A new species of Everhartia associated with leaf spots of Phoenix hanceana from Hong Kong

A new species of Everhartia, E. phoenicis , is described and illustrated. The fungus was collected on living leaves of Phoenix hanceana in Twisk, Tai Mo Shan. Hong Kong. Everhartia phoenicis is associated with yellow spots on living leaves and rachides of the host, and is the only species in the genus known to be pathogenic. It differs from other species of Everhartia in producing symmetric, hyaline, aseptate, horseshoe-shaped conidia. Everhartia phoenicis is compared with other species in the genus. Everhartia is very similar to Delortia and the differences between these two genera are discussed. Two species of Everhartia, E. aquatica and E. tumidoapuis arc transferred from Delortia .     

The population dynamics, reproductive strategy and life history tactics of Musculium lacusfre (Bivalvia: Pisidiidae) in Hong Kong

Hitherto uninvestigated in Hong Kong are the population dynamics, reproductive strategies and life history tactics of the Pisidiidae of which three species are known to occur locally. This study is of Musculium lacustre inhabiting a drainage ditch of the Lam Tsuen River in the New Territories of Hong Kong and extended over 15 months during 1983–84.
In Hong Kong, M. lacustre is a protandric, simultaneous hermaphrodite that matures at a length of 2 mm; the majority of each generation is, however, not mature until a length of between 4–6 mm is attained. Fertilized eggs are brooded in the inner demibranchs until they reach a length of 1.5 mm when they are released as post-foetal larvae. Musculium lacustre is univoltine. Reproduction occurs twice a year but, since M. lacustve is semelparous, the population contains, at any one time, two overstepping generations. Thus, a spring generation is recruited and grows rapidly to generate a second, smaller, autumn generation. This in turn grows rapidly and matures to produce the spring generation of the succeeding year. Adult mortality occurs in late summer and winter. A few of the late-born spring generation may overwinter to contribute to the spring generation of the succeeding year. This is not so with the autumn generation.
Such sexual and life history tactics can be related to the climate and hydrology of Hong Kong and its freshwater habitats. Reproduction takes place in spring and autumn when temperatures are moderate. Mortality is high in summer and winter when the habitat is either, respectively, hot and flushed out by summer rains or cold and dry. As M. larustre is able to overwinter but not aestivate at these latitudes (22° N), it is postulated that this holarctic species is approaching the southern limit of its asiatic range. Musculium larustre is compared with the other bivalves inhabiting fresh and brackish-water habitats in southern China.     

Nutrient flow in a major urban settlement: Hong Kong

A nutrient balance is established for the contemporary urban ecosystem of Hong Kong. The flow of nutrients in the Hong Kong food system in particular is examined, including current and potential nutrient recycling patterns. Losses of nutrients in food for human consumption are found to be up to 20% for major nutrients. The flow of mineral phosphorus in the Hong Kong food system is examined in detail. About 3600 tonnes of phosphorus are lost from the Hong Kong food system each year. A comparison is made between the land-based forage area demand of the Hong Kong population and a similar-sized Western population, that of Sydney, Australia. It is estimated that the average Hong Kong person consumes a diet which requires only half the land area needed to produce the diet of the average Sydney person. However, Hong Kong relies on the ocean for 25% of its animal protein supply compared with 2.5% for Sydney. Patterns of food production and nutrient recycling are proposed, with the aim of optimizing resource utilization in close association with contemporary urban settlements.     

Secular trend of menarcheal age in southern Chinese girls.

Southern Chinese girls aged 11 years and 9 months to 12 years and 3 months in Hong Kong have a mean menarcheal age of 11.50 years (standard deviation of 0.47) using the recollection method. Highly significant differences are found when compared to the 12-year-old girls in Hong Kong studied in the past decades. Therefore, a secular trend of earlier menarcheal age is demonstrated.     

Hong Kong’s rich marine biodiversity: the unseen wealth of South China’s megalopolis

Hong Kong is famous as a bustling harbour and financial centre, with a dense burgeoning population impacting its coastal environment. Yet, away from the skyscrapers and the pressures of anthropogenic influence, Hong Kong supports a rich marine biodiversity, including corals and mangrove communities. Despite having a small marine area (1651 km²), a total of 5943 marine species have been recorded in Hong Kong waters. Most of these species were reported during the 1980s and 1990s, but new species continue to be discovered, and ~6500 species are estimated. Even though Hong Kong’s marine area is only ~0.03 % of that of China, the number of marine species recorded in Hong Kong already accounts for ~26 % of the total recorded in China. Hong Kong also contributes to a considerable amount (>30 %) of the species records for several taxa including amphipods, cephalopods, polychaetes and fish in the South China Sea, and ~29 % of the hermit crab species in the largest global marine species database, the World Register of Marine Species. These findings demonstrate the rich marine biota found in Hong Kong, which probably reflects Hong Kong’s location within the fringes of the world’s marine biodiversity hotspot.     

Vermicomposting in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong

The treatment and disposal of pig-waste in Hong Kong has received much attention in recent years but, following any of the presently used treatment processes, solids remain to be further stabilized. Vermicomposting is a waste stabilization technique which converts waste into potentially recyclable materials such as worm protein and worm casts. The earthworm, Pheretima asiatica, can stabilize most of the solids arising from the treatment of pig-waste, including raw pig manure, suggesting that vermicomposting has a high potential as a unit process in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong.S.H. Wong is with the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong; and D.A. Griffiths is with the Department of Botany, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.     

香港特区公营医院运行机制评估及对内地的启示

回顾香港医疗融资的发展历程并简述香港公营医院的运营状况与开支构成比,重点分析香港公营医院的管理机构——香港医院管理局,研究其宗旨任务与目标策略相结合的管理医院管理战略,跟踪其主要经费来源的变化趋势,对其财务状况进行深入探究并进行预测。在对香港公营医院运行机制进行评估的基础上,探讨香港公营医院存在的问题以及对内地的启示,为内地医院管理机构借鉴香港逐步建立以政府投入为主体的医疗融资体系提供参考。     

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other halophilic vibrios associated with seafood in Hong Kong

The summer prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other halophilic vibrios in seafood from Hong Kong markets was investigated. Halophilic vibrios were isolated from all seven types of seafood examined, and comprised 9.1%, 8% and 6.1% of contaminating aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from mussels, clams and oysters respectively. Sucrose-positive vibrios were more common than sucrose-negative varieties. Vibrio alginolyticus was the most frequently isolated species, followed by V. parahaemolyticus, V. harveyi, V. fluvialis, V. vulnificus, V. pelagius, V. campbellii, V. spendidus and V. marinus. Mussels contained the highest concentration of V. parahaemolyticus (4.6 x 10(4)/g); oysters and clams contained 3.4 x 10(4)/g and 6.5 x 10(3)/g respectively. The ubiquity and relatively high concentrations of V. parahaemolyticus and other pathogenic vibrios in shellfish is a potential public health hazard in Hong Kong and other subtropical Asian countries.     

A possible geographic origin of endemic hepatitis C virus 6a in Hong Kong: evidences for the association with Vietnamese immigration

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) 6a accounts for 23.6% of all HCV infections of the general population and 58.5% of intravenous drug users in Hong Kong. However, the geographical origin of this highly predominant HCV subgenotype is largely unknown. This study explores a hypothesis for one possible transmission route of HCV 6a to Hong Kong.

Methods

NS5A sequences derived from 26 HCV 6a samples were chosen from a five year period (1999–2004) from epidemiologically unrelated patients from Hong Kong. Partial-NS5A sequences (513-bp from nt 6728 to 7240) were adopted for Bayesian coalescent analysis to reconstruct the evolutionary history of HCV infections in Hong Kong using the BEAST v1.3 program. A rooted phylogenetic tree was drawn for these sequences by alignment with reference Vietnamese sequences. Demographic data were accessed from “The Statistic Yearbooks of Hong Kong”.

Results

Bayesian coalescent analysis showed that the rapid increase in 6a infections, which had increased more than 90-fold in Hong Kong from 1986 to 1994 correlated to two peaks of Vietnamese immigration to Hong Kong from 1978 to 1997. The second peak, which occurred from 1987 through 1997, overlapped with the rapid increase of HCV 6a occurrence in Hong Kong. Phylogenetic analyses have further revealed that HCV 6a strains from Vietnam may be ancestral to Hong Kong counterparts.

Conclusions

The high predominance of HCV 6a infections in Hong Kong was possibly associated with Vietnamese immigration during 1987–1997.     

Chinatown UK v. Colonial Hong Kong: An early exercise in transnational militancy and manipulation, 1967–1969

In the late 1960s, Hong Kong was hit by a wave of social and political unrest, an echo in the colony of China's Cultural Revolution of 1966–69. The unrest spread to parts of Britain's Chinatown, where a leftist movement emerged in sympathy with the Hong Kong agitation. Among the Chinatown leftists were former supporters of the Communist anti-Japanese guerrillas in Hong Kong's rural New Territories. The colonial authorities reacted to these developments in Britain by drawing up plans to protect and assist overseas Hong Kong residents in an attempt to win their political approval and stymie the pro-Communists. The Hong Kong Government Office [HKGO] in London started providing materials for Chinese-language schools and set up various other communal services. Later, it launched a campaign to foster the emigrants’ “Hong Kong identity”. The scheme was in many ways successful. Chinatowners were usually happy to make use of the facilities on offer. However, there is little evidence that the HKGO succeeded in winning their political allegiance.     

福建假马齿苋属的初步研究

本文报道了福建省3种假马齿苋属植物:麦花草、假马齿苋和匍匐假马齿苋,其中匍匐假马齿苋为我国新记录的归化植物,新近发表的田玄参是该种的同物异名,田玄参属相应地应归并入假马齿苋属。同时,还纠正了国内有关假马齿苋学名和文献引证中的错误。     

2000-2030年深港景观格局演变时空分异与趋势对比分析

自然气候条件相近但社会经济制度差异显著的深圳与香港为我国制度探索与经济建设提供了重要窗口,两地的景观格局演变规律与发展趋势将深刻影响粤港澳大湾区的生态文明建设进程。以深港两地三期历史土地覆被数据为依据,应用CA-Markov模型预测了2030年景观类型,采用地学信息图谱、景观格局指数等方法对比了深港景观格局的时空分异特征,并通过地理探测器模型、logistic回归模型等方法,探讨了深圳与香港景观格局变化的驱动机制的异同。结果表明：（1）研究期内,深港两地景观格局变化显著,各景观类型之间互相转移频繁。深圳人造地表景观面积将持续增加,而香港则呈现先减少后增加的趋势;（2）深港两地的优势景观类型仍然是人造地表与林地。两地景观形状将趋于简单,相比于香港,深圳景观在呈现较高多样性的同时具有更为破碎化的特点;（3）夜间灯光所表征的经济发展水平对两地人造地表的扩张影响很大。在政策规划、社会经济水平、自然地理条件等多种因素的综合作用下,两地未来景观发展趋同存异。     

Eating Metropolitaneity: Hong Kong Identity in yumcha

In Hong Kong, yumcha as a pervasive form of eating in the public has become an institution which epitomises the diversity and inclusiveness that Hong Kong people think are quintessential to the civility and economic achievement of the metropolis. It stands out particularly as a practice that has come to represent both locally and overseas a Hong Kong culture which has previously been characterised as residual of ‘Chinese tradition’ and ‘Western customs’, and hence is virtually non-existent. This paper looks at the consumption of metropolitaneity and the culturalisation of the heunggongyan or Hong Kong personal identity in the form, content and social relations involved in yumcha. It points to the significance of yumcha as a key to understanding a collective identity which has become more and more apparent as Hong Kong people vehemently try to establish a city with its own culture, first against the colonial grip and then the return of sovereignty to China in 1997.     

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other halophilic vibrios associated with seafood in Hong Kong

The summer prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other halophilic vibrios in seafood from Hong Kong markets was investigated. Halophilic vibrios were isolated from all seven types of seafood examined, and comprised 9.1%, 8% and 6.1% of contaminating aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from mussels, clams and oysters respectively. Sucrose-positive vibrios were more common than sucrose-negative varieties. Vibrio alginolyticus was the most frequently isolated species, followed by V. parahaemolyticus, V. harveyi, V.fluvialis, V. vulnificus, V. pelagius, V. campbellii, V. spendidus and V. marinus. Mussels contained the highest concentration of V. parahaemolyticus (4.6×10³/g); oysters and clams contained 3.4×10⁴/g and 6.5×10³/g respectively. The ubiquity and relatively high concentrations of V. parahaemolyticus and other pathogenic vibrios in shellfish is a potential public health hazard in Hong Kong and other subtropical Asian countries.     

A Review of the Legal and Policy Framework for Vessel Source Pollution in Hong Kong

Vessel source marine pollution is an increasingly major concern at both the national and international levels. Hong Kong, as an important maritime center, is naturally concerned with vessel source pollution. To meet the challenges, Hong Kong has formulated policies and measures that emphasize “green shipping” as part of an overall planning strategy that promotes a “green economy.” This article provides a review and analysis of Hong Kong's marine pollution laws, with a view toward making policy suggestions. It argues that the general perception of the adequacy of Hong Kong's marine laws in combating vessel source pollution is flawed. It suggests that Hong Kong should adopt a more forward-looking perspective in the formulation of legal measures to control vessel source pollution.     

宽胸蛛属1新种记述（蜘蛛目：球蛛科）

记述采自中国香港的球蛛科宽胸蛛属1新种:旋转宽胸蛛Euryopis cyclosisasp.nov.。     

A comparative study of chemical contamination in sediments of East River (Dongjiang) and selected reservoirs in Hong Kong

Abstract

The levels of TKN, orthophosphate, heavy metals and trace organics including total PCBs and PAHs in the sediments of the East River (Dongjiang) and various reservoirs in Hong Kong were chemically analyzed. It was found that the sediments of various sections of Dongjing and the Shenzhen Reservoir were contaminated by heavy metals at slight to medium levels. Generally speaking, the highest levels of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were recorded in the middle and lower tributaries of Dongjaing, particularly those near Tangxia and Guanlan. Slight amount of PCBs, PAHs were also detected in the lower sections of Dongjiang, indicating industrial contamination due to economic growth in the 1980–90s. Comparatively, only slight amounts of heavy metals were detected in the sediments of some Hong Kong reservoirs that store imported Dongjiang water. Moreover, trace organics including PCBs and PAHs were rarely detected in the reservoirs of Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the high acidity in the sediments of Hong Kong reservoirs is noteworthy. Results revealed that the Dongjiang waters were purified to a certain extent before being imported to and stored at the Hong Kong reservoirs. At present, health risks from the drinking water of Hong Kong are not apparent. However, the long-term trend of organic and inorganic contamination in Dongjiang should not be overlooked and remedial actions should be taken as early as possible. Collaboration between the governments of Hong Kong and Mainland China in tackling chemical pollution in drinking water is an example of cross-border cooperation and control measures should be stepped up as soon as possible.     

香港蜘蛛区系研究

本文报道了香港地区蜘蛛2个新纪录科29个新记录种,并初步分析了香港蜘蛛区系的特点。香港蜘蛛共计24科90属148种,特有种占20％,区系组成与新加坡近似。     

The continued pandemic threat posed by avian influenza viruses in Hong Kong

In 1997, a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza virus was transmitted directly from live commercial poultry to humans in Hong Kong. Of the 18 people infected, six died. The molecular basis for the high virulence of this virus in mice was found to involve an amino acid change in the PB2 protein. To eliminate the source of the pathogenic virus, all birds in the Hong Kong markets were slaughtered. In 1999, another avian influenza virus of H9N2 subtype was transmitted to two children in Hong Kong. In 2000-2002, H5N1 avian viruses reappeared in the poultry markets of Hong Kong, although they have not infected humans. Continued circulation of H5N1 and other avian viruses in Hong Kong raises the possibility of future human influenza outbreaks. Moreover, the acquisition of properties of human viruses by the avian viruses currently circulating in southeast China might result in a pandemic.