In response to media enquiries today (August 10) on the Police's operation and relevant investigations, a spokesman for the Security Bureau said the following:
      
     The Security Bureau will not comment on operation details. However, it should be pointed out that no one is above the law. Anybody who violates the law must face justice regardless of his/her status or background. The Police will not adopt a tolerant attitude and will take resolute enforcement action in accordance with the law.
      
     In respect of any illegal acts, the Police have the responsibility to make the best efforts to gather evidence and will act in accordance with the laws and procedures. For evidence-gathering in premises, the Police have applied for search warrant from the court in accordance with the law and relevant procedures, and will carry out the search according to the authorisation under the warrant obtained. The Police always carry out search applications and operations based on investigation need, which is both lawful and reasonable. 
      
     Upon the promulgation and coming into effect of the National Security Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government immediately established the National Security Department under the Hong Kong Police Force, and has been proactively implementing the legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security. The Security Bureau staunchly pushes forward and supports the enforcement work of the Police in taking lawful measures to prevent, suppress and punish those acts and activities endangering national security, with a view to safeguarding national security and bringing Hong Kong back on the right track.
     

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
     
     The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) today (August 10) made the following announcement concerning one preliminarily positive case for COVID-19 infection and provide updates about an earlier close contact case:
      
     A 62-year-old male patient with chronic disease attended the Accident and Emergency Department of KWH presented with fever and cough on August 8. Doctor, based on clinical decision, arranged COVID-19 deep throat saliva test for him but without the need of hospital admission. The result revealed on August 9 was preliminarily positive. The patient will be admitted for treatment under isolation.
      
     The hospital reviewed the patient's previous admission history and found that he was admitted to a general surgical ward due to gastrointestinal symptoms on August 1. He neither presented with fever nor respiratory symptoms on the day of admission. With the onset of fever, the patient was admitted to a surveillance ward and COVID-19 test was arranged for him on August 3. The test result was negative and the patient was transferred to the general surgical ward for continuous treatment. The patient was later discharged from the hospital on August 4.
      
     The hospital's infection control team immediately conducted contact tracing for the 62-year-old male patient. All healthcare workers who provided treatment and care to him were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with the infection control guidelines of the Hospital Authority. Therefore, no staff member had been classified as a close contact. Besides, the hospital was notified that the patient's spouse was a staff member of KWH and she was therefore classified as a close contact. CHP would follow up on the necessary tests and quarantine arrangements for her. The staff member did not present with any symptoms and was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with the infection control guidelines of the Hospital Authority during work. She had not returned to the hospital for work since her family member was preliminarily confirmed with COVID-19 infection. Her last working day was on August 9.

     At the same time, the hospital continued to follow up the close contacts of the 70-year-old male patient confirmed with COVID-19 infection (case number: 4030) announced yesterday (August 9). The hospital had arranged COVID-19 test for the seven in-patients who had stayed in the same general surgical ward with the confirmed patient. Among the patients, six of them were tested negative for COVID-19. The remaining 54-year-old male patient was tested positive and immediately transferred to the isolation ward for treatment. He was currently in stable condition. The connection between these COVID-19 cases was under investigation.
      
     In light of the above cases, the hospital had arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection of the general surgical ward concerned. Admission to the ward had been suspended.
      
     The hospital would continue to closely monitor the health of staff members and patients and also maintain communication with the CHP to follow up on the latest situation.

     The Government gazetted today (August 10) the directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) to extend the social distancing measures currently in place. The above directions and specifications will take effect at 0.00am on August 12 for a period of seven days till August 18.

     The epidemic situation of COVID-19 in Hong Kong has continued to remain severe. While the number of daily new confirmed cases in Hong Kong over the past week has declined slightly, the overall figure remains high and the mortality rate has continued to rise. Among these local cases, the infection source of about 40 per cent is unknown, indicating the existence of sustained silent transmission in the community and therefore a considerably high risk of a large-scale community outbreak. Nonetheless, there are still a large number of people out and about on the streets and indoor and outdoor public places remain crowded during weekends, a clear sign that members of the public are experiencing anti-epidemic fatigue.

     According to the World Health Organization and health experts, COVID-19 would not be eradicated without effective treatment and vaccination. The Government thus is required to incorporate work in relation to disease prevention and control as well as infection management into the new normal of the daily operation of the society. To this end, the Government has all along adopted the "suppress and lift" strategy in order to quickly adjust epidemic control measures having regard to the development of the epidemic situation. In view of the epidemic situation which has remained severe, the Government considers it necessary to extend the relevant social distancing measures.

     The Government strongly urges the public to stay at home as much as possible, go out less often unless necessary, and avoid dining out and unnecessary social activities (including private gatherings), to fight the epidemic together without letting down one's guard, in order to reduce community transmission and so as to cut the community transmission chain. Maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene at all times is key to the prevention of infection and the spread of the disease in the community, as well as to the alleviation of the enormous burden currently put on the healthcare system.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "In view of the latest public health risk assessment, in particular the higher risks brought about by activities conducted without wearing masks as well as various social activities as shown in recent cases, we are of the view that, at present, it is necessary to extend social distancing measures implemented under Cap. 599F, Cap. 599G and Cap. 599I, including requiring the cessation of dine-in services at catering businesses during specific periods, continuing to require closure of scheduled premises, as well as requiring any person to wear mask at all times when entering or being present in any public place."

     The requirements and restrictions under the latest directions (details at Annex 1) are as follows:

Catering business

(1) From 6pm to 4.59am of the subsequent day, save for specific premises (details at Annex 2), a person responsible for carrying on a catering business must cease selling or supplying food or drink for consumption on the premises of the business; and close any premises, or part of the premises, on which food or drink is sold or supplied by the business for consumption on the premises. The premises concerned may still sell or supply food and/or drink for takeaway services and deliveries. A person responsible for carrying on a catering business is also required to put up a notice at the entrance to the catering premises to remind customers that food or drink should not be consumed in areas adjacent to the catering premises. 

(2) The number of customers at any catering premises at any one time must not exceed 50 per cent of the normal seating capacity of the premises. No more than two persons may be seated together at one table within any catering premises.

(3) Tables available for use or being used by customers within any catering premises must be arranged in a way to ensure there is a distance of at least 1.5 metres or partition(s) which could serve as an effective buffer between one table and another table at the premises.

(4) Any premises (commonly known as bar or pub) that is exclusively or mainly used for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquors as defined in section 53(1) of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) for consumption in that premises must be closed. Any part of a catering premises that is exclusively or mainly used for the sale or supply of such intoxicating liquors for consumption in that part must be closed.

(5) Live performance and dancing must not be allowed in any catering premises. All karaoke and mahjong-tin kau activities carried on at any catering premises must also be suspended. Other requirements and restrictions in relation to catering business premises would remain in effect, including wearing a mask at all times within any catering premises except when the person is consuming food or drink; conducting body temperature screening for all persons entering the premises; and providing hand sanitisers.

Scheduled premises

(6) All scheduled premises under Cap. 599F as set out below are required to suspend operation:

(a) Amusement game centres;
(b) Bathhouses;
(c) Fitness centres;
(d) Places of amusement;
(e) Places of public entertainment;
(f) Premises (commonly known as party rooms) that are maintained or intended to be maintained for hire for holding social gatherings;
(g) Beauty parlours;
(h) Establishments (commonly known as clubs or nightclubs) that are open late into the night, usually for drinking, and dancing or other entertainment;
(i) Karaoke establishments;
(j) Mahjong-tin kau premises;
(k) Massage establishments (save for those set out in Annex 3);
(l) Sports premises; and
(m) Swimming pools.

(7) Save for catering premises therein, all club-houses must be closed. Catering premises in club-houses must follow the directions set out for catering premises, including the requirement to cease dine-in services during specific periods.

     In view of the higher infection risks involved in eating or drinking without wearing a mask, the Government calls on the persons responsible for carrying on catering business to strictly abide by the above measures and to take further measures, such as arranging single-direction seating as far as practicable to avoid face-to-face contact and refraining from table-sharing arrangements to reduce the risk of the spread of the virus.

     Persons responsible for carrying on catering businesses, persons making available seating and tables adjacent to catering business premises and managers of scheduled premises that contravene the statutory requirements under Cap. 599F would have committed a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

Group gathering

(8) Unless exempted, the prohibition on group gatherings of more than two persons in public places will continue during the aforementioned seven-day period.

     Any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering; organises a prohibited group gathering; owns, controls or operates the place of such gathering and knowingly allows the taking place of such gathering, commits an offence under Cap. 599G. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. Persons who participate in a prohibited group gathering may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty of $2,000.

Mask-wearing requirement

(9) The Secretary for Food and Health, by way of a notice published in the Gazette under Cap. 599I, continues to specify all public places so as to maintain the existing mask-wearing requirement, i.e. during the aforementioned seven-day period, a person must wear a mask at all times when the person is boarding or onboard a public transport carrier, is entering or present in an MTR paid area, or is entering or present in a public place (indoor or outdoor). 

     Under Cap. 599I, if a person does not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement, an authorised person may deny that person from boarding a public transport carrier or entering the area concerned, as well as require that person to wear a mask and disembark from the carrier or leave the said area. A person in contravention of the relevant provision commits an offence and the maximum penalty is a fine at level 2 ($5,000). In addition, authorised public officers may issue fixed penalty notices to persons who do not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement and such persons may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty of $2,000.

     "We will also continue to closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation and review the various measures in place from time to time with a view to making suitable adjustments taking into account all relevant factors," said the spokesman.
     

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) made the following announcement today (August 10) regarding the wrong delivery of SMS message:
      
     During the system trial of automatic delivery of SMS messages this afternoon, the HA wrongly sent the test messages to around 3 000 phone numbers. It is estimated that the SMS message has been delivered to more than 1 500 phone numbers.
      
     The SMS message was sent through the system automatically at around 3.45pm this afternoon. The phone number for sending the SMS message was 5207 0488. The content of the SMS message was to notify the patients the cancellation of their medical appointment. The SMS message also contained two enquiry numbers, which are 3123 4567 and 2020 0809.
      
     Members of the public who received SMS message sent from the abovementioned phone number should ignore the content of the message nor call to check the number. The SMS message is only a test message mistakenly sent by the computer system.
      
     The phone numbers for receiving the SMS messages was randomly generated by a computer programme and do not involve any HA patient's personal information. After preliminary investigation, the HA believed that the incident was due to a wrong procedure in the system trial.
      
     The HA is working with the telecommunication operator to stop the remaining undelivered SMS messages. The HA expresses apology to members of public being affected by the incident.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following announcement concerning a case of COVID-19 infection confirmed today (August 10):
      
     A 62-year-old male patient attended UCH Accident and Emergency Department at around 10.30pm on August 8 due to dizziness, nausea and weakness. The patient was afebrile and his vital signs were stable. As a precautionary measure, the doctor admitted him to observation ward for further assessment and management. At around 7am the next day, the patient developed shortness of breath and desaturation, he was immediately transferred to surveillance ward for further management. Nasopharyngeal swab and sputum tests were arranged, and the results were positive. The preliminarily confirmed patient was immediately transferred to isolation ward for treatment yesterday. He is currently in stable condition.
      
     The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing according to prevailing guidelines and identified five other patients who had stayed in the same cubicle of the observation ward with the confirmed patient. They are classified as close contacts and the hospital will follow up with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for further arrangements. All staff members working in the concerned ward was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with infection control guidelines. No aerosol generating procedures had been performed during that period. None of the staff members is being classified as close contact.
      
     The hospital has arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection of the ward concerned. The hospital would continue to closely monitor the health of our staff and patients and communicate with the CHP about the latest situation.