The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (March 6) announced that the department tested 67 water samples collected from cooling towers in 51 buildings during its routine inspections in February this year. Two samples were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers in which the two samples were collected in February are located at Wing Fung Industrial Building, 40-50 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan and MTR Choi Hung Station, Wong Tai Sin respectively. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of the cooling towers requiring appropriate disinfection work to be done. Disinfection of the cooling towers in these two cases has already been completed by the owners. Details of these two cases can be found in Annex 2. The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website
     (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).

     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

     Police today (March 6) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tsim Sha Tsui.

     Pradip Das, aged 29, an Indian, went missing after he left his residence on Carnarvon Road on March 2 morning. His friend made a report to Police on March 4.
            
     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 65 kilograms in weight and of strong build. He has a round face with dark complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing an orange and black long-sleeved shirt with checkered pattern, grey trousers, black sports shoes, a blue cap and carrying a dark colour backpack and a red luggage.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (March 5) arranged two more chartered flights to bring back 225 Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei Province to Hong Kong. The chartered flights landed in Hong Kong safely at around 4pm and 9pm respectively.

     On board the two chartered flights today are 179 Hong Kong people stranded in Wuhan, and 46 Hong Kong people in other parts of Hubei Province who are in urgent need to return to Hong Kong, including one pregnant woman, seven Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination candidates and 11 who are suffering from serious illnesses or in urgent need to return to Hong Kong for medical treatments.

     With the return of 244 Hong Kong residents by the two chartered flights yesterday, the HKSAR Government has brought back a total of 469 Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei Province in the operation this time.

     The Hubei Provincial Government has conducted verification to ascertain that all who were allowed to board the flight were not confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, and were not close contacts of confirmed patients. Before boarding, passengers had undergone four temperature checks respectively to ensure that they were not having fever, or developing abnormal vital signs, respiratory tract symptoms or other signs of infectious diseases, and they were also required to put on protective gears.

     Upon disembarkation from the plane, medical staff from the Department of Health briefed the returnees about the quarantine arrangements and checked their body temperature. They were then taken to the quarantine centre in Chun Yeung Estate by pre-arranged coaches to undergo 14 days of quarantine observation. They will also take a laboratory test to ascertain whether they are infected with COVID-19 virus.

     Taking part in today's mission include staff from the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Immigration Department, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority. All of them returned to Hong Kong today by the chartered flights.

     The first two-day mission of bringing back Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei Province has been concluded successfully. The HKSAR Government expressed gratitude to the care and concern of the Central Government and the immense support and co-operation by the Hubei Provincial Government and Wuhan Municipal Government.

     The HKSAR Government also expressed gratitude to Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon for arranging the chartered flights and the meticulous arrangements by the cabin crew who took park in this mission. The Government also thanked all public officers who have planned and carried out this mission.

     The HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Hubei Provincial Government and discuss with it matters relating to bringing back Hong Kong residents in other parts of the Province according to the principles of arranging it by batches and giving priority to urgent cases.

                

     Police today (March 5) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan.

     So Fung-shing, aged 64, went missing after he left an elderly home on Castle Peak Road in the small hours yesterday (March 4). Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.
       
     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short grey hair. He was last seen wearing an orange long-sleeve shirt, black trousers and black slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
 

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (March 5), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 33 patients (nine male and 24 female, aged 6 months to 86 years) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of COVID-19. Appropriate tests have been arranged for the patients.
      
     There are 101 patients under isolation currently. So far, 46 patients with COVID-19 infection have been discharged upon recovery.
      
     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.