The Government announced today (June 19) the re-appointment of senior executives of the Insurance Authority (IA).
 
     The Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Simon Lam Sui-kong as Executive Director, General Business (ED(GB)) of the IA for a term of three years from June 19, 2020, to June 18, 2023, and Ms Carol Hui Mei-ying as Executive Director, Long Term Business (ED(LTB)) of the IA for a term of three years from June 26, 2020, to June 25, 2023. 
 
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "Mr Lam and Ms Hui have made valuable contributions to the work of the IA over the past three years. I look forward to their continued service to the IA in the new term to facilitate the healthy and sustainable development of the insurance market in Hong Kong."
 
     Mr Lam was first appointed as ED(GB) in June 2017. He assumed management responsibility of the General Business Division of the IA, including the supervision of the non-life insurance market and the authorisation of non-life insurers.
 
     Ms Hui took up the position of ED(LTB) in June 2017. She assumed management responsibility of the Long Term Business Division of the IA, including the supervision of the life insurance market and the authorisation of life insurers.
 
     The IA is an independent insurance regulator established under the Insurance Ordinance (Cap. 41) in December 2015. It took over the responsibility of supervising insurance companies from the former Office of the Commissioner of Insurance in June 2017 and assumed direct regulation of insurance intermediaries in September 2019.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 19) investigating a fatal case of infection by Streptococcus suis. Streptococcus suis infection is a common disease among pigs while humans can be infected through direct contact with and exposure to infected pigs or other animals, uncooked pork and other pig products.

     The female patient, aged 69 and with underlying illnesses, presented with fever since June 17. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Yan Chai Hospital and passed away on the same day.

     Her blood culture grew Streptococcus suis upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had handled raw pork during the incubation period. She had no recent travel history and her home contact has remained asymptomatic.

     A spokesman for the CHP explained that Streptococcus suis infection may present as meningitis, and less commonly sepsis, endocarditis, arthritis, bronchopneumonia and toxic shock syndrome. Streptococcus suis infection can be treated with appropriate antibiotics.

     To prevent Streptococcus suis infection, members of the public are advised to always practise personal and environmental hygiene. They should avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from disease and their excreta or body fluids. If contact with pigs or raw pork is necessary, one should:

* Use protective gloves;
* Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork; and
* Disinfect and cover wounds properly.

     Members of the public who suspect they may be infected should consult their doctors as soon as possible and report their relevant exposure history. They may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/3648.html) for more information on Streptococcus suis.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (June 19), two COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 1075 and 1091) were discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours. So far, a total of 1,074 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 611 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1,177 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 47 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in seven hospitals, among which three patients are in critical condition (case numbers: 595, 1092 and 1100), and the remaining 44 patients are in stable condition.
 
     In addition, the Hospital Authority (HA)'s current stockpile of personal protective equipment comprises 29 million surgical masks, 2.4 million surgical respirators, 4.8 million protective gowns and 7.8 million face shields, adequate for around three months of consumption.
 
     The HA 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 Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (June 19) 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 –
North District Community Centre
4/F, 2 Lung Wan Street, Sheung Shui

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
 
     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 21 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 19) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2). 

     Thirteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and 11 as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Grade 3 beaches are:

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Note 1: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that 15 gazetted beaches (marked with a single asterisk above) and six gazetted beaches (marked with two asterisks above) have reopened since May 23 and June 13, respectively, while all the other beaches will remain temporarily closed until further notice.

Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.