The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Tin Shui Wai Hospital (TSWH) made the following announcement today (January 18):
 
     A 70-year-old male patient in a Medical and Geriatrics ward of TSWH was confirmed to carry Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on January 12. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has conducted contact tracing for the index patient. Two more male patients (aged 79 and 61) were confirmed to be VRE carriers without any symptom of infection. The 79-year-old patient passed away because of his underlying disease.  The 61-year-old patient has been discharged and the 70-year-old patient is still hospitalised with stable condition.

     The concerned ward has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
 
     1.      Enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions;
     2.      Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures;
     3.      Enhanced disinfection and cleansing of the concerned ward
 
     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and 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 following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients having been confirmed to be carriers of Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter (CRA) in a male orthopaedic rehabilitation ward, the spokesperson for the Tai Po Hospital (TPH) made the following update today (January 18):
 
     In accordance with the prevailing infection control procedures, the hospital has performed discharge screening and confirmed a discharged 53-year-old male patient as a CRA carrier.
 
     TPH will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
 

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session at the Central Government Offices today (January 18):

Reporter: Can I ask why are the four old hotels replaced with four new ones? Is it because their range is between like rather high prices? And secondly, can I also follow up on the civil servants’ declaration of allegiance? Can you clarify if civil servants can still take part in peaceful, legal protests? Because you said they can express their views on government policies as citizens but any such expression in public could lead to conflict with their civil servant identity. Thank you.
 
Secretary for the Civil Service: As regards the question concerning the designated hotels, there will be an addition of four hotels to the second round of the Designated Hotel Scheme. Basically in this second round, we have increased the number of hotels that charge at the low-end price, meaning less than a thousand dollars, specifically less than five hundred dollars a night. As regards the four hotels that have decided to withdraw from the Scheme, it is because of their own considerations, commercial reasons and all that. I would not comment on that. For the second round Designated Hotel Scheme, we now have over 80 per cent, actually is 83.5 per cent, of the total number of hotel rooms that would charge below a thousand dollars a night.
 
     In response to the question about civil servants participating in peaceful protests, as I said just now, the right of freedom of expression, the freedom of speech and all that are protected under the Basic Law and the relevant Hong Kong legislation. Civil servants, based on our existing circular, except for a certain category of civil servants coming from certain grades, basically can join peaceful protests or demonstrations to express their views because as an individual, they have such rights. But of course in exercising these, make sure that it is peaceful, it is lawful. Also if they want to express their views or do some acts in public, make sure that there will not be some conflicts between the role as an individual citizen and the role as a civil servant.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said today (January 18) that an engineer employed by the construction contractor of Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on January 17.

     The engineer concerned works at the reclamation site off Shek Kwu Chau and is responsible for handling the delivery and installation of pre-cast concrete seawall structures. He is required to measure his body temperature before working and wear a mask during work. He has not travelled outside Hong Kong recently. He tested negative during the COVID-19 testing for frontline staff and relevant personnel of works contractors arranged by the EPD on January 8.

     The contractor immediately contacted the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). The working and activity areas of the engineer concerned have been thoroughly cleaned and sterilised. The contractor has also arranged virus testing for all relevant staff (including those of the subcontractors and the supervising officer's office) today. In addition, those who closely worked with the engineer concerned are not allowed to enter the relevant works areas before being notified of testing negative for COVID-19, so as to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.

     The EPD will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP on the epidemic and arrange regular COVID-19 testing for all relevant staff of the work. Staff have been reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice as soon as possible if feeling unwell.

     Police today (January 18) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Chai Wan.

     Leung Yuk-ming, aged 46, went missing after he left his residence in Wan Tsui Estate on January 14 morning. His family made a report to Police on January 16.
      
     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, a black jacket, black trousers and brown shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034, or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.