The Hunan Liaison Unit (HNLU) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government moved to its new office today (November 8). The new address and detailed contact information is as follows:

Address: Room 2615, Tower 1, Changsha IFS, 188 Jiefang West Road, Furong District, Changsha, Hunan Province

Tel: (86-731) 8227 5609

Fax: (86-731) 8227 5610

Email: hnlu@wheto.gov.hk

Website: www.wheto.gov.hk

     The HNLU, under the purview of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan of the HKSAR, commenced operation in May 2016. Its main functions include enhancing the HKSAR Government's liaison and communication with Hunan Province and its municipalities; facilitating exchange and co-operation in economic and trade as well as other aspects between Hong Kong and Hunan Province; promoting Hong Kong's advantages and providing support to Hong Kong residents and enterprises in the area.

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 (November 7) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (November 7), no COVID-19 confirmed patient was discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 12 036 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 603 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 088 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 83 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in eight public hospitals and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, and all of them are in stable condition.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, November 7, the CHP was investigating one additional confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 369 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 368 confirmed cases and one probable case).

     The newly reported case is an imported case that involved a mutant strain. The 56-year-old male patient arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk) and tested positive during quarantine.
 
     Meanwhile, the CHP has received update yesterday (November 6) afternoon from the Singaporean health authority that one Singapore confirmed case which was earlier reported to Hong Kong has been re-tested as false positive. The case was announced by the CHP on October 31 which involves an 18-year-old male patient who lives at Ching Tak House, Tsz Ching Estate, Tsz Wan Shan. As the case is not being classified as a case of COVID-19 infection, the relevant close contacts have been released from the quarantine centre.

     A total of 48 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (October 24 to November 6) and all of them are imported cases.

     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 list of buildings with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and the latest local situation of COVID-19 available on the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk). The DH has also been closely monitoring the mutant strains of SARS CoV-2 and has uploaded the relevant information on Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs), based on whole genome sequencing results, to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/641/100135/6973.html). The data will be updated regularly.

     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)."

     The spokesman reminded, "If travel is unavoidable, the CHP highly recommends the public to be fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines before their departure. They should avoid participating in non-essential mass gatherings or events held outside Hong Kong. They should continue to wear a surgical mask and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Parents are also urged to avoid taking unvaccinated children travelling."

     The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). Generally speaking, COVID-19 vaccination can prevent COVID-19 infection, and if infected, reduce the risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19.

     â€‹The CHP called on members of the public to pay attention to their health condition, seek medical advice early and undergo COVID-19 nucleic acid testing as soon as possible if respiratory symptoms develop. They should also maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times to protect themselves against infection and prevent the spread of the disease in the community. For more related health advice, please refer to the website www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/health-advice.html.

    Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a radio programme today (November 7):
 
Reporter: The booster shot have opened for some people, can you tell us how is the response so far? If the Government is going to make the use of the "LeaveHomeSafe" mandatory at all venues? Besides restaurants, what other venues are you considering?
 
Secretary for Food and Health: First about the additional dose, the booster dose, the Joint Scientific Committee (The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health) has made recommendations and the Government has also announced the arrangements for taking the third dose. So it will start the coming Thursday (November 11). The Joint Scientific Committee has also made recommendations about how the third dose can be administered both for people who have taken Sinovac, as well as for people who have taken BioNTech. The Joint Scientific Committee has made some recommendations, but ultimately, we respect the choice of people, as to whether they would like to mix the third dose, or they would like to maintain on taking the third dose as the same platform that they have taken before.
 
Reporter: Do you know if the response is good, talking from the booking numbers?
 
Secretary for Food and Health: I do not have this information right now, but I think many people actually have been asking questions about the third dose, so I think a number of people are prepared to take the third dose.
 
Reporter: We know "LeaveHomeSafe" would become mandatory in restaurants, what other venues are you considering?
 
Secretary for Food and Health: I think using "LeaveHomeSafe" is good as a general prevention and control measure, and can help with the general control of the epidemic, in terms of contact tracing, and also self-protection. If there is a confirmed case, one would very quickly know that they have to go for a compulsory testing, so it is of the best interest of the entire society to extend the use of "LeaveHomeSafe" in more premises. Now the C and D Type of restaurants are using mandatory "LeaveHomeSafe" under the "vaccine bubble", we have also extended it to the Government buildings. Obviously there are other places where people may go frequently, and also places like restaurants where people would take off their masks, are more high-risk. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has met the trade to explore the feasibility of having mandatory "LeaveHomeSafe" in restaurants that is operated under A and B Type, where it is not mandatory right now. We are looking into extending "LeaveHomeSafe" to restaurants, as well as exploring the feasibility to other premises as well.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)