The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority (HA) is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate of medical wards in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
 
     In addition, the weekly bulletin "Surge in Brief" (appended) will be issued every Thursday to illustrate the four-week trend of key service statistics in public hospitals. "Surge in Brief" can be accessed in the HA Winter Surge designated webpage (www.ha.org.hk/goto/wintersurge/en).
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 3) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Members of the public are invited to enrol for the plant exhibit competition, which is one of the major activities of the Hong Kong Flower Show 2019. Application is free of charge and will remain open until January 23. A quota is set for each section of the competition. Entrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     The flower show will be held in Victoria Park for 10 days from March 15 to 24 featuring "When Dreams Blossom" as the main theme and with the Chinese hibiscus as the theme flower.
 
     The competition is divided into 15 sections including orchid, Chinese cymbidium, potted plant, cactus and succulent, foliage and carnivorous plant, African violet, bonsai-type plant, floral arrangement in Western style and Oriental style, floral art by school children, primary and secondary school potted plant growing/nursing, and the school garden plot competition.
 
     Completed entry forms should be submitted in person or by post to the Secretariat of the Show Committee of the Hong Kong Flower Show 2019 (11/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin), by fax (2691 7264) or by email (hkfscompetitions@lcsd.gov.hk) on or before January 23.
 
     The prospectus and entry forms of the competition are available at the flower show webpage www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2019/exhibits.html. For enquiries about the competition, please call 2601 8260 or visit the flower show webpage.
 
     The flower show is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the seventh consecutive year and has been the Major Sponsor of the flower show since 2014.
 

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tai Po in the afternoon today (January 2) in which a 58-year-old man died.

At about 5.33pm, a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driven by a 38-year-old man was travelling along Wan Tau Street southbound. When approaching Tai Ming Lane, the HGV reportedly knocked down the 58-year-old man who was crossing the road.

Sustaining serious head injuries, the male pedestrian was certified dead at scene.

The 38-year-old driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Upon the announcement by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today (January 2) that Hong Kong has entered the winter influenza season, the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following announcement:
 
     As Hong Kong has entered the winter influenza season, the spokesperson of the HA said more stringent infection control measures will be enforced in public hospitals, including:
 

• All healthcare staff and visitors are required to put on surgical masks when entering the clinical areas and to enhance hand hygiene;
• Healthcare staff will assess patients according to the established clinical guidelines (i.e. fever, travel history, occupation, contact history and whether they were involved in a cluster of infection cases), and necessary infection control measures will be taken for patients with influenza symptoms;
• Virology services will be enhanced by providing polymerase chain reaction testing seven days a week in order to provide prompt clinical treatment and corresponding bed mobilisation arrangements; and
• The existing surveillance and report mechanism of severe influenza cases will be enhanced in collaboration with the CHP.

     The spokesperson of the HA said that seasonal influenza vaccination is an effective and safe means to prevent influenza infection and its complications. Staring from October 2018, the HA has proactively arranged for healthcare staff to receive seasonal influenza vaccination to protect themselves and lower the risk of cross-infection. So far, around 30 000 staff members have received the vaccination, which is about a 40 per cent increase as compared to the figure for the same period last year. The HA appeals to members of the public who have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated promptly to prevent influenza infection and its complications.
 
     The HA will continue to closely communicate with the CHP to monitor the influenza situation.