Hongkong Post today (September 4) announced that all airmail postal services (including Speedpost service) to Australia will resume from September 7 as airlines gradually scale up their air traffic capacity. Notwithstanding this, local postal operations in Australia are still under the influence of the pandemic and delays in mail delivery are expected.
      
     Members of the public may visit the web page of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index_id_980.html to refer to the service types currently available for overseas destinations.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital made the following announcement today (September 4):
      
     A 93-year-old patient in a female medical and orthopaedics rehabilitation ward was confirmed to be infected with Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) on September 2. The patient is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. In accordance with prevailing guidelines, the hospital has commenced contact tracing and identified seven female patients (aged 85 to 97) to be CPE carriers without clinical symptoms. One of them has been discharged already and six others are under isolation in stable condition.
      
     The Hospital Infection Control Team has followed up with the departments concerned and the Centre for Health Protection. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward:
 
1. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs in To Kwa Wan yesterday (September 3) intercepted a vehicle that was suspected to be used for illicit cigarette distribution. About 380 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.04 million and a duty potential of about $720,000 were seized.

     Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in To Kwa Wan yesterday evening and intercepted a light goods vehicle (LGV). The batch of suspected illicit cigarettes was seized on board the vehicle. Upon initial investigation, it was suspected that the LGV was used for distributing illicit cigarettes. The 44-year-old male driver was then arrested and the LGV was also detained. 

     The arrested man has been charged with contravening the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and will appear at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on September 29.

     Under the DCO, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

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

  

     Police today (September 4) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Central.

     Chan Sze-nga, aged 39, went missing after she left her residence on Queen's Road West on August 30. Her family made a report to Police on September 2.
         
     She is about 1.55 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing glasses, a grey short-sleeved T-shirt, blue trousers, black shoes and carrying a black rucksack.
          
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (September 4), 25 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 4 456 patients with confirmed or probable infections have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 677 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 209 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 261 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 20 public hospitals and a community treatment facility, among which 26 patients are in critical condition, 14 are in serious condition and the remaining 221 patients are in stable condition.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner. 
 
     Details of the above-mentioned patients are as follows: