The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:          

     As at noon today (January 19), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health (DH) the admission of 11 patients in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria.
           
     Specimens of the patients concerned have been sent to the DH for testing. Currently, there are 16 patients still under isolation. 14 patients are in stable condition, while two patients in North District Hospital are still in critical condition and serious condition respectively due to their underlying disease.
      
     There are currently no patients confirmed as being infected with novel coronavirus in public hospitals.
               

 
     The spokesperson for Hospital Authority (HA) reminded that restricted visiting arrangements are now imposed in all public hospitals. "Members of the public are advised to avoid visiting patients in ward if they have fever, or have close contact with patients with respiratory symptoms in countries/areas with possible transmission of novel coronavirus infection."
      
     Visitors of public hospitals are also required to wear masks in all clinical areas and to wash hands before and after visiting hospitals.
      
     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.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 19) that Fanling Swimming Pool in North District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 7pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a restaurant in Wong Tai Sin to suspend business for 14 days as the operator repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally.
 
     The restaurant, located on the ground floor and in the cockloft at 6 Po King Lane in Tsz Wan Shan, Wong Tai Sin, was ordered to suspend business from today (January 19) to February 1.
 
     "In May and October last year, two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant. A total fine of $10,000 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day business suspension," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
 
     The licensee of the food premises had a record of two convictions for the same offence in March 2018 and January last year respectively. A total fine of $7,000 was levied and 30 demerit points were registered. The breaches led to a business suspension for seven days in March last year.
 
     The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
 
     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD's website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html).

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will depart Hong Kong on January 21 for a duty visit to Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informal Ministerial Gathering and join the Hong Kong delegation led by the Chief Executive to attend events of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting.

     Mr Yau will attend the WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering on January 24 morning which will discuss key priorities for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in June this year, including WTO reform and the ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies.

     Before attending the Informal Ministerial Gathering, Mr Yau will join the Informal Meeting on the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce to discuss with participating ministers on how to give further impetus to the said Initiative.

     Mr Yau will also take the opportunity to meet with other trade ministers and business leaders to strengthen economic and trade ties on the sidelines of the WEF Annual Meeting.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on January 25. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

     Hong Kong Customs conducted an anti-smuggling operation on January 17 and detected a suspected smuggling case using fishing vessels, barges and tugboats in the waters off Lung Kwu Chau. About 146 000 kilograms of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of about $5.1 million were seized.

     Customs officers spotted eight suspicious vessels, including fishing vessels, barges and tugboats, in the waters off Lung Kwu Chau on that day. Later, two of the fishing vessels were leaving Hong Kong. Customs officers then took immediate action intercepting the abovementioned vessels for examination. The batch of suspected smuggled frozen meat were seized on board the fishing vessels and barges.

     In the operation, 30 men on board the vessels suspected to be connected with the case, aged between 26 and 63, were arrested.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk).