Three charities had been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (July 22). They are, on Hong Kong Island, Tung Cheng Yuen Lam Tong Charitable Foundation Limited; in Kowloon, the Hong Kong Asthma Society; and in the New Territories, South Kwai Chung Social Service, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.
 
     The SWD has been informed by the above three flag day organisers that the regional flag-selling activities in public places originally scheduled to be held today have been cancelled. For enquiries, please contact the organisations concerned. Contact information of the organisations is as follows:
 

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permit have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
 
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.

     A Government spokesman has strongly condemned the selfish and illegal acts of some disorderly members of the public who gathered inside a mall in Yuen Long this evening (July 21), gravely increasing the risk of spreading the virus. They are suspected of having breached the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G).

     The spokesman said that there has been a drastic change in the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong recently, with more than 2 000 confirmed cases now recorded. During such difficult times, community solidarity in fighting against the disease is of utmost importance to safeguard the safety of members of the public and their family members.

     In view of the severity of the epidemic situation, the spokesman strongly urged members of the public to stay at home as much as possible, reduce social contact and avoid dining out. Any group gathering may increase the risk of the spread of the virus, and the Police will take resolute enforcement action.

     The current prohibition on group gathering regulation prohibits group gatherings of more than four people in public places. Any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering; organises a prohibited group gathering; owns, controls or operates the place of such a gathering; and knowingly allows such a gathering to take place commits an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
     

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Kowloon City this afternoon (July 21), in which a reinforcement bar structure collapsed killing one worker and injuring six. The LD is saddened by the death and injuries of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathies to the deceased's family.
    
     The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and will issue suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending erection, addition, dismantling and alteration of reinforcement bar structures or working on such structures on the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

     The spokesman added, "We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
    
     The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.
    
     In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
    
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
    
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. 

       The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has announced that as of 0.00am today (July 21), the CHP was investigating 61 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 2 019 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 2 018 confirmed cases and one probable case).
 
       The newly reported cases announced today involve 27 males and 34 females aged between four and 84 years. Among them, three had travel history during the incubation period.
 
       The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the list of buildings with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and the latest local situation of COVID-19 available on the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
 
       In view of the severe epidemic situation, the CHP called on members of the public to avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. They should put on a surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out. As a number of recent cases involve elderly people, the CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with every day tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.
 
       A spokesman for the CHP said, "Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
 
       "The CHP also strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
 
       "As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly, regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps) and cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use. After using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs."
 
       Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates. Members of the public may also gain access to information via the COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline launched by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Simply by saving 9617 1823 in their phone contacts or clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi, they will be able to obtain information on COVID-19 as well as the "StayHomeSafe" mobile app and wristband via WhatsApp.
 
       To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:

•Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
•Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
•Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap) to ensure environmental hygiene;
•Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
•After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
•Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
•Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
•When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     At around 7pm today (July 21), protestors continued to gather inside a mall on 9 Yuen Lung Street, Yuen Long where one protestor displayed a sign bearing the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”, allegedly inciting or abetting others to commit secession, suspected to have breached the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law). Police officers have displayed a purple warning flag to clearly state that such act may breach the National Security Law. The protestor suspected of breaching the National Security Law has been intercepted for enquiry.

     Police warn the protestors to stop all unlawful acts or they may be arrested or prosecuted.