representation of the pollutants' concentrations, we evaluate the model performance at different resolutions taking Hong Kong as an illustration. The analysis shows that the improvement with increasing model resolution is not monotonic for the areas far away from the intense emissions; however, the model with the highest resolution (33 m) reproduces the best results for the short‐lived species near the pollution sources. Key Points: Increasing horizontal resolution to 33 m improves the prediction of NOX near the traffic emissionsThe threshold of the model resolution is around 300 m for areas with a distance to the pollution sourcesThe changes of model performances with varied resolutions are different for NOX and O3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a novel, new ensemble model (NEM) designed to simulate the maximum water level increases caused by storm surges in a frequently cyclone‐affected coastal water of Hong Kong, China. The model relies on storm and water level data spanning 1978–2022. The NEM amalgamates three machine learning algorithms: Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), and XGBoost (XGB), employing a stacking technique for integration. Six parameters, determined using the Random Forest and Recursive Feature Elimination algorithms (RF‐RFE), are used as input features for the NEM. These parameters are the nearest wind speed, gale distance, nearest air pressure, minimum distance, maximum pressure drop within 24 hr, and large wind radius. Model assessment results suggest that the NEM exhibits superior performance over RF, GBDT, and XGB, delivering high stability and precision. It reaches a coefficient of determination (R2) up to 0.95 and a mean absolute error (MAE) that fluctuates between 0.08 and 0.20 m for the test data set. An interpretability analysis conducted using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method shows that gale distance and nearest wind speed are the most significant features for predicting peak water level increases during storm surges. The results of this study could provide practical implications for predictive models concerning storm surges. These findings present essential tools for the mitigation of coastal disasters and the improvement of marine disaster warning systems. Plain Language Summary: This research introduces an innovative ensemble machine learning model that predicts maximum water level rises due to storm surges in Hong Kong's cyclone‐prone coastlines. The model blends three machine learning algorithms, namely Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), and XGBoost (XGB), using storm and surge data from 1978 to 2022. It employs six parameters, including nearest wind speed and gale distance, providing superior performance with high stability and precision. Using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis, gale distance and wind speed emerged as key predictors. The NEM could enhance storm surge models, aiding in coastal disaster mitigation and improving maritime warning systems. Key Points: An ensemble learning model has been developed to predict the peak water level rise during storm surges in Hong Kong's coastal regionsThe ensemble approach outperforms standalone machine learning methods of Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Decision Tree, and XGBoostAn interpretability analysis reveals that gale distance (Gale_Dis), and the nearest wind speed (N_WS) are the most influential features for storm surge prediction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Analgesic poisoning is common in Hong Kong. Analgesics containing salicylate are easily available. Salicylate poisoning may be encountered in the daily practice of the accident and emergency department. The issue of routine salicylate screening was discussed in a number of articles, and the viewpoints of most authors were that routine salicylate screening was unnecessary. Objectives: The primary outcome is to explore the predictive factors of supratherapeutic peak serum salicylate level (>2.17 mmol/L) and delineate the role of routine screening serum salicylate level in poisoned patients attending the accident and emergency department. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Poisoning cases presented to Hong Kong Poison Information Centre between 1 July 2008 and 31 October 2020 with serum salicylate level checked were included. The demographics, laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Results: There were 8673 cases included with serum salicylate level checked, accounting for 17% of all poisoning cases. Sixty-six (0.76%) cases had supratherapeutic peak serum salicylate level and 11 (0.13%) of them were undeclared salicylate ingestion. Worse clinical outcomes were observed in cases with supratherapeutic peak serum salicylate level. Univariate analysis showed that tinnitus, hyperthermia, alkalaemia, metabolic acidosis, respiratory alkalosis and therapeutic use of aspirin were significantly associated with supratherapeutic peak serum salicylate level. Variables with p < 0.3 were entered into the backward stepwise logistic regression by likelihood ratio. A clinical prediction rule with three attributes (tinnitus, therapeutic use of aspirin and partial pressure of CO2 <5 kPa) was derived. It showed 100% sensitivity in internal validation. Conclusion: Serum salicylate level should be checked in poisoned patients with (1) tinnitus, (2) the therapeutic use of aspirin or (3) partial pressure of CO2 <5 kPa in arterial or venous blood gas. Routine salicylate screening remained a tool for clinicians not experienced in toxicology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emergency department management of transient ischaemic attack varies from admission for all to outpatient referral. We studied the short-term outcomes of transient ischaemic attack managed with an agreed protocol. Predictors of stroke can be different for Asians and non-Asians. ABCD2 as initial triage of transient ischaemic attack is debatable. The predictive ability of ABCD2 score was studied as well. Methods: This was a prospective observational study with consecutive subject recruitment in Emergency department. All transient ischaemic attacks were admitted, hard and e-records of Emergency department, transient ischaemic attack clinic, Medical and Neurosurgical department and general follow-ups in Hospital Authority hospitals were studied up to 1 year. Stroke-day was measured from symptom-onset to time-of-stroke. Results: In 18-month period, 124 patients were recruited. The median onset-to-door time was 3.5 h. All computed tomography brain positive findings, except one subdural haematoma, were ischaemic in origin. Six strokes, all disabling, recurred within 90 days, three on day 1–3, two died in 6 months. The stroke risks at 2, 7, 90 days and 1 year were 1.61%, 3.23%, 4.84% and 4.84%, respectively. No significant trend was observed in stroke risk across ABCD2 scores (p = 0.783) with area under the curve of 0.537 (95% confidence interval = 0.380–0.694; p = 0.762). The short-term stroke risk was associated with atrial fibrillation (p = 0.002). The median Emergency Medicine ward length of stay was 1.33 days. Conclusion: In our Emergency department–based management, the short-term stroke risk of transient ischaemic attack is low, and the predictivity of ABCD2 score in risk stratification cannot be validated. Stroke recurrences were associated with atrial fibrillation. A low ABCD2 could be falsely reassuring. As half of the strokes recurred very early, we recommend admission in the hyperacute phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The capacity for poleward range expansions beyond the tropics in corals hinges on ecophysiological constraints and resulting responses to climatic variability. We aimed to determine how future warming will affect coral habitat suitability at the poleward range edges of these foundational species in the Northwest Pacific. Location: Northwest Pacific. Methods: We generated models integrating thermal physiological constraints of corals adapted to extreme seasonality in Hong Kong, specifically the minimum annual temperature and the proportion of time annually spent at seasonal extremes. With these models, we projected habitat suitability for five coral species under current and future climatic conditions across the Northwest Pacific. Results: Climate model projections reveal an easing of thermal constraints on the leading‐edge of coral ecophysiological limits with an expansion of thermally suitable habitat poleward by 2°–7° in latitude depending on the coral species and model considered. We also highlight a potential divergence of present and future thermal regimes that may lead to a mismatch in suitability for corals currently inhabiting high latitude reefs. Main Conclusions: Understanding the thermal constraints on coral distributions and defining the potential range of corals under climate change is critical for adaptive management that focuses on coral conservation and ensuring ecosystem function of existing subtropical and temperate ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces events and information in the field of finance for 1991. The Academy of Financial Services will be holding its Annual Meeting on October 9, 1991 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. A new journal, "International Review of Economics and Finance" will be published in 1991. The International Conference on Asian-Pacific Financial Markets will be held at the City Polytechnic University in Hong Kong on September 12-14, 1991.

ABSTRACT Heavy rain events or rainstorms of various scales often occur in Hong Kong from April to September. In extremes cases, they lead to serious landslides and flash floods resulting in loss of life, and damage to property and infrastructure. With climate change, extreme rain events are projected to be more frequent and more intense in this region. A system to gauge and label the severity of rainstorms would be useful for identifying and communicating extreme conditions in warning and disaster prevention operations. In parallel, a better understanding of the characteristics of rainstorms would also be important for impact assessments and engineering design purposes. This paper formulates a practical framework to index the magnitude and severity of rainstorms in Hong Kong. An index termed as the Severity Index combining the magnitude of different rainstorm attributes is devised for quantifying the overall severity of rainstorms. This index is flexible to allow tuning for specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes and tests a model of how firms acquire knowledge from their international joint venturing experience. Based on survey response from 73 Singapore and 89 Hong Kong firms with respect to their joint ventures set up in China, the results indicate that both overseeing effort and management involvement are significant channels of knowledge acquisition. The former channel is more important for firms with a great deal of operational experience in China and for parents of older joint ventures. This finding indicates that firms improve their skills of knowledge acquisition through learning-by-doing. Moreover, the strategic importance of the venture concerned, instead of the learning intent of the parent, is the driving force behind the allocation of resources to the two channels. This implies that firms mainly learn through managing their key joint ventures. Since a venture that provides novel and fruitful learning experience may not, and need not, be an operation of great strategic importance, this finding suggests the existence of learning myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the role of limit orders in the liquidity provision in a pure order-driven market. Results show that market depth rises subsequent to an increase in transitory volatility, and transitory volatility declines subsequent to an increase in market depth. We also examine how transitory volatility affects the mix between limit orders and market orders. When transitory volatility arises from the ask (bid) side, investors will submit more limit sell (buy) orders than market sell (buy) orders. This result is consistent with the existence of limit-order traders who enter the market and place orders when liquidity is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal ocean acidification is a worldwide problem associated with anthropogenic activity and climate change. In this study, a close relationship between submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and coastal ocean acidification in Hong Kong's coastal waters is discovered. We for the first time evaluated the direct influence of SGD on seawater pH decline. Results show that SGD can contribute to up to 48% of seawater pH variation among terrestrial water input, air‐sea CO2 exchange, photosynthesis/respiration, and bay‐open water exchange in semi‐closed bays through direct input of carbonate species. Local air‐sea CO2 exchange has negligible influences on the seawater pH. In the semi‐closed bay areas, SGD and aerobic respiration are major contributors to seawater pH variation but in areas with open space, the exchange process with open waters is more important. In addition to the direct input of carbonate species (total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon), SGD also influences the seawater pH via considerable nutrient loadings. The findings highlight the importance of the investigation and management of groundwater to alleviate the fast coastal ocean acidification. Plain Language Summary: Seawater becoming more acidic is a big problem in coastal areas around the world due to climate change. The main causes of this acidification are excessive nutrient release and human‐generated carbon dioxide. When groundwater flows into coastal areas, it carries chemicals from the land that can affect the pH of the seawater. In our research, we discovered that groundwater releases more dissolved inorganic carbon compounds, which lower the seawater's pH, compared to the total alkalinity that normally helps maintain a stable pH. Groundwater is a major factor in causing acidification in semi‐closed bays along the coast. We want to emphasize the importance of understanding the impact of coastal processes and managing groundwater in order to slow down the acidification of coastal waters. Key Points: Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) strongly correlates with long‐term ocean acidification rates, unveiling their significant relationshipSGD accounts for ∼50% of seawater pH decline in semi‐closed bays, primarily through direct carbonate species inputSGD indirectly impacts seawater pH decline by influencing aerobic respiration processes, amplifying its role in pH dynamics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how individuals use their labour supply-hours of work and participation decisions-as a margin of adjustment or 'buffer' in response to financial shocks. The financial shock measure is constructed using individuals' expected change to their financial situation in the year ahead relative to the perceived outcome one year later. Using BHPS data, we find that both men and women adjust their labour supply in response to financial shocks. The propensity to participate in the labour market also appears to respond to the experience of a financial shock, but is less robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Wong et al. (2012) Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for influenza-associated mortality: evidence from an elderly cohort. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(4), 531-539. Background The effects of individual lifestyle factors on the mortality risk after influenza infection have not been explored. Objectives In this study, we assessed the modifying effects of cigarette smoking on mortality risks associated with influenza in a cohort of Hong Kong elders with a follow-up period of 1998-2009. Methods We used the Cox proportional hazards model with time-dependent covariates of weekly proportions of specimens positive for influenza (termed as influenza virus activity), to calculate the hazard ratio of mortality associated with a 10% increase in influenza virus activity for never, ex- and current smokers. Other individual lifestyle and socioeconomic factors as well as seasonal confounders were also added into the models. Results The overall hazard ratio associated with influenza was 1·028 (95% confidence interval, 1·006, 1·051) for all natural cause mortality and 1·035 (1·003, 1·068) for cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. We found that influenza-associated hazard ratio was greater in current and ex-smokers than in never smokers for mortality of all natural causes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Conclusions The findings suggest that smoking might increase influenza-associated mortality risks among elders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper argues against the continued practice of Confucian familism, even in its moderate form, in East Asian hospitals. According to moderate familism, a physician acting in concert with the patient's family may withhold diagnostic information from the patient, and may give it to the patient's family members without her prior approval. There are two main approaches to defend moderate familism: one argues that it can uphold patient's autonomy and protect her best interests; the other appeals to cultural relativism by construing the principle of 'family autonomy' to be incommensurable with that of individual autonomy. We respond to the first approach by explaining how the familist arguments either depend on some unreasonable assumptions or simply fail to articulate. The critique of the second approach is based on our recent survey showing that there is no dichotomy of relevant values between the East and the West: we believe that the result can effectively block the familist's reliance on certain traditional or cultural values to explain their resistance to the incorporation of pluralist values. Despite our disagreement with familism, we consider the Eastern emphasis on the family to be conducive to the communication between patient, family members and medical personnel, which is indispensible to the patient's well being and autonomy. We conclude that respect for patient autonomy is perfectly consistent with the involvement of the family in making medical decision as long as the family plays a merely consultant role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evening of 11 April 2011, vortex/wave shedding from a mountain to the south of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) appeared to occur following the establishment of fresh to strong easterly airflow in Hong Kong. This paper documents the observations by the various meteorological instruments of the event and discusses the possibility of forecasting the vortex/wave shedding using a high resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. The vortex/wave shedding was well observed by the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system at HKIA. The vortex/wave appeared as an area of reversed flow against the background east to southeasterly airflow in the airport area. It was detached from the mountain and moved to the northwest with the background southeasterly flow, with a gradual decrease of the spatial extent in the area of reversed flow. The vortex/wave brought about significant wind shear to both arrival flight paths to the west of HKIA, as evidenced from the headwind profile data measured by the LIDARs and the aircraft data. It had rather large vertical extent, reaching the top of the boundary layer, but did not extend downward to the surface, as shown from the vertical scans of the LIDAR and the surface wind observations. The shedding event is successfully captured by high-resolution NWP model with a spatial resolution of 50 m. The model output has a lead time of 6-7 h ahead of the event, indicating the possible occurrence of terrain-induced wind shear in the form of vortex/wave shedding from a mountain. As a result, the numerical simulation could be useful in giving an early alert to the aviation weather forecaster about the significant wind shear event, which could be hazardous to the landing aircraft. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the morning of 5 March 2010, an aircraft experienced tail strike when it departed from the south runway of the Hong Kong International Airport to the west. This paper documents the meteorological conditions in the tail strike event, and discusses the alerting and the forecasting aspects of the event. Based on the analysis of the aircraft manufacturer, the tail strike is believed to arise from significant wind shear (headwind loss) experienced by the aircraft. By analysing the surface and the LIDAR observations, it appears that the significant wind shear is related to disruption of the background southwesterly flow by the complex terrain near the airport. From the surface observations, there is a microscale cyclone at the western part of the south runway. The radial velocity image of the LIDAR also depicts an area of reverse flow in that region against the background southerly flow. The alerting of the wind shear based on the two wind shear alerting algorithms developed by the Hong Kong Observatory is discussed, and it turns out that the anemometer-based wind shear algorithm could successfully capture this wind shear occurring close to the ground. On the other hand, due to geometrical constraint, the LIDAR does not pick up the headwind loss experienced by the aircraft. The forecasting of this wind shear event is considered by performing high resolution (down to a horizontal resolution of 50 m) using a mesoscale numerical weather prediction model. The simulated headwind profile at the event time is generally consistent with the aircraft data, though the headwind loss in the simulation is smaller than the reality. Together with the forecast wind gusts, it may be possible to alert the aviation weather forecaster at an earlier time about the occurrence of terrain-induced wind shear over the south runway in this particular event. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how the characteristics of a Hong Kong-listed firm influence its odds of going bankrupt, being acquired, and going private. A competing risks model is estimated. Our results reveal that larger firms are more vulnerable to bankruptcy, and that fast-growing firms are more likely to be acquired. We also demonstrate that undervaluation is a key driver of going private. Despite the low agency cost due to the concentrated ownership structure, the propensity of Hong Kong-listed firms to go private still increases with the level of free cash flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Belshe et al. (2010). Efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine in children 6 months to 17 years of age. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(3), 141–145. Background It has been suggested that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) may be less effective in older individuals because of prior wild-type influenza infections. LAIV is currently approved in the United States, South Korea and Hong Kong for individuals 2–49 years of age. Objective To examine data from previously published pediatric studies to determine the efficacy of LAIV in various age groups. Methods Four studies in which the subject age range exceeded 36 months were identified: one 2-year study comparing LAIV with placebo and three 1-year studies comparing LAIV with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). Efficacy against any strain regardless of antigenic similarity to vaccine was analyzed by age; age groups were based on the study design and sample size. A logistic regression model was used to assess whether age, as a continuous variable, was an effect modifier on LAIV efficacy. Results The efficacy of LAIV did not vary with age in children aged 15–84 months compared with placebo or in children aged 6 months to 17 years compared with TIV. Conclusions The available data from prospective, randomized studies in children does not support the concept that prior repeated exposure to influenza, either through wild-type infection or vaccination with live, attenuated or inactivated vaccines, reduces the efficacy of LAIV compared with placebo or TIV. The decreased immunologic responses to LAIV reported in older individuals or those with pre-existing immunity do not appear to translate into reduced protection from influenza in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a theoretical framework for explaining the entry and exit decisions of a firm, motivated by the differential returns in its home and a host market. Within this framework, the factors underpinning the entry and exit decisions of foreign banks in Hong Kong are examined, using a duration (accelerated failure time) model. It can be seen that a foreign bank, with international experience from having more overseas markets will take a shorter (longer) time to enter (exit) the Hong Kong market. Faster (slower) growth both in home trade with Hong Kong and in the Hong Kong banking sector itself will increase the likelihood of entry (exit). Ceteris paribus, Asian banks enter at a faster rate and survive longer in the Hong Kong market. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports two cases in Hong Kong involving two native Chinese adolescent cancer patients (APs) who were denied their rights to consent to necessary treatments refused by their parents, resulting in serious harm. We argue that the dynamics of the ‘AP-physician-family-relationship’ and the dominant role Chinese families play in medical decision-making (MDM) are best understood in terms of the tendency to hierarchy and parental authoritarianism in traditional Confucianism. This ethic has been confirmed and endorsed by various Chinese writers from Mainland China and Hong Kong. Rather than giving an unqualified endorsement to this ethic, based more on cultural sentimentalism than rational moral reasoning, we warn that a strong familism in MDM, which deprives ‘weak’ family members of rights, represents the less desirable elements of this tradition, against which healthcare professionals working in this cultural milieu need to safeguard. Specifically for APs, we suggest that parental authority and family integrity should be re-interpreted in terms of parental responsibility and the enhancement of children's interests respectively, as done in the West. This implies that when parents refuse to consent to necessary treatment and deny their adolescent children's right to consent, doctors, as the only remaining advocates of the APs' interest, have the duty to inform the state, which can override parental refusal to enable the doctors to fulfill their professional and moral obligations. In so doing the state exercises its ‘parens patriae’ power to defend the defenseless in society and the integrity of the medical profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates public-trader order-placement strategies by examining the relations between the state of the limit-order book and previous price movements. There is support for an information effect, as traders become more aggressive in buying and more patient in selling after previous positive stock returns. The widening of the bid-ask spread also causes traders to place less aggressive orders. However, there is no evidence of the options effect on limit-order trading. This study also reveals that orders at the best quotes react faster and complete the adjustment earlier than orders that are far away from the best quotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the semi-enclosed bay named Tolo Harbour and Channel in Hong Kong, which was frequently attacked by red tides, was used as a case study. Data sets related to marine water quality, river nutrients, and meteorological conditions recorded between 1988 and 1999 were chosen for statistical analysis. A multivariate analysis showed that algal growth, represented by the chlorophyll a concentration, had obvious spatial and temporal variations in the study area. The chlorophyll a concentration had a consistently decreasing trend from the inner part of the Harbour and surface waters to the outer part and bottom waters. The temporal variations had a markedly seasonal variation with high bioproductivity in spring and winter. There were long-term fluctuations in the chlorophyll a concentration with a high-low-high pattern in the study period. Nutrients and hydrological and meteorological conditions were important factors of algal bloom. Besides nitrogen, which was the most critical factor of algal bloom for the whole water body, total phosphorus in the surface waters and phosphate (PO4) and silica (SiO2) in the bottom waters also showed strongly positive or negative correlations with the chlorophyll a level. For the meteorological conditions, global solar radiation was the key factor of massive algal bloom in the study period, while rainfall and wind direction were the most important factors of seasonal variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim Hong Kong is in a biogeographically interesting location on the northern margins of the Asian tropics. This paper analyzes the phytogeography of Hong Kong's bryophyte flora for the first time. Location Hong Kong lies on the South China coast, 22°9′–22°37′ N, 113°52′–114°30′ E. It is one of the most densely populated places in the world, but because of the rugged topography only 20% of the total land area of 1100 km[sup 2] is urbanized. Although 130 km south of the Tropic of Cancer, it has a subtropical climate with distinct hot, humid and cool, dry seasons. Methods The analysis is based on a new and relatively complete inventory of Hong Kong's bryoflora. Each taxon was assigned to a phytogeographical pattern on the basis of its present worldwide distribution. Krober's percentage similarity was employed to evaluate the floristic affinities between different regions. Results The bryophyte flora consists of at least 360 species and twelve infraspecific taxa in 159 genera and seventy families, of which four taxa are locally endemic. The largest families are Lejeuneaceae (fifty-one taxa), Fissidentaceae (28), Hypnaceae (21), Dicranaceae (20), Calymperaceae (18), and Sematophyllaceae (15). The largest genera are Fissidens (28), Cololejeunea (17), Lejeunea (10), Syrrhopodon (9), Frullania (8), and Macromitrium (8). Fourteen phytogeographical patterns are recognized. The East Asian pattern is the commonest (seventy-three taxa, 19.6%), followed by Asian–Australian–Oceanian (45, 12.1%) and Temperate (44, 11.8%). Overall, a third of taxa have tropical distributions. The bryofloras of eleven regions were compared with that of Hong Kong. The most similar regions are Hainan Province, Taiwan Province, and Japan. Mosses and liverworts show very similar phytogeographical distributions. Main conclusions (1) The Hong Kong bryoflora is best described as northern marginal tropical, with a strong Eastern Asian and Temperate influence; (2) the region of closest phytogeographical affinity for which information is available is Hainan; (3) in comparison with vascular plants, vertebrates and those invertebrate groups for which there is information, the bryoflora has a relatively low proportion of tropical taxa; (4) the bryoflora of Hong Kong appears to be exceptionally rich for its small area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: In Hong Kong, prevocational schools serve as an alternative to mainstream schools to provide education with more emphasis on practical and technical subjects. In this paper, health-risk behaviors of prevocational school (PVS) students were identified, and comparisons of health-risk behaviors with or without adjusting the demographic factors from prevocational schools and mainstream schools were made. The PVS students were at higher risk for most categories of health-risk behaviors such as unintentional and intentional injuries, smoking, alcohol drinking, glue sniffing, inadequate physical activity, insufficient consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and early sexual activity with multiple partners. Female students of PVS reported higher prevalence of emotional problems and substance abuse. Findings suggest that the school environment is an influential factor on the lifestyle behavior of students. Comprehensive health education and intervention programs are needed for youth in Hong Kong prevocational schools. (J Sch Health. 2001;71(9):443-447) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the effects of load sequence and interaction, and overloading effect on the fatigue damage of bridges on the basis of a non-linear fatigue damage model. The model is derived from the theory of continuum damage mechanics for high-cycle fatigue. Fatigue behaviour at two levels of constant stress range is first discussed in detail. The formulation for the effective fatigue strength of the predamaged members is then derived, and the results predicted by the model are compared with the experimental data for two stress level tests and other results obtained from linear and double linear fatigue damage models. The variation of cycle ratio and fatigue life due to overloading is secondly investigated; the equations for evaluating the effect of overloading on fatigue damage accumulation on bridges at normal traffic loading are then derived. It has been demonstrated that the developed model can well describe the effect of load sequence and interaction and has also been verified by comparing the predicted results obtained by the model with the experimental data based on two levels of stress tests. The effect of accidental overloading on the fatigue damage of existing bridges can also be evaluated using the model. The model is applied to evaluate the fatigue damage and service life of the Tsing Ma Bridge, an essential portion of the transport network for the Hong Kong airport, under normal traffic loading and possible accidental overloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DHL, an international air-express courier, has been operating Hong Kong for many years. In 1998, the new international airport located at a site considerably distant from the old location opened in Hong Kong(HK). Other airport-related infrastructure facilities have also been developed or are being developed, resulting in major changes in transport structure as well as shift in customer demand. In this paper a multiyear distribution network is designed for DHL(HK) using an integrated network design methodology, which consists of a macro model and model. The macro model, a mixed 0-1 LP, determines in an manner the least-cost distribution network. The micro according to its service coverage and service reliability. We also illustrate how coverage reliability. We also illustrate how coverage and reliability can be via integrated use of the two model. Extensive discussion on relevant and operational issues of an air-express courier are included. The methodology has successfully implemented at DHL(HK). It has been used to design the network, to test strategic decision, and to update the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Hong Kong, heat-related illness (HRI) represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality among healthy adults engaging in outdoor activities during summer. It can result in intensive care unit (ICU) admission. This retrospective study aimed to profile critically ill patients with HRI and identify potential risk factors for mortality. Methods: This retrospective case series included adults with HRI from 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2020 admitted to the ICU of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH). Demographics, admission severity, co-morbidities, and laboratory investigations were analysed. Outcome data studied included mortality, ICU length of stay (LOS), ventilator days, and hospital LOS. Results: Among the 38 individuals included, 97% were hikers. About 92.1% of patients survived, while 7.9% expired. The median age of the patients was 48 years, and 78.9% were men. Hypertension was the most frequent concurrent disorder. Most cases were presented during the hot summer months of May (29%), July (24%) and August (18%). The localities' median peak temperature and humidity were 33.2°C and 88%, respectively. Ninety-two percent of patients were airlifted to the hospital by helicopters. The median peak body temperature was 40.3°C. Central nervous system derangement (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ⩽ 8) was the top presenting feature (65.7%). About 57.9% of patients required vasopressor support, followed by mechanical ventilation (50%) and renal replacement therapy (31.6%). Conclusions: Most critically ill patients suffering from HRI were hikers and middle-aged adults. Mortality was 7.9% despite advanced life support in ICU. Raising public awareness of the associated risk with hiking in hot summer is essential for the prevention of HRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the impact of adding selected mechanism of injury (MOI) to the existing trauma diversion criteria adopted in Hong Kong. Method: This is a cross-sectional study based on the trauma registry of New Territory West Cluster (NTWC) of Hospital Authority from January 2017 to December 2019. All adult patients aged 18 years or above were recruited if their injury occurred in the catchment area of Pok Oi Hospital (POH) or Tin Shui Wai Hospital (TSWH). Performance of the protocol before and after MOI criteria being added in terms of over-diversion and under-diversion rate was determined. Model discrimination was evaluated by plotting the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the area under the curve was compared before and after MOI criteria added. Net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement indices were evaluated. Result: A total of 502 patients were included for analysis. Before MOI criteria were added, the over-diversion rate and under-diversion rate were 31.1% and 54.7%, respectively. After MOI criteria were added, the over-diversion rate and under-diversion rate were 33.1% and 34.3%, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic curve of current primary trauma diversion (PTD) criteria had an area under the curve of 66.9% (95% confidence interval: 63%–71%). After adding MOI criteria, the new receiver operating characteristic curve yielded an area under the curve of 73.7% (95% confidence interval: 70%–78%), which is significantly better (p < 0.001). Net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement indices indicated that including MOI criteria would improve the model prediction. Conclusion: Adding mechanism of injury can improve trauma diversion protocol performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currency boards have had an enduring attraction as a solution to exchange rate and monetary credibility for small open economies, despite few successful examples. In this context, the case of Hong Kong stands out for its longevity; it survived the handover to China, the Asian financial crises in 1997, and the global crises in 2007–8 and 2020. The 1983 currency crisis and the decision to link the exchange rate to the US$ is usually treated as an outcome of local political uncertainty due to the Sino‐British negotiations which set the framework for how Hong Kong would fit with the rest of China after 1997. We present fresh archival evidence from Hong Kong and London to reveal the year‐long debates over Hong Kong's monetary system after a drop in the exchange rate in September 1982 and to demonstrate how most of the protagonists in Hong Kong and London came only reluctantly to accept the idea of re‐pegging the dollar once public expectations had been raised. We also show how the mixture of currency and banking instability affected the terms of the negotiations in 1982 and 1983 and set the framework for the one country, two currencies system that prevails today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1997 North American Summer Meeting of the Econometric Society will be held at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California from June 25-29, 1997. The Program Chair will be Tom Palfrey and the Local Arrangements Chair is Kim Border. The program will include both invited and contributed papers. All paper submissions should be mailed to the Program Chair. The specification of paper submissions is also presented. Also, the 1997 Far Eastern Meeting of the Econometric Society will be held at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong on July 24-26, 1997.