The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, December 7, the CHP was investigating five additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 472 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 471 confirmed cases and one probable case).

     The newly reported cases are imported cases. Four of the cases involved mutant strains while the mutation test result of the remaining case is pending. The patients comprise three males and two females, aged 28 to 62. All of them arrived in Hong Kong from Group A specified places (high-risk). Case 12477 is a close contact of an imported case confirmed previously (case 12444) and he tested positive at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre. The remaining four patients tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A total of 62 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (November 23 to December 6) and all of them are imported cases.

     According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local COVID-19 cases with mutant strains, the CHP reminded that persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).

     Specified persons in relation to the following specified premises are also reminded to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice tomorrow (December 8):

• Way Man Court, 50-52 Village Road, Happy Valley

     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

     â€‹The spokesman for the CHP stressed, "The global situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility, and there are also reports of breakthrough infections in some vaccinated individuals. The CHP strongly urges members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, in particular to specified places with high risk under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)."

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (December 7):
 
Reporter: Good morning, Mrs Lam. Two questions. The first one is Xia Baolong (Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) said on Monday that blind pursuit of Western-style democracy has brought more harm than benefits to Hong Kong. What's your take on that?
 
     The second one is in response to Mr Xia's speech, you expressed the expectation for better relationship between the Government and the new-term Legislative Council. Which areas will the Government prioritise in terms of its future co-operation with the Legislative Council?
 
Chief Executive: Of the two questions, first of all, I fully endorse and agree with the remarks of Mr Xia Baolong yesterday, and I think he has really brought out the significance of the improvements to the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As you will recall, he made similar remarks about the importance of "patriots administering Hong Kong" in February this year and then in July this year. And now with the Legislative Council elections in process after the nomination period, we could all see the 153 candidates who have come forward to contest the 90 seats. It is very timely for Mr Xia to relate what he said previously, for example, we are only looking for people who are patriotic, we will not screen out people with a different political background, we will respect diversity and the improved electoral system will return more Legislative Council Members from a broad range of background. Now, we have the people right in front of us, we could, sort of, prove that what he said previously is accurate, because this is for all to see.
 
     About democracy, I have said previously that there is no one size fits all in democracy. One has to remember the ultimate aim and purpose of a democratic system is to improve the livelihood of the people. What's the point of having the so-called democracy if people are suffering, as you can see in some Western democracies in the course of fighting COVID-19? Hong Kong is particularly unique because we operate under "One Country, Two Systems". The democratic system in Hong Kong has to follow exactly what is provided for in the Basic Law. What is provided for in the Basic Law was promulgated by the highest state power organ, that is, the National People's Congress. We will continue to abide by the system endorsed by the National People's Congress and conduct elections in Hong Kong in a fair and open manner.
 
     That brings me to your second question. I mentioned that the purpose of democracy or any political system is to improve the livelihood of the people. I am anticipating that after the 2021 Legislative Council General Election, when the seventh Legislative Council returns on January 1 next year, it will be a Legislative Council which is more rational, more prepared to work with the Executive in order to further the interests of Hong Kong. The particular areas which previously have been obstructed and disrupted are our relationship with the Central Government, and also our aspirations to integrate more into the national development. I'm sure that now that we have a Legislative Council comprising patriots, all these endeavours to work more closely with the Mainland authorities, to render ourselves in a position to contribute to the national development, will get more support. In fact, we have seen this already since last November when the Legislative Council became more or less the form that we will see, that is, the 40-plus members were predominantly pro-establishment members who are patriotic. They have on their own volition passed quite a number of non-binding motions, and the content and the theme of those non-binding motions were to urge the Hong Kong SAR Government to co-operate more with the Mainland authorities and to support us to do co-location in some of the border control points with Shenzhen. This is one area which I'm sure will make a lot of differences when the new Legislative Council comes into play.
 
     Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Police today (December 7) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Pat Heung.

     Tse Cheuk-ming, aged 76, went missing after he left his residence in Wing Ning Tsuen yesterday (December 6) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
         
     He is about 1.76 metres tall, 83 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short white and grey hair. He was last seen wearing a white long-sleeve T-shirt, dark colour trousers, black shoes and a black cap.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     Police today (December 7) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Pat Heung.

     Tse Cheuk-ming, aged 76, went missing after he left his residence in Wing Ning Tsuen yesterday (December 6) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
         
     He is about 1.76 metres tall, 83 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short white and grey hair. He was last seen wearing a white long-sleeve T-shirt, dark colour trousers, black shoes and a black cap.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     Police today (December 7) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Chen Ziyun, aged 13, went missing after she left her residence in Wo Lok Estate on November 30 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on December 3.

     She is about 1.68 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and long brown hair. She was last seen wearing a white jacket, a black skirt and white and gold shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or 3661 0335 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.