The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

　　The Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) spokesperson today (December 31) announced the passing away of a patient confirmed with COVID-19 infection today.
 
　　A 77-year-old male patient (case number: 8561) with chronic diseases was admitted CMC due to fever and pneumonia on December 25. The patient was tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day. His condition continued to deteriorate and eventually succumbed at 10am today.
 
　　CMC was saddened about the passing away of the patient and would offer necessary assistance to his family.
 
　　Including the above patient, 144 COVID-19 confirmed patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (December 31) said that the first batch of licences under the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) will take effect tomorrow (January 1). The licences include those for all private hospitals and the first batch of licences for day procedure centres (DPCs).
 
     A spokesman for the DH said, "Following the licences coming into effect, it signifies that the new regulatory regime under the Ordinance is being implemented in phases."
 
     The Ordinance was gazetted on November 30, 2018, aiming to further protect patient safety and rights through the introduction of a new regulatory regime for private healthcare facilities (PHFs). Under the Ordinance, operators of premises where registered medical practitioners and/or dentists practice, including hospitals, DPCs and clinics, are required to obtain a licence or a letter of exemption. Licensees of PHFs are required to comply with the relevant code of practice. A complaint handling mechanism will be established under the new regime, and members of the public can make their complaints against licensed PHFs via this channel.
 
     From tomorrow onwards, the Ordinance will replace the Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Maternity Homes Registration Ordinance (Cap. 165), providing a new regulatory regime for private hospitals. The first batch of licences of DPCs under the Ordinance will also take effect on the same day.
 
     The spokesman reminded that operators who have yet to apply for DPC licences should submit licence applications via the e-licensing system as soon as possible. For more information on application for the DPC licence, please refer to the website of the Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities of the DH (www.orphf.gov.hk/en). Details of application for clinic licences and requests for letters of exemption for small practice clinics will be announced in due course.
 
     The spokesman added that the DH has established and maintains a PHFs register, which will be available on the website www.directory.orphf.gov.hk/Directory/en/Home/Home for public inspection tomorrow.

     The Government announced today (December 31) that the Chief Executive has appointed Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung to succeed Dr Ben Cheung Kin-leung as the Chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN), and appointed Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung, Ms Vera Ho Ivy Yuen-wei, Mr Frederick Lai Wing-hoi and Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai as new members. Thirteen members have also been re-appointed. 
      
     The appointments of Dr Li and other members are for a two-year term from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. 
      
     On the appointments of the new term of the ACAN, the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, said, "Dr Li is a distinguished medical practitioner in family medicine who has rich clinical experience in family medicine and a strong record across various sectors of public service. I have every confidence that under his leadership, the ACAN will continue to contribute to the multi-pronged strategies in combating drugs."
      
     Among the newly appointed ACAN members, Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung is a dental surgeon; Ms Vera Ho Ivy Yuen-wei is a director of a company; Mr Frederick Lai Wing-hoi is the Director of Caritas Social Work Services Division; and Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai is a secondary school principal.
      
     Mr Lee said, "The new ACAN members come from various sectors including the medical, business, social services and education sectors. Their expertise and valuable experiences will bring new momentum to the work of the ACAN. The Narcotics Division will continue to work closely with the ACAN, relevant government departments and community stakeholders to strive to build a drug-free society."

     Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Cheung, and said, "Dr Cheung has made untiring efforts in promoting anti-drug work, particularly promoting the integration of treatment and rehabilitation services and collaboration between the medical and social services in anti-drug treatment. Under his six-year sterling leadership, the ACAN has provided invaluable advice to the Government on the fight against drugs."
      
     Mr Lee also extended his sincere thanks to the four outgoing members for their contributions to the work of the ACAN. They are Mr Edwin Cheng Shing-lung, Dr Cheung Wai-him, Mr Simon Ip Shing-hing and Dr Annissa Lui Wai-ling.
      
     The ACAN is the Government's advisory body on anti-drug matters. It was established in 1965. The membership list of the new term of the ACAN is as follows: 
 
Chairman
———–
Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung
 
Members
———-
Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung
Mr Chan Man-ho
Mr Chan Wing-kin
Mr Fan Hoi-kit
Ms Vera Ho Ivy Yuen-wei
Miss Anna-Mae Koo Mei-jong
Mr Frederick Lai Wing-hoi
Dr Lam Ho-yi
Dr Lee Tin-yan*
Mr Clifford Leung Siu-on
Miss Li Ka-yan*
Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai
Professor Ng Chi-fai
Mr Poon Hing-fai
Mr Albert Su Yau-on
Mr Sunny Tan
Professor Tang Wai-kwong
Ms Susan Yeung
Director, Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore
Secretary for Education or his representative
Commissioner of Police or his representative
Commissioner of Customs and Excise or his representative
Director of Health or his representative
Director of Social Welfare or his representative
Commissioner for Narcotics
 
* appointed through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth with the current term of appointment from June 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022.

     The Government announced today (December 31) the appointment of Ms Edith Shih as the new Chairperson and Mr Patrick Law Fu-yuen, Mr Andrew Mak Yip-shing, Mr Frederick Tsang Sui-cheong, Professor Anna Wong Wai-kwan and Mr Yu Chung-leung as new members of the Process Review Panel (PRP) for the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) for a term of two years from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. The Secretary for Justice (or her representative) has been appointed as an ex-officio member from January 1, 2021, onwards.
 
     Announcing the appointments, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "The PRP for the FRC helps enhance the transparency and accountability of the FRC. We are confident that, under the leadership of the new Chairperson and with the support of panel members, the PRP will continue to discharge its duties effectively to enhance our financial reporting and corporate governance regime."
 
     Mr Hui also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Anthony Chow Wing-kin, and members, Ms Florence Chan Yuen-fan and Professor Low Chee-keong, for their valuable contribution and support to the Panel over the past six years.
 
     The PRP for the FRC is an independent and non-statutory body that reviews the operational procedures of the FRC and determines whether the actions taken by the FRC in handling cases have followed its internal procedures and guidelines. The Chairman and members of the PRP are appointed by the Financial Secretary under authority delegated by the Chief Executive.

     The membership list of the PRP for the FRC with effect from January 1, 2021, is as follows:
 
Chairperson
————–
Ms Edith Shih
 
Members
———-
Mr Patrick Law Fu-yuen
Mr Andrew Mak Yip-shing
Mr Frederick Tsang Sui-cheong
Mr Tse Kam-keung
Professor Anna Wong Wai-kwan
Mr Yu Chung-leung
 
Ex-officio Members
———————-
Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau (in the capacity as Chairman of the FRC)
Secretary for Justice (or her representative)

     The Government today (December 31) announced the appointments of the following 12 members to the Green Tech Fund Assessment Committee (GTFAC) for a two-year term starting on January 1, 2021.

Professor Chan Chak-keung
Dr Lawrence Cheung
Ms Natalie Chung
Ms Ada Fung
Professor Ho Kin-chung
Ms Kong Wing-man
Professor Edward Ng
Professor Poon Chi-sun
Ms Ellie Tang
Mr Albert Wong
Professor Jonathan Wong
Dr William Yu
 
     "The GTFAC, chaired by the Director of Environmental Protection, comprises members from different sectors including academia, the industry, green groups and the relevant government departments. It is responsible for assessing applications for the Green Tech Fund (GTF) and monitoring the progress of funded projects. We are grateful to the members for their agreement to serve on the GTFAC to work with the Government in promoting the development of low-carbon and green technologies," a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said.

     The GTF, established with a $200 million government allocation, aims to provide better and more focused funding support to research and development projects which can help Hong Kong decarbonise and enhance environmental protection. This will give new impetus to deep decarbonisation and the development of green technologies, and can help the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region pursue the target of striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, as announced in this year's Policy Address. The GTF is accepting the first round of applications on or before February 22, 2021.