The Housing Department today (July 16) learnt that a senior technical officer has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
 
     The officer works on the seventh floor of Block 3 at the Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters in Ho Man Tin. The floor concerned is not a public floor and is not open to the public. He last performed duties on July 13. Since his family member was identified as a close contact of a confirmed case, he was tested for COVID-19 in a private clinic on his own accord and preliminarily tested positive for the disease, and he was then admitted to hospital. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today advised that he tested positive.

     The officer concerned has no recent travel history. He has been wearing facial masks when performing duties, his body temperature was normal and he followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. The department will continue to closely co-operate with the CHP on disease prevention measures. The workplace of the officer concerned, including the common areas, has been fully cleaned and sterilised in accordance with the guidelines of the CHP.
 
     During the pandemic, the department has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of people entering the buildings, providing facial masks and other personal protective equipment for staff, and requesting staff to wear facial masks when in contact with others and at public places. Cleaning and sterilising measures of the working environment of the department have also been stepped up.
 
     The department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and co-operate with its quarantine work.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (July 16), 13 COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 1206, 1211, 1217, 1219, 1223, 1225, 1240, 1267, 1279, 1293, 1326, 1367 and 1382) were discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours. So far, a total of 1,254 patients with confirmed or probable infections have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 639 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1,186 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 319 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 13 hospitals, among which six patients are in critical condition (case numbers: 595, 1315, 1338, 1346, 1401 and 1428), 10 are in serious condition (case numbers: 1269, 1322, 1348, 1365, 1424, 1439, 1443, 1470, 1472 and 1562) and the remaining 303 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.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (July 16) said that an Amenities Assistant II has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

     The Amenities Assistant II concerned provides supporting services at Tsuen King Circuit Wu Chung Swimming Pool in Tsuen Wan District. The floor she works on is not a public floor and is not open to the public. She last performed duties yesterday (July 15). She felt unwell earlier and sought medical treatment at a clinic, and was notified last night that she had tested positive for COVID-19. She was admitted to hospital and has been treated under isolation. She is now in stable condition.

     The Assistant concerned 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 Assistant concerned will be arranged to undergo COVID-19 testing. Thorough cleaning and sterilisation will be arranged at areas including the workplace and all public facilities according to guidelines provided by the CHP. Tsuen King Circuit Wu Chung Swimming Pool and Tsuen King Circuit Children's Playground in the vicinity are now closed until further notice for thorough cleaning and sterilisation based on public health considerations.

     The LCSD is highly concerned about the COVID-19 epidemic and will continue to maintain 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.

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 16) for people in need of the service.

     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Districts:
———————

Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–

Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for May 2020 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
 
     In May 2020, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 6.7% and 11.0% respectively over May 2019.

     Comparing the first five months of 2020 with the same period in 2019, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 7.3% and 9.0% respectively.
 
     Comparing the three-month period ending May 2020 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 5.3% and 1.8% respectively.
 
     Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
 
     Comparing May 2020 with May 2019, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 0.8% and 0.9% respectively.
 
     As regards price changes in the first five months of 2020 over the same period in 2019, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 0.8% and 0.7% respectively.
 
     Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.

     The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2019, the index increased by 0.1% in May 2020, whereas it decreased by 0.2% in the first five months of 2020.

     Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
 
     Comparing May 2020 with May 2019, double-digit declines were recorded for the total export volume to India (-37.7%) and the USA (-11.8%). Concurrently, the total export volume to Japan (-1.0%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (-0.1%) also decreased. On the other hand, the total export volume to Taiwan increased by 16.7%.
 
     Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Japan (-3.1%), the USA (-2.3%), India (-2.2%) and Taiwan (-0.5%) decreased. On the other hand, the total export prices to the Mainland increased by 0.4%.
 
     Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
 
     Comparing May 2020 with May 2019, double-digit declines were recorded for the import volume from Japan (-13.7%) and the Mainland (-13.1%). On the other hand, the import volume from Singapore (2.4%), Taiwan (10.3%) and Korea (10.5%) increased.
 
     Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Singapore (-8.3%), Korea (-4.1%), Taiwan (-3.0%) and the Mainland (-0.8%) decreased. On the other hand, the import prices from Japan increased by 1.7%.
 
Further information
 
     Details of the above statistics are published in the May 2020 issue of "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers". Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp?productCode=B1020006).

     Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4918).