The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (June 1), three COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 11183, 11762 and 11842) were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 11 575 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 619 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 130 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 26 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 13 public hospitals and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, among which one patient (case number: 6794) is in critical condition, one (case number: 9907) is in serious condition and the remaining 24 patients 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.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:
 
     "The Social Welfare Department announces that while the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, all child care centres, centres providing after school care programmes, elderly services centres and day rehabilitation units including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres, integrated vocational training centres and day activity centres will remain open during their normal operating hours. However, if necessary, members of the public can contact the centres to make arrangements for the safe return home of their children and family members."

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is now in force, classes of all evening schools are suspended tonight. Schools which are in session should continue until the end of school hours. School officials should ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital made the following announcement today (June 1):
 
     A 70-year-old patient in a male medicine and geriatrics ward was confirmed to be infected with Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) on May 27. In accordance with prevailing guidelines, the hospital commenced contact tracing and identified two more patients aged 52 and 58 who are CPE carriers. Three patients are being treated under isolation and in stable condition.
 
     The Hospital Infection Control Team has followed up with the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward:
 
1. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications starting today (June 1) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.

     The PASS, with a total allocation of $200 million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.

     The maximum grant under the PASS for each approved project is $3 million or 90 per cent of the total eligible project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the PASS. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants' travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants of relatively longer professional internship or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong which are funded by the PASS.

     Up to the end of May 2021, more than 70 projects have been funded under the PASS, including activities in and outside Hong Kong. The activities include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. In view of the latest pandemic situation, suitable flexibility will be provided to grantees for implementing their projects. Details about the PASS and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/en/home/index.html.

     The PASS receives applications all year round and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is August 31, 2021. A briefing session will be held in June 2021 for organisations interested in applying for PASS funding. For registration for the briefing session or other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 3655 5418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.

     Meanwhile, as announced in "The Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address", funding of $50 million has been set aside for a new programme under the PASS, namely the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP), to subsidise major professional bodies' participation in relevant exchange, promotion and professional standard enhancement activities organised by the Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices. The aim is to encourage Hong Kong professional services sectors to step up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edge and professional services to the Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and overseas markets after the pandemic situation has stabilised. While details of the PSP activities can only be finalised after the pandemic situation has stabilised and the associated travel restrictions have been relaxed, some preliminary information about the PSP and some tentative activities being planned has been uploaded to the PASS website. Updates and further details will be announced in due course.