The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (August 28) wishes to remind members of the public to stay vigilant to bogus phone calls purported to be from banks. These calls may lure members of the public to open investment accounts, transfer funds to the accounts designated by the callers, provide sensitive personal information or follow callers' other instructions by claiming seemingly legitimate reasons (for example, irregularities detected in their bank or credit card accounts, promoting products that they are interested in with attractive offers).   
 
     The HKMA urges members of the public to take precautionary steps to authenticate the calls with the relevant banks rather than just take the word of the callers without verifying their identity. Since 2015, a list of all retail banks' hotline numbers for such verification purpose has been posted at the dedicated webpages of the HKMA (www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc/other-information/Bank_hotline_for_verify_caller_identity_ENG.pdf) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (www.hkab.org.hk/DisplayArticleAction.do?sid=5&ss=14). These hotline numbers have been conveniently and effectively used by the public for verifying the identity of callers. In view of the continued occurrence of bogus phone calls, members of the public should continue to use the relevant hotlines to verify the authenticity of the calls.
 
     Any member of the public who has fallen to, or suspects that he/she has fallen to, similar scams should immediately contact the bank concerned and report such cases to any Police Station or the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following announcement today (August 28):
 
     Five patients (aged 45 to 66) and a staff member in a male ward for severe intellectual disability presented with respiratory symptoms since August 21. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and the test results for four patients were positive for Human Metapneumovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition. The staff member is currently on leave.
 
     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited elderly and rehabilitation facilities today (August 28) and met with Tuen Mun District Council (TMDC) members.

     He first called at Chi Lin Care and Attention Home (C&AH) and Chi Lin Day Care Centre for the Elderly in Diamond Hill at noon and visited elderly persons. The medical centre in the C&AH arranges for doctors to provide consultation and health checks for residents. Dental clinics are also available for oral care and dental treatment. Apart from providing personal care, rehabilitation exercises, health education and carers' support for elderly clients, the Day Care Centre also arranges self-care, cognition, behavioural and psychological training to help dementia patients slow down mental deterioration and improve their quality of life.

     The Day Care Centre is a Recognised Service Provider under the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly. The Government will increase service vouchers under the Second Phase of the Pilot Scheme to a total of 6 000 from October 2018 onwards to enhance "ageing in place" support for elderly persons with moderate or severe impairment. The Social Welfare Department is inviting eligible non-governmental organisations, social enterprises and private organisations to submit application for joining the scheme by August 31.

     Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, and the District Social Welfare Officer (Tuen Mun), Mr Ricky Yu, Dr Law went to Tuen Mun Long Stay Care Home of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association in the afternoon and visited patients with chronic mental illness. The care home provides residential services, care, mental rehabilitation and life skills training for patients in stable condition who still require care, so as to facilitate their integration into the community gradually.

     He toured various facilities and learnt more about the multi-disciplinary care services provided by care attendants, social work personnel and nurses. He noted that the care home was equipped with an anti-wandering system, which helps elderly residents to avoid getting lost, and a ceiling hoist system, which assists residents with impaired mobility to go to the toilet or bath. In addition, physiotherapists and occupational therapists at the care home introduced physical training technology to arouse trainees' interest and enhance the effectiveness of therapy.

     Dr Law said the ageing of persons with disabilities increases the demand for rehabilitation and residential services, and the use of gerontechnology can better address increasingly complex care needs and reduce the burden on care staff. In addition, he added, the Government has allocated additional resources this year to strengthen care for ageing rehabilitation service users.

     After the visit, Dr Law met with TMDC members to discuss labour and welfare matters.

      

     A man was fined $7,000 at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (August 28) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
           
     The courts heard that in February this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on King's Road in North Point. The OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.
           
     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The man responsible for operating the premises was 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 will 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".

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 (August 28) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.