In light of the extension of the special work arrangement for government departments, the Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (August 7) the provision of emergency and essential services to members of the public from August 10 to 16 as follows:
 

 
     To avoid gathering of crowds, the ImmD appeals to applicants to submit applications through its homepage, mobile application, by post or drop-in. As the ImmD only provides emergency and essential services, applicants who are required to visit its offices for urgent applications should expect a longer waiting time. In accordance with the latest regulations implemented by the Government, persons entering the premises of the ImmD are required to wear masks.
      
     The above-mentioned offices will provide services during normal opening hours. For detailed opening hours of individual offices, please refer to the ImmD's homepage or mobile application. The hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit on (852) 1868 will continue to operate as normal to provide practicable assistance for Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong. Meanwhile, other ImmD offices, including all Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres and other public services will continue to remain closed and suspended. For enquiries regarding births registration, please call 2867 2785 during office hours.
         
     In addition, according to the existing arrangements by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, except for the Hong Kong International Airport, Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Points, passenger immigration clearance services in other immigration control points will remain suspended until further notice. Moreover, the operating hours of the passenger clearance services at the Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Points have been adjusted as follows with effect from April 3 and 5 respectively until further notice:

Shenzhen Bay Control Point:

  • Operating hours of all passenger clearance services have been adjusted to 10am to 8pm daily while the operating hours for cargo clearance will remain unchanged (i.e. from 6.30am to midnight daily).

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point:

  • Operating hours of the Passenger Clearance Building (i.e. for passengers crossing the boundary by cross-boundary coaches and shuttle buses) have been adjusted to 10am to 8pm daily; and

  • Operating hours of the clearance for private cars have been adjusted to 6am to 10pm daily while the operating hours for cargo clearance will remain in operation 24 hours daily.

     Any changes to the above arrangements will be announced in due course. For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by calling the enquiry hotline from 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Friday on 2824 6111 or by email to enquiry@immd.gov.hk.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (August 7), 162 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital. So far a total of 2 620 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.

     At present, there are 681 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 245 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 1 111 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 18 public hospitals and a community isolation facility, among which 41 patients are in critical condition, 51 are in serious condition and the remaining 1 019 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:
 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 7) closely monitoring a plague case in Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

     According to the Health Commission in Baotou, the patient was diagnosed to have pharyngeal plague and had passed away. Close contacts of the patient have remained asymptomatic so far.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Plague is transmitted from an infected animal (mainly rodents) to humans through the bite of its fleas. Plague can also be contracted when cuts or other breaks in the skin come into contact with the body fluid or tissue of infected animals. Consumption of infected animal tissues and inhalation of infected respiratory droplets are also a possible mode of transmission."
 
     The spokesman explained that pharyngeal plague, also known as enteric plague, is an unusual condition and the disease is not directly transmitted from person to person.

     The spokesman reminded travellers to avoid visiting plague-endemic areas. They should also heighten vigilance on rodents and prevent flea bites. Insect repellents against mosquitoes may equally prevent flea bites and deter blood-sucking insects. Formulations in lotions or sprays should contain DEET, IR3535 or icaridin (also known as picaridin) as active ingredients. The public should refer to the CHP's tips for using insect repellents.

     "Travellers returning from affected areas with a sudden onset of fever, shaking chills, body pains or chest discomfort should seek medical advice as soon as possible and reveal their travel history for prompt investigation and management. Plague is a statutorily notifiable disease and doctors should report suspected or confirmed cases to the CHP for investigations and control," the spokesman added.

     Travellers should take heed of the health advice below during travel:
 

• Prevent flea bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and applying insect repellent/insecticide. DEET-containing insect repellent can be applied to exposed skin and clothing, while insecticide containing permethrin can be applied to clothing, not the skin;
• Avoid going to rural areas, camping or hunting;
• Never eat or touch rodents, dead animals and their tissues or contaminated materials;
• Avoid close contact with patients, especially those with cough or chest infection;
• Avoid going to crowded areas;
• Seek medical care immediately in case of a sudden onset of fever, chills, painful lymph nodes, difficulty in breathing with coughing and/or blood-tainted sputum; and
• Consult a doctor immediately after contact or exposure to pneumonic plague patients or high-risk exposures, such as bites from fleas or direct contact with body fluids or tissues of potentially infected animals, for prompt assessment of the need for preventive medication.

     Travellers may visit the CHP's plague page, Travel Health News and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's advice on rodent control for details.

     Police today (August 7) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sham Shui Po.    

     Leung Kwok-wah, aged 73, went missing after he was last seen at his residence on Ki Lung St on July 26 noon. His friend made a report to Police yesterday (August 6).

     He is about 1.8 metres tall, 63 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, blue trousers and dark-coloured slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     In view of the Government's announcement on the extension of the special work arrangements for government employees, Hongkong Post today (August 7) announced the arrangements for Hongkong Post services from August 10 to 16.
      
     Hongkong Post will maintain mail delivery (including that for Speedpost items) and mail collection services from street posting boxes on alternate days. Taking into account the risk associated with the increasing number of buildings with confirmed cases and the need of local residents to receive mail, Hongkong Post will deliver mail to the letter boxes in the lobbies of these buildings twice a week, and door delivery service will continue to be suspended until a building concerned is removed from the list of buildings with confirmed cases within the past 14 days.
      
     The postal service arrangements for Wong Tai Sin District, where the epidemic has remained relatively severe, will remain the same as those of last week, i.e. door delivery services will be suspended. Post offices situated in the district will continue to be suspended from service. This includes Choi Hung Chuen Post Office, Chuk Yuen Post Office, Fu Shan Post Office, Lok Fu Post Office, Ngau Chi Wan Post Office, Tsz Wan Shan Post Office and Wong Tai Sin Post Office.
      
     A postman working for Wan Chai Delivery Office was confirmed as having COVID-19 on August 3. Upon the advice of the Department of Health, Wan Chai Post Office is closed through to August 15 for thorough cleaning and sterilisation. All other post offices will maintain their normal opening hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but their closing hours will be advanced to 4pm. Mobile post offices will be suspended from service.
      
     Hongkong Post will continue to adopt various measures on social distancing and infection control at all post offices, and will also implement crowd control arrangements and introduce chip allotment measures when necessary to relieve the crowding of customers, so as to reduce social contact and prevent crowds from gathering.
      
     Hongkong Post has been attaching great importance to anti-epidemic measures, and providing frontline staff with protective gear such as protective goggles, masks, alcohol swabs, alcohol-based handrub and gloves. Hongkong Post also continues to remind staff to carry and use such protective gear when performing duties outdoors, check their body temperature and use alcohol-based handrub before entering any post office, avoid dine-in meals and meal gatherings, and pay attention to personal hygiene.
      
     Due to the adjustment of business hours of post offices, members of the public requiring counter services may expect longer waiting times. As a result of the above special arrangements, services of local, inbound and outbound mail will be subject to delays. Hongkong Post apologises for the inconvenience caused.
      
     Hongkong Post will keep abreast of the latest situation and make timely adjustments to the arrangements for counter and delivery services. For further enquiries, please call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.