The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 4) that in view of notifications from the Italian authorities and the Swedish Board of Agriculture about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Pordenone Province of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and Padova Province of Veneto Region in Italy and Kungsbacka Municipality of Halland County in Sweden, and a notification from the Swedish Board of Agriculture about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N5 avian influenza in Trelleborg Municipality of Skåne County in Sweden, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned Italian areas and Kungsbacka Municipality of Halland County in Sweden, as well as the Municipalities of Vellinge and Malmö of Skåne County and the Municipalities of Mölndal, Härryda and Mark of Västra Götaland County near the affected areas in Sweden, with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1 745 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 25 000 poultry eggs from Italy and about 1 550 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Sweden last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Italian and Swedish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (March 4), 15 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 10 593 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 662 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 190 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 222 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 23 public hospitals, a community treatment facility and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, among which 13 patients are in critical condition, 12 are in serious condition and the remaining 197 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:
 

     A 61-year-old woman was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 10 days by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 4) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation).

     The woman was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that she must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she left the place of quarantine on June 26, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. She was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 10 days.  
 
      Pursuant to the Regulation, all persons who have stayed in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Moreover, pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E), starting from December 25, 2020, all persons arriving in Hong Kong (either via the airport or land boundary control points) who have stayed in places outside China on the day of arrival in Hong Kong or during the 21 days before that day have to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in designated quarantine hotels. Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the Regulation. As of today, a total of 115 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Mega International Commercial Bank Co Ltd on phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the email should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.