The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Kowloon West Cluster made the following update today (March 26) regarding patients confirmed to be Candida auris and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) carriers:  
      
     According to the admission screening results of Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), two female patients, aged 95 and 71 respectively, who were earlier admitted to North Lantau Hospital (NLTH), were confirmed as Candida auris carriers while not having signs of infection. The 95-year-old patient has earlier been transferred to PMH from CMC. She is now under isolation with stable condition. The 71-year-old patient has been discharged earlier.
      
     In addition, PMH has commenced contact tracing and identified one more 58-year-old male patient as a CPE carrier without clinical symptoms. The patient has been discharged earlier.
      
     In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, the cluster has conducted the following enhanced infection control measures:
      
     1.Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
     2.Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures; and
     3.Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients.
      
     The cluster will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patients. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (March 26) laid charges against two Mainland fishermen suspected of engaging in illegal fishing in waters near Black Point, Tuen Mun.
 
     AFCD officers intercepted a Mainland fishing vessel suspected to be carrying out illegal fishing in the above-mentioned waters at about 12 noon yesterday (March 25) for investigation. Some fishing gear (including winches and long cages) and catch were seized on board.
 
     Charges were laid against the Mainland fishermen. They were suspected to have violated the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) (the Ordinance) and will appear at Fanling Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (March 27).

     Only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters. Regardless of the type of fishing gear used, a non-local fishing vessel is not allowed to carry out fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. Any offender is liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and imprisonment for six months.
 
     An AFCD spokesman said, "The Government is committed to cracking down on illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will continue to step up patrols and stringently enforce the law."

  

     The Government announced today (March 26) that the Chief Executive has appointed Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee as the Chairman of the Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene for a term of two years with effect from April 1, 2021. Professor Leung is Chair Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry at Department of Chemistry and Director of State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution in the City University of Hong Kong. He served on the Council as member from 2013 to 2019.
      
     At the same time, 10 new members have been appointed and six serving members have been re-appointed to the Council. All appointments are for a term of two years from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023.
      
     Brief descriptions of the new members are as follows:
      
     Hon Chan Hak-kan is a Member of the Legislative Council (New Territories East).
      
     Dr Olivia Chan Sinn-kay is Veterinarian and Research Officer of the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong.
      
     Professor Chen Sheng is Associate Dean (Research) of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong.
      
     Ms Chiang Lai-yuen is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chen Hsong Holdings Limited.
      
     Ms Catherine Ching Siu-yi is Director and Executive Manager of Federal Restaurant Group.
      
     Dr Crystal Fok Lo-ming is Director of AIR Platform and Precision Engineering of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.
      
     Dr Dennis Ip Kai-ming is Clinical Associate Professor and Division Head, Division of Community Medicine and Public Health Practice of the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong.
      
     Professor Terence Lau Lok-ting is Convener of Food Safety Consortium of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
      
     Dr Peter Lee Wai-man is Director of Research and Development of the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited.
      
     Dr Stanley Tam Kui-fu is Consultant and Deputy Hospital Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital.
      
     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, welcomed the re-appointments and new appointments.
      
     Professor Chan also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Professor Lo Yuk-lam, and 10 members, Professor Felix Chan Hon-wai, Mr Chan Wai-ming, Professor Chiu Siu-wai, Mr Stephen Leung Kwok-keung, Professor Leo Poon Lit-man, Dr Shum Wan-cheong, Dr So Tsz-him, Mr Simon Tam Hop-sing, Professor Wong Wing-tak and Professor Samuel Wong Yeung-shan for their contributions to the work of the Council in the past years.
          
     "We are particularly thankful to Professor Lo who has served as the Chairman of the Council for the past six years. Under his able leadership, the Council has provided valuable advice to the Government on a wide range of important issues including the promotion of green burial, mosquito and rodent control, food safety and the work in response to African Swine Fever and avian influenza," Professor Chan said.
      
     "For the coming term, we are glad to have Professor Kenneth Leung as the Chairman of the Council. Professor Leung served as a member of the Council for a long time. With his profound experience and expertise, I am certain we can continue to count on him as well as the members of the Council for advice and insights for further enhancement of our services to the public," Professor Chan said.
      
     The Council is a non-statutory body established on April 1, 2000, to advise the Government on food and environmental hygiene issues. The Council comprises a Chairman, 16 non-official members and four ex-officio members.
      
     The membership of the Council with effect from April 1, 2021, is as follows:
 
Chairman
Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee

Members
Hon Chan Hak-kan
Dr Olivia Chan Sinn-kay
Professor Chen Sheng
Dr Chen Xueping
Mr Cheung Ki-tang
Ms Chiang Lai-yuen
Ms Catherine Ching Siu-yi
Dr Chiu Man-ying
Dr Crystal Fok Lo-ming
Dr Dennis Ip Kai-ming
Ms Sandy Keung Yurk-nam
Professor Terence Lau Lok-ting
Dr Peter Lee Wai-man
Dr Stanley Tam Kui-fu
Mr Richard Tsang Lap-ki
Professor Wong Man-sau

Ex-officio Members
Secretary for Food and Health, with Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food) as her alternate
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene
Director of Health

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     Details of the meetings of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Committees to be held in the LegCo Complex during the week from March 29 to April 2 are available in the meeting schedule attached.
      
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change. Please refer to the LegCo Calendar on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
      
     Members of the public can watch or listen to the meetings via the Webcast system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meetings at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (March 26), 29 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 11 023 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 668 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 226 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 170 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 22 public hospitals and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, among which 10 patients are in critical condition, seven are in serious condition and the remaining 153 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.
 
     Details of the above-mentioned patients are as follows: