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

     US Dollar Liquidity Facility tender result:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority spokesperson today (December 30) announced the passing away of two more patients confirmed with COVID-19 infection today.
 
     A 79-year-old female patient (case number: 8070) with chronic illness was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre due to a fractured hip and fever on December 18. The patient later tested positive for COVID-19. Her condition continued to deteriorate and she eventually succumbed at 1.10am this morning.
 
     In addition, a 59-year-old female patient (case number: 6877) attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital with symptoms including fever, shortness of breath and loss of taste on December 5. She tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to the medical isolation ward for treatment. Her condition continued to deteriorate and she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of North District Hospital on December 6. During her stay in the ICU, she required mechanical ventilation as breathing support. The patient eventually succumbed at 4.05am this morning.
 
     The hospitals are saddened by the passing away of the patients and will offer the necessary assistance to their families.
 
     Including the above two patients, 141 COVID-19 confirmed patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.
 

     In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) appealed to members of the public today (December 30) to observe regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings at the department's venues while celebrating New Year's Eve in order to reduce the chances of spreading the virus in the community. Furthermore, members of the public should not enter the closed leisure facilities or litter at the LCSD's venues.

     The LCSD appeals to members of the public to comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap 599G). The number of people in group gatherings should not be more than that as stipulated by the law. 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.

     The LCSD will work with other government departments to implement a series of measures on New Year's Eve to maintain cleanliness and safety at LCSD venues including Tamar Park, the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Avenue of Stars, Middle Road Children's Playground, Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden and Urban Council Centenary Garden.

     An LCSD spokesman said, "The LCSD will step up patrols at relevant venues and will call upon venue users to comply with the regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings of more than the number of people as stipulated by the law and the mask-wearing requirement in public places. Enforcement actions will be taken against offenders. Our staff, together with law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will also step up patrols and take action against littering, illegal hawking and vandalism of public property. Those who litter will be liable to a fine of $1,500."

     The public announcement systems at the HKCC will also broadcast messages on crowd management, regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings and the requirement on wearing masks, and anti-littering in Cantonese, Putonghua and English on a regular basis during the holiday.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (December 30) said that 13 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) (see table below) will provide services during the New Year holiday (January 1, 2021). Members of the public are reminded to make advance bookings for appointments either through the Telephone Appointment System or the "Book GOPC" function in the "HA Go" mobile application.
 
     Given the unsteady COVID-19 epidemic situation locally, the spokesperson also reminded members of the public to continue to stay vigilant during the holiday. They should avoid participating in mass gatherings and minimise group dining, maintain personal and environmental hygiene, and comply with the epidemic prevention measures such as wearing masks, practising hand hygiene frequently and maintaining social distance.
 
     The latest Accident and Emergency Department waiting time information is available on the HA website and in "HA Connect" in the "HA Go" mobile application. To find a suitable family doctor and related clinic service of their choice, members of the public are welcome to browse the Primary Care Directory of the Food and Health Bureau at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk. In addition, members of the public can obtain specimen collection packs for COVID-19 testing during the holiday or submit specimens at eight GOPCs (see the table below for details). The public can also obtain specimen collection packs at 20 MTR stations. For details, please visit the website: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html.
 

Consultation hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
 
^ Will distribute specimen collection packs and collect specimens for COVID-19 testing during the holiday
Specimen collection pack distribution time: 9am to 1pm
Specimen collection time: 9am to 11am
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic early this year, the Housing Department (HD) has already inspected drainage pipes of about 100,000 flats, involving 1,200 domestic blocks of about 230 public housing estates (including those under the Tenants Purchase Scheme). Most of the drainage pipes were found to be in satisfactory condition while the remaining ones have been repaired as required. Moreover, the HD will continue to carry out preliminary inspections of the drainage facilities of the remaining 300 public housing domestic blocks, which is expected to be completed by end March 2021.
 
     A spokesman for the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) said on December 29: "The HA pays much importance to the conditions of the drainage pipes of its public rental housing estates. During the epidemic, we have proactively inspected those flats sharing the same drainage system with flats with confirmed cases. On top of the existing Responsive In-flat Maintenance Scheme and Total Maintenance Scheme, a special drainage pipes inspection plan was devised with additional resources so as to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19. Moreover, the HA has launched the Drainage Inspection Programme on October 28 this year as a preventive measure."
 
     Under the Drainage Inspection Programme, the HD is formulating a sequence for the inspection of its approximately 800,000 public rental housing flats having regard to the findings from its preliminary inspection since the outbreak of COVID-19, conditions of drainage pipes, maintenance records, percentages of elderly households and age of housing estates or buildings. Priority is given to the common drain pipes in public housing estates with confirmed COVID-19 cases. During the proactive inspection of common drain pipes, the HD is undertaking necessary repairs as appropriate. The whole programme is expected to be completed within 18 months.
 
     Meanwhile, the HA is carrying out inspections under the Drainage Inspection Program to Choi Wan (II) Estate. With co-operation of the tenants, it is anticipated that the HD would be able to gain access to all the flats of Fung Chak House before this Friday (January 1, 2021) and their drainage pipes will be inspected and repaired if and where necessary.
  
     The spokesman said: "The HA has been in full cooperation with the Government on measures to curb the spread of the virus by deploying additional resources to enhance the daily cleaning and disinfection work at its public housing estates, including intensifying the frequency of cleaning and disinfection work at common areas of frequent visitor flows, such as the entrance of domestic blocks, security panels of the security gates and lift control panels and buttons, lift cars, lift lobbies, corridors, staircases, hand rails and surfaces of letter boxes, etc. We have also increased the disinfection frequency of the drainage system with a view to reducing the risk of the virus spread. Moreover, we have reminded domestic and commercial tenants through various publicity channels, such as putting up notices and banners and social media, to maintain good practices for personal, household, shop and environmental hygiene in the estates and reducing social contacts."