Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals: Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to … read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) made the following announcement today (May 29) concerning the temporary suspension of the negative pressure system in an isolation ward:
At 10.17am today, the alarm for the negative pressure system of the isolation rooms inside an isolation ward lighted up and staff immediately notified the staff of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). Technicians from the EMSD attended to the scene at 10.32am for an inspection and rebooted the system manually at 10.35am. The ventilation and negative pressure system of the concerned ward resumed operation immediately.　
Inspection revealed that the suspension of ventilation and negative pressure system of the isolation ward was due to a faulty direct digital controller of the Mechanical Ventilation and Air-conditioning system. At 2.30pm, technicians from the EMSD replaced the faulty part and the ventilation and negative pressure system resumed fully automatic operation.
Nine patients not suffering from airborne infectious disease were hospitalised in the concerned ward. Other three patients, including one patient with open-tuberculosis of low airborne infectious risk who had received over two weeks treatment, one patient suspected of closed-tuberculosis and one COVID-19 suspected patient were transferred to another isolation ward in the hospital for treatment. The patient was tested negative for COVID-19.
During the incident, no personnel has entered or left the rooms nor has any high risk procedure been performed. All patients and all ward staff have worn surgical masks and N95 respirators respectively. According to the hospital’s assessment, the incident did not pose any risk of infection.
The hospital is very concerned about the incident and has urged the EMSD to perform thorough checking to the system to ensure its proper functioning. The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. read more
The director of a foreign domestic helper (FDH) employment agency was convicted of three counts of conspiracy to defraud and five counts of using false instruments and had been sentenced to 43 months’ imprisonment today (May 29) at the District Court. Another 17 Indonesian and Filipino domestic helpers involved in the case had been convicted at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts earlier for offences of conspiracy to defraud, making false representation to an immigration officer and breach of condition of stay and were sentenced to up to eight months’ imprisonment.
The mastermind is a 43-year-old Hong Kong resident who is the director of the employment agency. During the investigation of a case in which FDHs were suspected of working in Hong Kong illegally, Immigration investigators detected that the employment agency had been arranging for foreigners to apply for employment visas in Hong Kong by means of false FDH employment contracts. After months of in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, a syndicate was identified as having arranged Indonesian and Filipino to work in Hong Kong illegally by false FDH contracts. Since March 2018, the Immigration Department had launched a series of enforcement operation codenamed Operation Shadowcatcher. Over thirty persons, including the mastermind, other Hong Kong residents, Indonesian and Filipino who had applied for the FDH visas using false contracts, were apprehended in the operation. In addition, a considerable amount of false instruments were seized, including forged bank statements, telecommunications service bills and water bills.
Investigation against other suspects is ongoing.
“It is an offence to make, possess or use false instruments. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. In addition, it is an offence to make false representation to an immigration officer. Offenders are liable to prosecution and to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Furthermore, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years,” an Immigration Department spokesman said.
The spokesman also stressed that FDHs should only take up employment as a domestic helper as approved by the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution. read more
Police today (May 29) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Ma On Shan. Ngan Shui-kwan, aged 29, went missing after she left her residence on Hang Ming Stree… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has announced that as of 4pm today (May 29), the CHP was investigating 13 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 1 080 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 1 079 confirmed cases and one probable case).
The newly reported cases announced today involves nine males and four females aged between 2 and 46. All of them had a 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.
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 the 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 get 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