Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Sau Mau Ping this evening (January 12) in which a 70-year-old man died.

     At about 6.35pm, a public light bus (PLB) driven by a 54-year-old man was travelling along On Sau Road towards Tseung Kwan O. When approaching Kam Tai House of On Tai Estate, it reportedly knocked down the 70-year-old man who was crossing the road.

     Sustaining serious head injury, the 70-year-old man was rushed to United Christian Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 7.20pm.

     The PLB driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 2305 7500 or 2305 7570.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 12) received further notification from the National Health Commission (NHC) on the latest information of the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The public is again urged to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
 
     According to the information from the NHC, as at yesterday (January 11), 41 patients have been diagnosed to have infection of the novel coronavirus and no new case was reported on January 11. Among them, six patients have been discharged, seven patients are in serious condition and one died, while the remaining patients are in stable condition. A total of 763 close contacts have been identified. All have been put under medical surveillance with 46 of them having completed the surveillance, and no related cases have been detected so far. 

     A dedicated webpage (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html) has been set up by the CHP to provide relevant information and health advice. To address the public's concern, the CHP will announce the details of cases fulfilling the reporting criteria (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/enhanced_sur_pneumonia_wuhan_eng.pdf) on the above webpage daily to enhance transparency.
 
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:

• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretion after coughing or sneezing;
• 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 or hand dryer. 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.

     The public should take heed of the health advice below when travelling outside Hong Kong:

• avoid touching animals (including game), poultry/birds or their droppings;
• avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms;
• avoid making close contact with patients, especially those with symptoms of acute respiratory infections;
• do not consume game meat and do not patronise food premises where game meat is served;
• adhere to food safety and hygiene rules such as avoiding consuming raw or undercooked animal products, including milk, eggs and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or contaminated products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled;
• if feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if having a fever or cough, wear a surgical mask, inform the hotel staff or tour escort and seek medical advice at once; and
• after returning to Hong Kong, consult a doctor promptly if having a fever or other symptoms, inform the doctor of recent travel history and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease. 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (January 12), public hospitals had admitted seven patients in the past 24 hours who have been to Wuhan in the past 14 days and presented with fever, respiratory infection or pneumonia symptoms. The patients concerned had not visited wet markets in Wuhan before the onset of symptoms.
 
     Including the above-mentioned cases, the Hospital Authority (HA) has reported 67 patient cases since December 31, 2019. Specimens of the patients concerned have been sent to the Department of Health (DH) for testing. Among all the suspected cases, 51 have been discharged and those patients staying in hospitals are in stable condition. 
 

 
     The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest development and to timely inform the public and healthcare workers the latest information.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tai Po this morning (January 12) in which a 72-year-old man died.
        
     At about 9.25am, a taxi driven by a 68-year-old man was travelling along Tai Po Tai Wo Road northbound, while a bicycle ridden by the 72-year-old man was travelling along Po Nga Road westbound. When reaching the junction of Tai Po Tai Wo Road and Po Nga Road, the taxi and the bicycle reportedly collided.

     Sustaining serious neck injury, the 72-year-old cyclist was rushed to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 10.18am.

     The taxi driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation will be conducted by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North.
                
     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800 or 3661 3859.

     To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), a "Kick-off Ceremony of Celebration Events cum Carnival for 100th Anniversary of CSD" was held at Tai Kwun, Central today (January 12). The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiated at the opening ceremony.

     Mr Cheung highlighted in his speech that the CSD has kept up with the times since its establishment in 1920. It has all along strived to maintain highly disciplined correctional facilities in a secure, safe and professional manner, while implemented a wide variety of schemes and programmes to promote rehabilitation in the community. Over the past century, the CSD has progressed with the times and worked diligently behind the scene, making enormous contribution to public safety and crime prevention in Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Cheung also commended the CSD for their relentless efforts in encouraging public to accept and treat kindly rehabilitated persons and at the same time promoting messages on law-abiding and inclusive values. Such efforts include the launch of the "Rehabilitation Pioneer Project" in 2008 which aims to disseminate messages to young people on the importance of leading a law-abiding and drug-free life, and supporting rehabilitated persons. So far, more than 380 000 people have participated in the Project. In 2018, the CSD further set up a uniformed group, namely "Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders" for young talents with leadership potential to broaden their horizons, unleash their potential and promote the message of law-abiding and social inclusion through diversified training programmes.

     The ceremony marked the start of a series of celebration events under the theme of "A Century of Corrections Connecting a Smart Future" throughout this year. Performances at the ceremony and events at an accompanying carnival echoed the theme, combined with creative ideas to demonstrate the evolution of the the CSD.

     The CSD's history has been an eventful journey. When the prison system was established in 1841, the Gaol and the Police were both managed by the first Chief Magistrate. In the early stage of the prison system, Victoria Prison was the only prison in Hong Kong. Till 1920, the then Prisons Department was separated from the Police Department. In 1982, the Prisons Department was renamed as the Correctional Services Department.

     Today's kick-off ceremony presented a dance performance to show the transformation of correctional services over the century, from emphasising safe custody to focusing on custodial and rehabilitative services. Since then, rehabilitation programmes and community education have been actively promoted and a smart prison system has been developed.

     The carnival featured game booths and an old uniforms demonstration by Correctional staff with whom the citizens might take photos. Through an augmented reality booth, members of the public could create personalised photos of themselves wearing vintage uniforms, and insert special illustrations by scanning a QR Code via their digital devices. Visitors were welcome to "check-in" with the illustrations of development of the CSD depicted by various correctional institutions and smart prison elements at the 3D special-effects arts photo booth to feel the history of the century at a quick glance.

     Today, the CSD launched a thematic website for the 100th anniversary that lists out the schedule of a series of celebration events. For details, please refer to www.csd.gov.hk/100a/.