The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients in the Developmental Disabilities Unit of Caritas Medical Centre with upper respiratory infection, the spokesperson for Caritas Medial Centre gave the following update today (May 7):
 
     Three more patients of the unit (aged 6 to 14) presented with upper respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged. The test result of one patient was positive for human metapneumovirus and the patient is in serious condition while another patient tested positive for Influenza A virus and is in stable condition. The result of the other patient was positive for both human metapneumovirus and Influenza A virus. The patient is in critical condition owing to underlying illness and is being treated under isolation at United Christian Hospital.
 
     The hospital has informed the relatives of the patients about the situation. Infection control measures of the ward have been enhanced. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
 

     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) said today (May 7) that no additional case of measles infection had been recorded as at 4pm today.
 
     Regarding measles control measures implemented at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), a total of 16 persons had received measles vaccination at the airport vaccination station as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8374.
 
     From tomorrow (May 8) to May 17 (excluding Sundays and public holidays), measles vaccination will be provided to airport staff who:
 
(1) Were born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before; or
(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).
 
     The vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 600 doses daily. The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:
 

 
     As for the blood test service, the DH has continued to provide the measles serology test service to airport staff who were born in or after 1967 today, where six blood samples have been collected. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results.
 
     The pilot service at the blood test station to provide measles serology testing for Filipino foreign domestic helpers who are coming to or returning to work in Hong Kong has also been continued today. So far, 12 of such blood samples have been collected. The DH will notify these participants individually of the serology results.

     The Lands Department announced today (May 7) that the tender for a site, New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6552 at Kai Tak Area 4C Site 2, Kai Tak, Kowloon, has been awarded to the highest tenderer, Marble Edge Investments Limited (parent company: China Overseas Land & Investment Limited, Chime Corporation Limited, Empire Development Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, Henderson Land Development Company Limited, New World Development Company Limited and Wheelock Properties Limited), on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $12,590,000,000.
     
     The tenderers, other than the successful tenderer, in alphabetical order, with the name of the parent company where provided by the tenderer in brackets, were:

(1) Dragon Star H.K. Investments Limited (K. Wah International Holdings Limited);
(2) Great Rainbow Investments Limited (CK Asset Holdings Limited);
(3) Lucky Victory Limited (Sino Land Company Limited);
(4) Main Glory Enterprises Limited (KWG Group Holdings Limited, Agile Property Land Co. Ltd and Longfor Group Holdings Limited);
(5) Master Creative International Limited (Fortune Creation Enterprises Limited); and
(6) Winner Harvest Limited (Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited).
     
     New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6552 has a site area of about 9,765 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding office, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes. The minimum gross floor area is 35,740 sq m and the maximum gross floor area that may be attained is 59,566 sq m.

     The owners of two goods vehicles which were involved in two cases of illegal waste disposal were convicted and fined a total of $6,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (May 7) for contravening the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation. In addition to these two convictions, five other cases of the same kind are being scheduled for hearings in different district courts.

     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that to step up efforts to combat illegal construction waste disposal, the department had installed round-the-clock surveillance camera systems at various construction waste fly-tipping black spots across Hong Kong to assist in evidence collection and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement. In November last year and January this year, the department's surveillance camera systems on Lok Shan Road and Ha Heung Road in To Kwa Wan recorded footage of wooden cabinets and other waste being unloaded from goods vehicles on pedestrian paths, causing obstructions on the pavement and adversely affecting environmental hygiene. The department subsequently issued summonses to the registered owners of the two goods vehicles involved in accordance with the law.

     The spokesman said in addition to the EPD's surveillance camera systems, the department conducted blitz operations in different districts regularly to strictly combat illegal disposal of waste. The department hopes that the above series of successful convictions against illegal waste disposal can strengthen the deterrent effect. The spokesman reminded all members of the renovation, construction and transportation sectors, including persons-in-charge of construction sites, workers and drivers as well as owners of goods vehicles, that they must properly deliver construction waste to the government waste management facilities in accordance with the law. It is unlawful to dispose of waste in public places or on the roadside. According to the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, it is an offense to dispose of waste on the streets or in public places from vehicles, including goods vehicles, private cars and motorcycles. Registered owners may be prosecuted. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     The spokesman urged members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness any illegal disposal of waste. They can record videos or take photos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 7) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection, and reminded members of the public who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season that they can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza.

     The case involves a 6-year-old boy with underlying illness, who has presented with fever since April 23. He was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of United Christian Hospital for treatment yesterday (May 6).

     His respiratory specimen tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia. He is now in a critical condition.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had not received seasonal influenza vaccination for the current season and had no travel history during the incubation period.

     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     "Although the winter influenza season has ended, members of the public aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2018-19 season can still receive it for personal protection against seasonal influenza," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Meanwhile, the public should continue to adopt strict personal, hand and environmental hygiene practices against respiratory illnesses and other infectious diseases," the spokesman added.

     The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express for more information.