The Immigration Department announced today (November 19) that owing to special incidents occurring in Mong Kok, the West Kowloon Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre will be closed at 6pm.
 
     Members of the public who have appointments for today may proceed to the Replacement Centre on later days for identity card replacement and they need not make another appointment. Subject to the actual circumstances of various districts, individual Replacement Centres may close earlier at any time. Before proceeding to the Replacement Centres, applicants are advised to check the latest government press releases or call the Replacement Centres.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of Singapore Limited on suspicious mobile applications (Apps), which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the Apps concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the Apps should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

     Two women were fined $3,500 and $4,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (November 19) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in April and May this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected two suspected unlicensed guesthouses on Stone Nullah Lane in Wan Chai and Tung Wan Tau Road in Mui Wo. During the inspections, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented rooms in these guesthouses on a daily basis.

     According to the OLA's records, these guesthouses did not possess licences under the Ordinance on the days of inspection. The women responsible for operating and managing the premises were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.

     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and can lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 19) investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at a residential child care centre in Wan Chai District, and hence reminded the public and management of institutions to maintain personal and environmental hygiene against AGE.

     The outbreak involves seven boys and 13 girls aged 4 months to 2 years. They developed diarrhoea since November 9. Eighteen of them received medical attention and none required hospitalisation. All patients are in a stable condition.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and provided health advice to the staff of the centre concerning proper and thorough disinfection, proper disposal of vomitus, and personal and environmental hygiene. The centre has been put under medical surveillance.

     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP advised members of the public to take heed of the following preventive measures against gastroenteritis:
 

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating, after using the toilet or after changing diapers;
• Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus or faecal matter, and wash hands afterwards;
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water). Wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Pay attention to food hygiene;
• Use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked;
• Drink boiled water; and
• Do not patronise unlicensed food premises or food stalls.

     The public may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Health Education Hotline (2833 0111) for more information.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     The Judiciary has announced that having regard to the situation in the vicinity of Jordan, subject to any directions of the presiding Judge or Judicial Officer concerned and until further announcement, all hearings of the Lands Tribunal and the Labour Tribunal originally scheduled from November 18 to tomorrow (November 20) and thereafter are adjourned to a date and time to be notified by the court in due course. All relevant parties to the proceedings affected should keep in view any further notification by the court or public announcements by the Judiciary.

     The registries and offices of the two Tribunals remain closed tomorrow until further announcement.