A company was fined $4,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (February 12) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in June last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Old Bailey Street in Central which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).
      
     The OLA officers posed as customer and patronised the club for food without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached.
      
     The company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
      
     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following announcement today (February 12):
 
     Four patients (aged 47 to 62) in a female ward for severe intellectual disability presented with respiratory symptoms since February 10. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Influenza A. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition.
 
     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting arrangements have been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. 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.

     A sick 87-year-old male remand person in custody at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre died in a public hospital today (February 12).
 
     The remand person in custody suffered from ischemic heart disease and renal failure. He required continuous medical care and follow-up at the institution hospital and public hospital. On January 26, he was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 7.55am today. 

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court. 

     The remand person in custody was remanded for the offence of criminal damage in January 2019.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (February 12) reminded members of the public that the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme has been implemented since January 1, and commuters will be able to collect the public transport fare subsidy for January at over 1 800 locations in the territory starting from this Saturday (February 16).

     The ways for collecting the subsidy (Annex 1) are as follows:
 

• the Subsidy Collection Points – installed at (1) all MTR stations and Light Rail Customer Service Centres; and (2) designated ferry piers and public transport interchanges (please refer to Annex 2 for the locations);
• any outlet of 7-Eleven, Circle-K and Wellcome supermarket;
• through the Octopus App; and
• the Octopus Service Points.

     Steps for collection can be found in Annex 3.

     A spokesman for the TD added that on and after the 16th of each month, commuters can collect the subsidy of the previous month through the same channels. The subsidy for each month is valid for collection within the next three months. Hence, members of the public can collect the subsidy for January within three months (i.e. from February 16 to May 15). 

     "Based on the actual expenses of commuters under the Scheme, the total amount of subsidy to be handed out to commuters in January 2019 is around $186 million, involving over 2.3 million beneficiaries," the TD spokesman said.

     Commuters may check their record of public transport expenses and subsidy amount through the website of the Subsidy Scheme (www.ptfss.gov.hk), the Octopus App and the hotline of the Subsidy Scheme (2969 5500). For enquires about the details of the Subsidy Scheme, please see the website of the Subsidy Scheme or call 1823.

     A cross-boundary driver was convicted and sentenced to 39 months' imprisonment today (February 12) at the District Court for using a private vehicle with an altered structure to smuggle gold, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming private car which entered Hong Kong via Shenzhen Bay Control Point on August 17, 2016. Thirty gold bars weighing about 30 kilograms with an estimated market value of about $11 million were found concealed near a front tyre of the vehicle. The 34-year-old male driver was then arrested.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the IEO, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).