The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital made the following announcement today (January 2):

     Three patients (aged 78 to 94) of a male medical ward have been confirmed as having Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) since December 17 last year. The three patients succumbed earlier due to underlying diseases.

     Separately, a further four patients (aged 61 to 81) of the intensive care unit have been confirmed as having MDRA since December 19 last year. One of the patients had succumbed due to underlying diseases. The remaining three patients are under isolation. Two of them are in critical condition due to underlying disease while one is in stable condition.

     Infection control measures for the wards concerned have already been stepped up according to prevailing guidelines. All other patients in the wards are under close medical surveillance.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     Two public rental housing (PRH) tenants were ordered to pay a heavy fine of $240,000 in total by the court today (January 2) for failing to declare truthfully their income and assets when completing their Income and Asset Declaration Form.

     Two PRH tenants living at Lai Kok Estate, Sham Shui Po, declared on a 2019 Income and Asset Declaration Form to have five non-domestic properties and no domestic property ownership in Hong Kong. Furthermore, they declared that their total household net asset value did not exceed 100 times the prevailing PRH Income Limit.
 
     Subsequent investigation by the Housing Department (HD) revealed that the total asset value of the five non-domestic properties was about $9,500,000. Secondly, the two tenants were the directors of a limited company with 50 per cent shares being held separately, and they also held three domestic properties through the same company. The total household net asset value was assessed to have exceeded the asset limit of $2,310,000.

     The two tenants were prosecuted by the HD for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance. Both defendants were convicted by the presiding magistrate in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts this morning and were fined $240,000 in total. The HD will also issue a Notice-to-quit against this family in order to recover the public rental housing unit concerned.

     The spokesman reminded tenants of PRH estates to complete their income and asset declaration forms accurately, which forms the foundation for the assessment of rent and their eligibility for continuing residence. Before making the declarations, households should read the content and completion guidelines of the income and asset declaration form carefully and compute their income and assets in accordance with the methods specified. Otherwise, they may be prosecuted for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months) or being prosecuted for neglecting to furnish information as specified in a declaration form, contrary to Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $25,000 fine and imprisonment for three months).

     Notwithstanding the above, the HD will take action to recover the undercharged rent incurred due to the inaccurate information. According to the revised Well-off Tenants Policies endorsed in December 2016, PRH households that hold more than 50 per cent of shares in a company which owns, directly or through its subsidiaries, any domestic property in Hong Kong, or have a total household net asset value exceeding 100 times the prevailing PRH Income Limit, irrespective of their levels of household income, will be required to vacate their PRH flats.

     In response to media enquiries on the suspension of the Speedpost service to Wuhan, the spokesperson of Hongkong Post gave the following reply today (January 2):
 
     Flights scheduled for conveying Speedpost items to Wuhan was cancelled since November 16, 2019. As a result, Hongkong Post needs to negotiate with other air carriers and China Post for the arrangement on alternative postal routes. Hongkong Post's Speedpost service to Wuhan (except Economy Express) is therefore suspended, whereas surface mail and airmail services to Wuhan remain normal.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 2) investigating a case of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection, and hence urged the public to maintain good personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene.
    
     The case involves a 77-year-old man with underlying illnesses, who has presented with fever, productive cough and shortness of breath since December 27 last year. He was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment on December 28 and was subsequently transferred to Tung Wah Eastern Hospital for further management on December 30. The patient is now in a stable condition.

     His blood sample tested positive for Hib upon laboratory testing. His clinical diagnoses were pneumonia and septicaemia. 

     The patient had no recent travel history and his home contact remains asymptomatic. Investigations are ongoing.

     Invasive Hib infection has been a statutory notifiable infectious disease since July 2008. Invasive Hib infection commonly presents clinically as infection of membranes covering the brain (meningitis), often accompanied by bacteria entering the bloodstream. It may also affect other parts of the body such as the lungs, the upper part of the throat (epiglottis), joints and bones. Prompt antibiotic treatment is necessary.
 
     "Hib infection can be spread by contact with the nose or throat secretions of a patient. If persistent fever, unusual changes in behaviour or other deteriorating conditions develop, or if in doubt, seek medical attention immediately," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     Members of the public are advised to observe personal hygiene and take heed of the preventive measures below:
 

• Maintain hand hygiene and clean hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are soiled with respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing or coughing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal discharge and sputum properly;
• Do not share eating and drinking utensils, and wash them thoroughly after use;
• Avoid going to crowded places if not feeling well; and
• An effective vaccine against Hib is available. For personal protection, seek advice from a health-care professional.

 
     The public may visit the CHP's invasive Hib page for more information.

     A male licensed money service operator was fined $12,000 today (January 2) and disqualified from holding a Money Service Operator licence for two months at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for aiding and abetting other people to operate a money service without a valid licence.  

     Acting on information, officers of the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) earlier discovered a grocery shop in Tai Kok Tsui suspected of operating a money service without a licence with the assistance of the licensee.

     A male proprietor and a female staff member operating the grocery shop were fined $10,000 and $5,000 respectively and disqualified from holding a Money Service Operator licence for six months by the court earlier for operating a money service without a valid licence.

     Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, a person who wishes to operate a remittance and/or money changing service is required to apply for a licence from the C&ED. Any person who operates a money service without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

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