The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (June 20) that its school and public education programmes will resume starting from next Monday (June 22). School and public e… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at noon today (June 20), three COVID-19 confirmed patient (case numbers: 1060, 1102 and 1109) were discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours. So far, a… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has announced that as of 4pm today (June 20), the CHP was investigating an additional confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 1 129 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 1 128 confirmed cases and one probable case).
The newly reported case announced today involve a 40-year-old female who had a travel history during the incubation period. The CHP’s epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed case are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex.
The CHP again urged members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible in their daily lives to minimise the risk of infection. In particular, they should go out less and avoid social activities such as meal gatherings or other gatherings to reduce the chance of contacting infected persons who may not present any symptoms, and minimise the risk of outbreak clusters emerging in the community.
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. read more
Referring to the call by some groups for holding a so-called “referendum” on holding a strike and class boycott to oppose the Decision by the National People’s Congress (NPC) on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security and the enactment of a national security law for Hong Kong by the Standing Committee of the NPC (NPCSC), a spokesman for the HKSAR Government today (June 20) strongly condemned the call again.
“The legislation to be enacted by the NPCSC to safeguard national security aims to prevent, cease and punish acts and activities by an extremely small minority of people who seriously endanger national security, thereby protecting the vast majority of law-abiding citizens. This will restore Hong Kong to a safe and stable city after having been hit with violent disruptions in the past year,” the spokesman stressed.
“This important initiative aims to ensure the robustness of ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong and safeguard the prosperity and stability of our society. The national security law will not affect the legitimate rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents. Judicial independence and the core values of Hong Kong will also be protected.”
The spokesman pointed out that individuals or groups with ulterior motives have recently been using different means to smear the work to enact the national security law, as well as disseminate false and misleading information to deceive the public, attempting to create social instability.
“The Basic Law and Hong Kong’s legal system do not provide for any referendum mechanism. Conducting any form of so-called ‘referendum’ will have no constitutional basis or legal effect. Holding a ‘referendum’ on a strike and class boycott is obviously taking advantage of the public and students for political purposes,” the spokesman reiterated.
“A civil service staff union is openly calling on civil servants to participate in a joint-union operation for holding a so-called ‘referendum on a strike’ for opposing the legislation of the national security law. This is absolutely unacceptable. Civil servants have the responsibility to implement properly the work concerning the legislation of the national security law under the leadership of the Chief Executive, and should not oppose the legislation. Participating in the so-called ‘referendum on a strike’ in the name of a civil service staff union will lead outside parties to mistakenly think that they represent the majority of civil servants and that civil servants are acting against the Government, thus seriously tarnishing the well-established reputation of the civil service.
On the reported use of District Council (DC) members’ ward offices as the relevant polling stations, the spokesman said that according to sections 1 to 3 of General Standards of the Code of Conduct for Members of a District Council or Its Committees: a DC member shall not do anything which may compromise or impair his or her integrity, impartiality, objectivity or his or her ability to perform his or her duties; a DC member shall conduct himself or herself in such a way as not to place himself or herself in a position which may be contrary to the generally assumed standard of conduct expected of a DC member; and a DC member shall ensure that his or her conduct must not be such as to bring the DC into disrepute. Furthermore, paragraph 23 of the Guidelines on the Remuneration Package for Members of the District Councils of the HKSAR stipulates that a DC member must ensure that the ward office operated with the support of the Operating Expenses Reimbursement and other accountable allowances/expenses reimbursements for DC members is used for the discharge of DC duties. If the ward office is used as the polling station of the so-called “referendum”, the related expenses will not be reimbursed.
The spokesman added, “Besides, some organisations have repeatedly initiated through different means, including using schools as venues for expressing political demands and the holding of a so-called ‘referendum’ on a class boycott as an attempt to stop the enactment of the national security law. A school should be a place for building character, enhancing understanding of national identity, nurturing awareness of abiding by the law and providing a happy learning environment. It should not involve politics. Parents and teachers should discern facts from fallacies and lead by example, working together to bring tranquillity back to schools.
“Schools should adopt appropriate measures. Should there be any students initiating, organising, joining or encouraging their fellows to participate in these activities, schools should immediately urge them to stop. Students should be reminded to cherish their orderly campus lives and learning opportunities. If individual students refuse to comply with the instructions after repeated persuasion, schools should take appropriate counselling and disciplinary actions according to the school-based mechanism to maintain discipline and order. In case such student misbehaviour is noted, the Education Bureau will also liaise and follow up with the schools concerned to render support and give instruction.”
The spokesman stressed that the HKSAR Government firmly and resolutely supports and fully co-operates in implementing the work relating to the Decision passed by the NPC and the enactment by the NPCSC of the national security law to discharge its duty of safeguarding national security. read more
A person in custody collapsed in Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution yesterday (June 19) and subsequently died in a public hospital today (June 20).
The 36-year-old male person in custody with chronic drug abuse history required continuous medical care and follow-up at the institution hospital due to his hypertension. At 11.52pm yesterday, the correctional officer found him collapsed in the dormitory. He was immediately examined and applied first aid by institutional medical staff, and an helicopter was called to send him to a public hospital for further rescue. His condition deteriorated and was certified dead at 1.16am today.
The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.
The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in January 2020.
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