The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
     
     As at noon today (July 28), 43 COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 1296, 1310, 1322, 1400, 1431, 1438, 1439, 1446, 1456, 1461, 1477, 1482, 1489, 1507, 1508, 1526, 1534, 1536, 1540, 1548, 1571, 1607, 1611, 1615, 1638, 1641, 1651, 1725, 1753, 1761, 1799, 1832, 1834, 1872, 1873, 2010, 2043, 2151, 2237, 2303, 2372, 2375 and 2521) were discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours. After recalculating the relevant data, due to duplicated calculation of the number of patients discharged from public hospitals and transferred to the Lei Yue Mun community isolation facility by the system, so far a total of 1 527 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
      
     At present, there are 656 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 225 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 1 099 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 15 public hospitals and a community isolation facility, among which 39 patients are in critical condition (case numbers: 595, 1346, 1401, 1424, 1470, 1483, 1491, 1497, 1498, 1612, 1644, 1650, 1679, 1718, 1767, 1776, 1777, 1779, 1795, 1805, 1806, 1835, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1955, 1956, 1989, 2048, 2075, 2079, 2086, 2161, 2208, 2269, 2315, 2458, 2484 and 2522), 29 are in serious condition (case numbers: 1315, 1468, 1556, 1573, 1687, 1722, 1730, 1786, 1843, 1924, 1998, 2033, 2147, 2172, 2282, 2313, 2334, 2358, 2362, 2412, 2437, 2440, 2452, 2494, 2495, 2591, 2595, 2657 and 2769) and the remaining 1 031 patients are in stable condition.
          
     An 85-year-old male patient (case number: 1485) passed away at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital this afternoon. Including this case, 23 COVID-19 patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.
      
     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.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (July 28) said that an Amenities Assistant II has preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
 
     The Amenities Assistant concerned, stationed at Kowloon Tsai Park and Junction Road Park, is responsible for providing support services. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the tennis courts at Junction Road Park where she worked have been closed since July 15, and her office at Kowloon Tsai Park is not open to the public. She last performed duties on July 23. She was identified by the Department of Health to be a close contact of her family member, who preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The Amenities Assistant therefore was arranged to stay at a quarantine centre on July 24. She did not feel unwell before quarantine and was notified last night (July 27) that she had preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. She will be admitted to hospital and treated under isolation. She is now in stable condition.
 
     The Amenities Assistant has no recent travel history. She has been wearing surgical masks when performing duties. Her body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening during work.
 
     The LCSD will closely co-operate with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on its epidemiological investigations. Co-workers of the Amenities Assistant will be arranged to undergo COVID-19 testing. A thorough cleaning and sterilisation will be arranged at areas including the workplace and all public facilities according to guidelines provided by the CHP.
 
     The LCSD is highly concerned about the COVID-19 epidemic and will continue to maintain in close liaison with the CHP. Staff are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.

     A man was fined $4,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 28) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in October last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Wyndham Street in Central, which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).

     During the investigation, the staff of the club failed to show the registered drawing and a copy of the certificate of fire service installation and equipment upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 10 and 14 of the CoC were breached.

     The man, being the manager of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(1)(a) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement actions will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.

     In accordance with the instruction of the Central People's Government (CPG), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has issued notices to Canada Consulate, Australia Consulate and the UK Consulate respectively today (July 28) to suspend the implementation of the Agreement between the HKSAR Government and the Government of Canada on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (MLA), the Agreement between the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of Australia Concerning MLA and the Agreement between the HKSAR Government and the Government of the United Kingdom (UK) Concerning MLA.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "It is an international practice to safeguard national security through enactment of laws. Canada, Australia and the UK have respectively put in place relevant legislation and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding their national security and sovereignty. For example, Canada has the National Security Act, Criminal Code, Access to Information Act, Secure Air Travel Act and Canada Elections Act. As for Australia, they have the National Security Law Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act, Criminal Code Act, Crimes Act and Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act. In the UK, there are the Treason Felony Act, Official Secrets Act, Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act, and Security Service Act.
 
     "However, they have unilaterally suspended the agreements on surrender of fugitive offenders (SFO) with the HKSAR using the enactment of the National Security Law in Hong Kong as an excuse. It smacks of political manipulation and double standards. It is also a gross interference in China's internal affairs and a grave violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The HKSAR Government strongly objects to their moves. The wrongful act of Canada, Australia and the UK in politicising juridical co-operation has seriously damaged the basis of juridical co-operation between the HKSAR and these three countries. For this reason, in accordance with the instruction of the CPG, the HKSAR Government suspends the implementation of the MLA agreement between the HKSAR and Canada, the MLA agreement between the HKSAR and Australia, and the MLA agreement between the HKSAR and the UK."
 
     All along, with the authorisation and assistance of the CPG, the HKSAR Government has conducted close and effective law enforcement co-operation with Canada, Australia and the UK under the legal framework of SFO and MLA agreements based on the principle of mutual assistance and reciprocity. Notwithstanding the suspension of the Agreement between the HKSAR Government and the Government of Canada on MLA, the Agreement between the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of Australia Concerning MLA and the Agreement between the HKSAR Government and the Government of the UK Concerning MLA, the HKSAR has established a comprehensive co-operation regime for the surrender of fugitives and mutual legal assistance. The HKSAR Government will, as always, uphold the principle of mutual assistance and reciprocity, and carry out law enforcement co-operation with other members of the international community in accordance with the law.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (July 28) said that a Social Security Assistant (SSA) of Lam Tin Social Security Field Unit who works at the office in Ping Mei House, Ping Tin Estate, has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
 
     The SSA last performed duties in the office on July 24 and the office concerned has been temporarily closed to the public but has maintained services on a limited scale through other modes of service delivery since July 20. During the pandemic, the department has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of people entering the office and providing masks and other personal protective equipment for staff. The SSA had been wearing masks when performing duties. His body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening during work.
 
     So far, no other staff working in the office concerned have symptoms or have tested positive. Thorough cleaning and disinfection has been arranged at the office concerned and the SWD will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health to take follow-up action as appropriate.
 
     The SWD is highly concerned about the COVID-19 epidemic. Staff are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.