The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (January 14), 47 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 8 631 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 678 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 235 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 563 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 25 public hospitals and a community treatment facility, among which 42 patients are in critical condition, 30 are in serious condition and the remaining 491 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:
 

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

     The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Security scheduled for tomorrow (January 15) at 8.30am will be conducted by Zoom videoconferencing.
 
     Members of the public can watch or listen to the meetings via the Webcast system on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Archives of all open virtual meetings will also be available for public access via the system.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 13) seized about 520 000 suspected illicit cigarettes and 3 400 suspected illicit heat-not-burn (HNB) products with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million and a duty potential of about $1 million in Yuen Long.

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Yuen Long yesterday evening, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes and illicit HNB products from a metal hut. A 27-year-old man suspected to be in connection with the case was arrested.

     Customs believes that a suspected illicit cigarette storehouse was raided during the operation. Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. All HNB products containing tobacco in content are also dutiable goods subject to the control of the DCO. Any person who imports, possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (January 14) that the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong have agreed to allow Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars (dual-plate private cars) under the quotas of Lok Ma Chau (Huanggang), Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Shenzhen Bay Port crossings to continue to use the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) for travelling between Hong Kong Port and Zhuhai Port without additional procedures, and to extend this arrangement to dual-plate private cars under the quota of the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point.

     The governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong have implemented the first phase of the trial arrangement since February 25, 2019, allowing dual-plate private cars under respective quotas and issued with valid Closed Road Permits (CRPs) for using the crossings at Lok Ma Chau (Huanggang), Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok to use the HZMB to travel between the Hong Kong Port and Zhuhai Port without additional procedures for two years, which will end on February 24 this year. Moreover, the governments have also implemented the second phase of the trial arrangement since April 29, 2019, by extending to dual-plate private cars under the quota of the Shenzhen Bay Port with a corresponding valid CRP, which will end on April 28 this year.
 
     Taking into account the smooth traffic situation in the vicinity of the HZMB and in order to better utilise the HZMB, the TD will, in accordance with the agreement between the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments, allow dual-plate private cars under the quotas of the aforementioned four crossings and issued with CRPs to continue to use the HZMB to travel between the Hong Kong Port and Zhuhai Port without additional procedures upon the expiry of the aforementioned two phases until further notice. Furthermore, dual-plate private cars under the quota of the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point with a corresponding valid CRP may also use the HZMB for travelling to and from the Mainland without additional procedures starting from February 25 this year until further notice.

     The TD will issue notification letters to CRP holders of relevant crossings to provide the details of the arrangement. The Guangdong and Hong Kong governments will make adjustments to the arrangement as and when necessary, taking into account factors such as the traffic flow of the HZMB and the situation of the Hong Kong Port and Zhuhai Port as well as the relevant connecting roads.
 
     The TD reminds relevant quota holders of the dual-plate private cars that they should possess a valid CRP of using their original crossings in order to use the HZMB Hong Kong Port.
 
     The above-mentioned arrangement is only applicable to the vehicles travelling between the Hong Kong Port and Zhuhai Port via the HZMB. Members of the public are reminded that if they wish to drive their private cars to the Macao Port via the HZMB, the private car must possess a valid HZMB private car regular quota allocation for going to or returning from Macao with valid licences/permits issued by the governments of Hong Kong and Macao; or have completed registration under the HZMB Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme and obtained a valid permit, including reserving parking spaces at the East Car Park of the HZMB Frontier Post at the Macao Port.

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (January 14) for people in need of the service.
    
     The temporary shelters have been operating since last Thursday (January 7), and will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (January 15) when the cold weather warning is still in force.
 
     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.
 
     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department's hotline 2572 8427 for more information.
 
     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
——————–
 
Central and Western:
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories:
—————-
 
Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung
 
North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung:
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long