Briefs | SSM still assessing new Hepatitis C drug

The Health Bureau (SSM) is still assessing the use of a new drug intended to treat Hepatitis C patients, according to the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam. Sofosbuvir, a new and effective – yet costly – drug, has become available on the market and has been listed in Macau. However, it has not yet been used to treat patients here. Sufferers have been waiting to be treated with the new drug, which according to the World Health Organization is particularly recommended to those who cannot access other treatments after developing cirrhosis, one of Hepatitis C’s most commonly related diseases. SSM said in July that the use of Sofosbuvir was under assessment in order to evaluate results and possible side effects.

Millions from scammers remitted to Macau

HKSAR police have discovered that some of the HKD126 million that Hongkongers lost to cross-border phone scammers last month has been remitted to Malaysia, Taiwan and Macau, according to the South China Morning Post. Police sources revealed that the average amount fraudsters managed to squeeze out of a victim between August 1 and 13 was a massive HKD1.45 million, whereas it was HKD400,000 for the whole of last month. “Initial investigation showed that some of the money was transferred to bank accounts in Malaysia, Taiwan and Macau. We believe people from Malaysia, Taiwan and Macau are also involved in the telephone scams,” police told the Post. The source said that it was unlikely the lost money would be recovered, but indicated that police would seek help from the international police organization Interpol to identify the holders of the bank accounts and track down the swindlers.

China State Construction grows on Macau, HK operations

Moody’s Investors Service says that the first-half results of China State Construction Int’l Holdings support its Baa2 issuer rating. “CSCI’s sound business visibility and improved sales and profitability in 1H 2015 support its Baa2 ratings; thereby mitigating a rise in debt leverage over the same period,” said Jiming Zou, a Moody’s Vice President and Senior Analyst. CSCI’s revenue grew 18.8 percent to HKD16.9 billion in 1H 2015 from HKD14.2 billion in 1H 2014. While revenues from Hong Kong and Macau grew 20.1 percent and 93.7 percent respectively between 1H 2014 and 1H 2015, primarily due to the commencement of several large civil and commercial projects, revenue from mainland China grew a moderate 5.1 percent over the same period.