The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (December 27), 80 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 7 474 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
      
     At present, there are 681 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 241 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 901 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 23 public hospitals and community treatment facility, among which 55 patients are in critical condition, 68 are in serious condition and the remaining 778 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 Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     Fo Tan has traditionally been an industrial area, but a number of local artists have been setting up studios in the district since 2000. This has created a vibrant art scene there and gradually turned part of Fo Tan into a community with a unique character.
 
     To echo this unique character of Fo Tan, the Housing Department's architectural project team adopted the language of Piet Mondrian, a well-known artist of the 20th century, as the main theme for the building facades and design details of Chun Yeung Estate during its design stage. 
 
     "Piet Mondrian's art influenced not only the field of painting but also industrial product design and architecture. His artworks embellish straight lines and right angles with some vivid colour rectangles, showing vibrancy in tranquil and harmonious settings," Chief Architect of the Housing Department Mr Dominic Wong said today (December 27).
 
     "We applied Piet Mondrian's art style to the facades of domestic blocks and shopping malls, as well as public facilities including ground floor lobbies and lift lobbies on each floor. Drawing well-balanced grid lines infilled with geometric patches of vibrant colours on walls has brought a unique outlook to the estate and fluid flows of new energy to the community," Mr Wong said.
 
     Besides working to fit the project in with the artistic atmosphere in Fo Tan, the architectural project team considered and overcame geographical factors in the overall disposition and design.
 
     Built against a hill, Chun Yeung Estate provides a series of covered pedestrian networks linking all the domestic blocks, the shopping centre and other amenities, which creates a liveable and barrier-free environment for more than 13,000 residents. This fulfils the mission of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) to provide liveable housing to people in need.
 
     "To optimise the potential of the hillside site for sustainable housing development, the buildings and facilities are strategically built on several platforms to address the level differences," Mr Wong said.
 
     Chun Yeung Estate provides about 4,800 public rental housing units in five domestic blocks (namely Chun Yat House, Chun Yi House, Chun San House, Chun Sze House and Chun Wu House) and a five-storey shopping centre. The estate accommodates retail, restaurants, a residential care home for the elderly, a day care centre for the elderly, a special child care centre, an elderly education training centre, a small group home, a kindergarten, a wet market, car parks and a Public Transport Lay-by (PTL).
 
     "Aiming to provide barrier-free access to connect domestic blocks with major estate facilities, such as the shopping centre, the PTL, welfare facilities and landscaped gardens, we created a covered pedestrian network to shelter the residents from sunlight and rain, and to connect the shopping centre and the covered PTL at the lowest platform to the domestic blocks at various upper platforms of the hillside," Mr Wong said.
 
     The covered pedestrian network comprises a walkway system, lifts and escalators, footbridges and a pedestrian corridor in one of the domestic blocks.
 
     "To cater for the need of the residents to enter the estate from Kwei Tei San Tsuen Road, the other side of the estate at the top platform, a pedestrian corridor that routes through the sixth floor of Chun Wu House links up the estate with Kwei Tei San Tsuen Road via a footbridge. At the other end of the pedestrian corridor is a lift lobby for taking pedestrians down to the ground floor of Chun Wu House. To facilitate pedestrian circulation, the area surrounding the pedestrian corridor on the sixth floor is an open space with leisure facilities but with no residential flats nearby."
 
     Given the delightful natural environment, the building block disposition of Chun Yeung Estate is strategically planned, taking into account the microclimate studies, environmental assessments and natural terrain of the site. Sufficient building separation is allowed to serve as visual and ventilation corridors for enjoyment of the natural landscape and maintaining effective wind penetration in the locality. The five-storey shopping centre is situated along Kwei Tei Street, and acts as a shield for the domestic blocks against the traffic noise.
 
     Special furniture, such as sculptural seating and feature signage, is strategically placed at areas along the main pedestrian routes to reflect a more artistic approach.
 
     In addition, Chun Yeung Estate provides a large variety of recreational facilities, including a basketball court, a badminton court, children's play areas, elderly fitness equipment and table tennis facilities for residents' enjoyment. It also maximises greenery through preservation of dozens of existing trees, and providing landscaped gardens, roof greening and vertical greening at various platforms. The use of renewable energy provides a pleasant and sustainable living environment for the residents.
 
     The Government earlier used Chun Yeung Estate as a quarantine centre and returned the estate to the HA in two phases after thorough disinfection. The HA then conducted relevant reinstatement works and acceptance testing for the whole estate. The first batch of residents gradually moved into Chun Sze House and Chun Wu House from the end of August. As for the remaining three blocks, namely Chun San House, Chun Yat House and Chun Yi House, the intake has gradually commenced from mid-December. Once most of the residents have moved into the estate, even more vitality and vivacity will be found in the community of Fo Tan.

                  

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continued to take stringent enforcement actions relating to anti-epidemic regulations during the Christmas period. The FEHD stepped up inspections in various districts and conducted joint operations with the Police in Wan Chai, Islands, Yau Tsim, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong yesterday (December 26). 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 133 catering premises and three other premises were inspected during the joint operations, and 613 catering premises were inspected by the FEHD on its own yesterday. The FEHD initiated procedures on prosecution against five catering business operators suspected for breaching the requirements under the Regulation (one relating to providing dine-in services after 6pm, two relating to distance or partition between tables, one relating to mask-wearing, and one relating to proper display of the poster containing the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code). In addition, the FEHD initiated procedures against three persons suspected to be violating the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) for operating food businesses without a licence. Enforcement actions were also taken by the Police during the joint operations.

     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 spokeman said, "Under section 31(1) of the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), except with a licence granted, no person shall carry on any food businesses like food factories or restaurants etc. Offenders are liable to be prosecuted, and upon conviction to a maximum fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months, and, for a continuing offence, a fine of $900 for each day."

     The spokeman continued, "Under section 4(1) of the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap. 172), without a licence granted, no person shall keep or use any place of public entertainment. Offenders are liable to be prosecuted, and upon conviction to a maximum fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months, and, for a continuing offence, a fine of $2,000 for every day."

     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 today. 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.

  

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has recorded higher than normal pollution levels this afternoon (December 27). According to the EPD's forecast, it is expected that the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) at some general and roadside air quality monitoring stations may reach the "Serious" level later today.

     Hong Kong is under the influence of high background pollution airstream and the weather is fine with light winds which is unfavourable for pollutant dispersion. The sunshine enhances photochemical smog activity and the rapid formation of ozone and fine particulates in the Pearl River Delta region. The high level of ozone has promoted the formation of nitrogen dioxide in parts of the urban areas and at the roadside.

     According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the weather in the next few days will maintain mainly fine with light to moderate easterly to northeasterly wind.  It is expected that air pollution will remain at a high level until the advent of stronger wind.

     With a health risk category in the "Very High" range or above, children, the elderly and persons with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities to a minimum or avoid such activities. The general public is advised to reduce, or reduce to a minimum, outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce time staying outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. As health effects of air pollutants may vary for individuals, persons who are in doubt or experience discomfort should seek advice from health-care professionals. The public may visit the Centre for Health Protection's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/3557.html) for more information on health effects of air pollution and relevant health advice.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) urges all schools to visit the EDB's website for appropriate measures to safeguard students' health and take note of changes in the index. The relevant hyperlink is as follows: www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/admin/about-activities/sch-activities-guidelines/index.html.

     When the AQHI is at the "Very High" level, employers of outdoor workers performing heavy manual work are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees, such as reducing outdoor physical exertion and the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. At the "Serious" level, employers of all outdoor workers are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees.
      
     Members of the public can check the current AQHI readings at the EPD's website (www.aqhi.gov.hk/en.html) or by calling the hotline 2827 8541.   

     Three property owners who persistently failed to comply with the removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO) have recently been convicted and fined over $60,000 and $70,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts and the Eastern Magistrates' Courts respectively.  

     The first case involved the unauthorised enclosure walls for the cantilevered slab balcony of a domestic unit in a composite building at Chatham Road South, Kowloon. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owners under section 24(1) of the BO.
      
     Failing to comply with the removal order, the two co-owners of the property were prosecuted by the BD in 2017 and were fined about $10,000 in total upon conviction. However, both owners persisted in not complying with the removal order and the BD instigated prosecution against them for the second time. Both owners were convicted again and heavily fined $63,840 in total at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on December 22.
      
     Another case involved the unauthorised timber partition and timber door for the unauthorised openings on the enclosure walls at the ground and upper ground floor respectively of the escape staircase of a domestic building at Queen's Road West, Hong Kong. As the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.
      
     The owner was prosecuted in 2018 and 2019 by the BD after failing to comply with the removal order and was fined about $11,000 and $24,000 respectively upon conviction at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. However, the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order. He was prosecuted for the third time this year and was convicted and fined $71,500 on November 26.
      
     "UBWs may adversely affect the structural and fire safety of a building, leading to serious consequences. Owners must comply with the removal orders without further delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with the removal orders (including instigation of prosecution) so as to achieve a deterrent effect," a spokesman for the BD said today (December 27).
      
     Pursuant to section 40(1BA) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the removal order served on him or her under section 24(1) of the BO commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence has continued.