The Immigration Department (ImmD) spokesperson announced today (January 1) that visits at Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC) will be resumed from tomorrow (January 2) in accordance with the advice of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).
      
     In response to a Vietnamese illegal immigrant detained at CIC who had tested positive for COVID-19, the ImmD had immediately suspended visits at CIC, conducted a thorough cleaning and disinfection at all detention facilities and arranged for all detainees and officers to undergo COVID-19 testing in accordance with the advice of the CHP. CIC was informed by the CHP today that all specimens had tested negative and that visits in CIC will be resumed from tomorrow in accordance with the advice of the CHP. In order to maintain social distancing, some of the facilities in the visit room will be temporarily closed, thorough cleaning in visit room will be conducted regularly, leading to a longer waiting time.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (January 1), 97 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. Including two patients (case numbers: 8809 and 8844) discharged on December 30, a total of 7 912 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged so far.
      
     At present, there are 691 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 259 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 756 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 22 public hospitals and community treatment facility, among which 50 patients are in critical condition, 40 are in serious condition and the remaining 666 patients are in stable condition. Moreover, a 59-year-old male patient (case number: 8336), who was confirmed with COVID-19 infection on December 21, succumbed in Queen Mary Hospital at 1.57pm today. Including this patient, 145 COVID-19 patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.
      
     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 Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (January 1), together with relevant departments, continued to step up patrols at venues managed by the LCSD in the territory to remind members of the public to comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap 599G) with no more than two persons in group gatherings in public places. Members of the public should wear masks at all times when being present in any public place in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap 599I). Offenders are liable to prosecution.

     Nearly 3 800 times verbal advice and 11 fixed penalty notices were given out at various venues managed by the LCSD across the territory between yesterday (December 31) and 4pm today. The LCSD spokesman calls on members of the public to exercise self-discipline and maintain an appropriate social distance with other people in order to reduce the chances of spreading the virus in the community.

     The LCSD will continue to step up patrols during the holiday. Enforcement actions will be taken against offenders.

      

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (January 1) for people in need of the service.

     The temporary shelters will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (January 2) 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:
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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:
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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

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has taken stringent enforcement actions relating to anti-epidemic regulations during the New Year period. Apart from stepping up inspections in various districts, the FEHD also conducted joint operations with the Police in Central & Western, Eastern, Islands, Yau Tsim, Mong Kok, Shum Shui Po, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long Districts yesterday (December 31). All districts were covered by the enforcement actions across the territory. The Government reminded catering business and scheduled premises operators to strictly comply with the requirements and directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) (the Regulation), and customers patronising catering premises to comply with the various anti-epidemic regulations and restrictions, including the requirements on group gatherings and wearing of masks.

     A total of 370 catering premises and 27 other premises were inspected during the joint operations, and 563 catering premises and 39 other premises were inspected by the FEHD on its own yesterday. The FEHD initiated procedures on prosecution against 14 catering business operators suspected for breaching the requirements under the Regulation (relating to providing distance or partition between tables and mask-wearing). Enforcement actions were also taken by the Police during the joint operations. During the joint operation at the junction between Tai Nan Street and Nam Cheong Street near Pei Ho Street Market and Cooked Food Centre in Sham Shui Po, nine verbal warnings were issued by the FEHD to fixed-pitch hawkers, six fixed penalty notices for illegal parking were issued by the Police, and over 1.3 tonnes of paraphernalia were cleared by the two departments with the use of a grab lorry.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "The latest directions issued by the Secretary for Food and Health in relation to social distancing measures in catering business and scheduled premises under the Regulation has been extended till January 6, 2021. Catering business operators must strictly comply with a series of requirements and restrictions, which include requirements that a person responsible for carrying on a catering business must cease selling or supplying food or drink for consumption on the premises of the business from 6pm to 4.59am of the subsequent day; and the number of people participating in a banquet in catering premises is limited to 20; no more than two persons may be seated together at one table within any catering premises, the total number of customers allowed in catering premises must not exceed 50 per cent of the normal seating capacity; no live performance and dancing is allowed; a mask must be worn within the premises except when the person is consuming food or drink at a table therein; tables must be arranged in a way to ensure there is a distance of at least 1.5 metres or some form of partition which could serve as an effective buffer between one table and another table; body temperature screening must be conducted before the person is allowed to enter the catering premises; and hand sanitisers must be provided, etc. In addition, a person responsible for carrying on a catering business must display the poster containing the 'LeaveHomeSafe' venue QR code at the entrance of the premises or at a conspicuous location. Relevant scheduled premises operators must strictly comply with the direction on closure of scheduled premises, which include places of public entertainment."

     If a person responsible for carrying on a catering business or scheduled premises contravenes the regulations under the Regulation, he or she is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     For customers in breach of the requirement on no more than two persons per table within catering premises, they are liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000 for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G). Moreover, for customers not wearing a mask when they are not eating or drinking at a table therein or they are not eating or drinking, they are liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000 for contravening the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I).

     The spokesman stressed that the FEHD will continue to step up law enforcement and publicity efforts and will deploy additional manpower to conduct joint operations with the Police during the New Year period. Stringent enforcement actions will be taken against offenders to ensure compliance of relevant regulations. The FEHD also urged catering business and scheduled premises operators and the public to abide by the law.

     The spokesman reminded catering business and scheduled premises operators and the public to exercise self-discipline and co-operate to fight the virus together. He also appealed to operators concerned to comply with relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease in a concerted and persistent manner, with a view to keeping their staff, customers and the public safe. Members of the public also have to comply with the related regulations and directions on group gatherings and mask wearing at catering premises.