A sick 80-year-old male person in custody at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre died in a public hospital yesterday (February 28).
 
     The person in custody suffered from diabetes mellitus, anaemia and carcinoma of the stomach. He required continuous medical care and follow-up at the institution hospital and a public hospital. On February 27, he was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 10.05pm yesterday.
 
     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.
 
     The person in custody was detained for the offence of manslaughter in July 1973.

     With targeted measures to reduce social contact and with infection preventive measures in place, offices of the Education Bureau (EDB) will progressively resume more public services from March 2 in an orderly manner.

     A spokesman for the EDB said today (February 29) that starting from Monday, all Regional Education Offices, the Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres, the School Places Allocation Section, the Qualifications Framework Secretariat and other service units will provide public services as usual.

     In view of the needs of infection prevention and control, all offices will implement targeted measures to reduce social contact and control the number of visitors at any one time. Members of the public are encouraged to submit non-urgent enquiries or applications by telephone, post or other electronic means.

     In addition, the offices will, with regard to the actual circumstances, implement various infection control measures such as stepping up cleansing, checking the body temperature of visitors, providing alcohol hand sanitiser, placing sanitising mats, etc.

     The following public facilities of the EDB will remain temporarily closed to the public during the class suspension until further notice:

1. Hong Kong Teachers' Centre, Special Education Resource Centre, Central Resources Centre and Young Achievers' Gallery located at Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre; and

2. Arts and Technology Education Centre (including STEM Education Centre).

     The Government Property Agency announced today (February 29) that the closing time for quotations originally required to be received through the Government Property Agency Quotation Box by noon on February 14 and 21 will be extended until noon on March 6 (Friday). The Government Property Agency Quotation Box is located at the reception foyer of the Government Property Agency on 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The opening hours of the Government Property Agency are as follows:
       
Monday to Friday:
* 8.30am to 12.45pm
* 1.45pm to 5.45pm
 
     For enquiries, please call the hotline at 9870 0700 between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been informed by the three flag day organisers that the regional flag-selling activities in public places scheduled to be held today (February 29) have been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.
 
     The three charities are Hong Kong Southern District Women's Association Limited, Hong Kong & Macau Lutheran Church Social Service Limited and Hong Kong Eating Disorders Association Limited. They had been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories respectively from 7am to 12.30pm today.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the individual organisations. Contact information for the above three organisations is as follows:
 

     A Government spokesman said today (February 28) that the official Telegram channel "Hong Kong Anti-epidemic Information Channel" launched last week was counterfeited, and reminded the public again to be aware of the fake Telegram channel to avoid receiving inaccurate information.

     Since the name and profile image of the fake channel can mislead people to associate it as an official one, it may be difficult for the public to distinguish between them. The spokesman therefore advised against using search function in Telegram to look up for the official channel.

     The public is advised to subscribe to the Government's "Hong Kong Anti-epidemic Information Channel" via this link t.me/HKFIGHTCOVID19, or the Telegram link in the Government's "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/chi/index.html).