The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with influenza A in a female ward of the Department of Psychiatry, the spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital gave the following update today (January 7):
 
     One more 57-year-old female patient in the ward presented with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. Clinical tests were arranged and the test result was positive for influenza A. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (January 9) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on reviewing the policy on One-way Permit.
    
     The motion, moved by Mr Alvin Yeung, states: "That as currently a large number of Mainland immigrants have come to Hong Kong for settlement on One-way Permits (OWPs), creating a great burden on public services and facilities in Hong Kong in such areas as social welfare, housing, education and health care, this Council urges the SAR Government to reform the policy on OWP; the relevant measures should include:

     (1) immediately appealing to the Central Government for reducing the quota for Mainland residents coming to Hong Kong for settlement on OWPs, and expeditiously setting up a mechanism for regular consultation with the Central Government for both sides to adjust the quota annually according to the policy needs of Hong Kong;

     (2) establishing a dual vetting and approval mechanism for OWP in accordance with Articles 22 and 154 of the Basic Law and the Immigration Ordinance whereby the SAR Government can exercise the power to vet and approve entry for immigration and grant permission for OWP holders to come to Hong Kong for settlement only after verifying the authenticity of the documentary proof of family relationship between OWP holders and their family members who are Hong Kong permanent residents and the absence of record to the detriment of OWP holders (excluding past record of political prosecution), and that their family members who are Hong Kong permanent residents have sufficient financial means to support OWP holders' living at a standard well above the subsistence level in Hong Kong; and

     (3) stepping up efforts in combating bogus marriages to prevent lawbreakers from obtaining through bogus marriages the requisite documents to apply for OWPs to come to Hong Kong for settlement."

     Ms Claudia Mo, Mr Chan Hak-kan, Mr Wu Chi-wai and Mr Gary Fan will move separate amendments to Mr Alvin Yeung's motion.

     Mr Poon Siu-ping will move a motion on reviewing the holiday policy. The motion states: "That this Council urges the Government to review the holiday policy and designate the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression as a statutory holiday."

     Mr Ho Kai-ming, Mr Andrew Wan and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Mr Poon Siu-ping's motion.

     Meanwhile, Dr Pierre Chan will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Specification of Date for Section 135(1)(a)) Notice and the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Specification of Date for Section 136(1)(a)) Notice, laid on the table of the Council on December 12, 2018, to the meeting of January 30, 2019.

     Ms Starry Lee will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure.  The motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No. 8/18-19 of the House Committee laid on the Table of the Council on January 9, 2019 in relation to the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulation 2018"
    
     On government motion, the Secretary for Security will move a proposed resolution under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance to seek the Council to approve the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Mongolia) Order, made by the Chief Executive in Council on November 20, 2018.
    
     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk).  Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.

     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.

     With the Lunar New Year approaching, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has prepared the programme "A Big Fat Happy New Year", screening six films featuring figurative and literal comedy heavyweights on February 7 and 9 at the HKFA Cinema. Starring the comedians Leung Sing-por, Tam Lan-hing, Lydia Sum, Yiu Kwang-chao, Lau Kwai-hong and Pang Pang, the films will fill the start of the year with laughter and usher in a year of enduring happiness. 
 
     In "The Stubborn Generations" (1960), Leung Sing-por and his wife Ma Siu-ying try to cope with their fierce daughter-in-law Tam Lan-hing by asking their grandson Yam Kim-fai to pass the "code of a testy wife" to his wife Law Yim-hing through which Law can rein in Tam. Tam and her husband Cheng Kwan-min and Law then play pranks on each other. The film entertains the audience with the witty battle across three generations as the characters raise hell among themselves.
 
     "Every Cloud has a Silver Lining" (1960) features Sun Ma Si-tsang and his buddy Tang Kei-chen disguising as women and joining a troupe to evade their debts. Tang is pursued by the tycoon Yiu Kwang-chao because of his cross-dressing look. Sun Ma, on the other hand, pretends to be a rich businessman to court the troupe's female lead Tsi Lan.
 
     Lau Kwai-hong stars in "Auyeung Tak and His Double" (1952) as wuxia warrior Auyeung Tak, who defeats the evil monk Sek Kin. For revenge, Sek lures a robber who looks like Lau to assassinate Lord Pang in order to frame Tak for the crime. Lau tries hard to find out the robber with his disciple Lam Kar-sing to clear his name. The impressive image of Lau – chubby, pipe-smoking, wearing a pair of oversized glasses and sporting a Fu Manchu-style moustache – and his animated performance showcase the demeanour of wuxia warrior in an extraordinary way.
 
     "Terror in the Phoenix Chamber" (1963) tells of a series of supernatural occurrences encountered by Patricia Lam Fung and Woo Fung, who come back to Hong Kong for a vacation. Their servants Leung Sing-por and Pang Pang try hard to catch a ghost but keep messing up the plan, giving this thriller a comic touch.
 
     "Old Master, Part Two" (1966) follows the cousin (Lydia Sum) of Chun (Cheung Ching) who asks Chun to pretend to be her husband to secure a family inheritance, leading to suspicions by Chun's wife about Chun's fidelity to her. Master Cute (Ko Lo Chuen) and Tai Fan Shu (Ngai Tung Kwa) attempt to defuse this situation but achieve the opposite. Sum's cheerful, endearing role in the film is a sharp contrast to the difficult characters later in her career.
 
     In "Fatso Married Skinny" (1956), Cheng Bik-ying, a wealthy socialite, who is tired of the social life, sends her secretary Tam Lan-hing to stand in for her. Rich heir Sun Ma Si-tsang is forced by his father Lee Hoi-chuen to court Tam, who poses as the wealthy socialite, in order to save the family from financial distress. Sun Ma later falls in love with Cheng but their romance is hindered by his father as Cheng seems to come from a poor family. Typically cast for feisty roles, Tam here plays a marriage-hungry woman who provides a feast of laughter with her flirtatiousness.
      
     All of the films are in Cantonese and without subtitles.
 
    Tickets priced at $45 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme details, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/2019cny/index.html.

      

     The Lands Department (LandsD) issued 12 pre-sale consents for residential developments and two pre-sale consents for non-residential developments in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     The 12 pre-sale consents for 10 residential developments (of which three are phased developments) involve a total of 8 351 residential units. Two developments in Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long comprising a total of 214 residential units are expected to be completed in 2019. Three developments in Hung Hom, Tai Po and Tuen Mun and a phase each of two phased developments in Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long, comprising a total of 3 971 residential units, are expected to be completed in 2020. Two developments in Sha Tin and Tai Po and two phases of one phased development in Kwun Tong, comprising a total of 4 166 residential units, are expected to be completed in 2021.

     The department also issued three consents to assign in the fourth quarter of 2018. The three consents to assign involve a total of 2 375 residential units and one commercial unit in three developments in Sham Shui Po, North Point and Tsuen Wan.

     Taking into account the pre-sale consents issued in the first three quarters in 2018, the LandsD issued a total of 36 pre-sale consents for residential developments involving 21 722 residential units in 2018.

     As at the end of December 2018, 23 applications for pre-sale consent for residential developments and one application for pre-sale consent for non-residential developments were being processed.

     The 23 applications in respect of residential developments being processed involve a total of 10 058 residential units. Details are set out as follows:
 

 
     In addition, an application for consent to assign involving five residential units was being processed.

     Members of the public can obtain up-to-date information on consents issued for the past quarter and cases pending approval as at the end of December 2018 by visiting the LandsD's website (www.landsd.gov.hk).

     Intending purchasers are advised to study carefully the details of the development and the sale procedures, through information available from public advertisements, and sales brochures and price lists released by the developer, before making a deposit for purchase. The sales brochure for a development also contains a summary of the provisions of the Deed of Mutual Covenant, including information on the common parts, the number of undivided shares assigned to each unit, the term of years for which the manager is appointed, the basis on which the management expenses are shared among the owners of the units, the basis on which the management fee deposit is fixed and the retained areas (if any), as well as a summary of the provisions of the government land grant, which intending purchasers are recommended to read carefully.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) instituted prosecution against Lighthouse Elevator Engineering Limited, a registered lift contractor, last year for contravention of the requirements under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (Cap. 618). The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges and was fined $100,000 in total at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts today (January 7).
      
     Subsequent to public complaints and related media reports in May 2018, the EMSD inspected and tested the lifts of Hin Keng Estate in Shatin. The examination revealed that the overspeed governors of lift No. 5 at Hin Yau House and lift No.11 at Hin Wan House were not functioning effectively. As it involved the registered lift contractor, who failed to ensure the lift works were carried out properly, the EMSD initiated the prosecution.
      
     A spokesman for the EMSD stressed that the department would continue to enforce the law strictly to ensure safe and reliable lift services.
      
     The EMSD recommends the public to ensure the lift car has stopped before entering or leaving it. In case of abnormal lift operation, the responsible person for the lift should be notified as soon as possible, and the responsible person should then arrange registered lift contractor to carry out detailed examination for ensuring safety of the lift before resuming its operation.