The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) today (December 22) announced that a patient confirmed with COVID-19 passed away today.
 
     An 86-year-old male patient (case number: 6154) with chronic disease was admitted to QEH for treatment on November 27 due to a cough. He later tested positive for COVID-19. His condition continued to deteriorate and he eventually succumbed at 1.14am today.
 
     The hospital was saddened about the passing away of the patient and would offer necessary assistance to his family.
 
     Including the above patient, 128 COVID-19 confirmed patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.

     The Government announced today (December 22) that the Chief Executive has made appointments and re-appointments to the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCCS) and the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCDS).

     The Chief Executive has re-appointed Dr Pang Yiu-kai as Chairman of the SCCS, and re-appointed Ms Christina Maisenne Lee, Ms Elaine Lo Yuen-man, Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah and Mr Joseph Luc Ngai as members of the SCCS. The Chief Executive has also appointed Miss Vena Cheng Wei-yan, Ms Ada Leung Ka-lai and Mr Laurence Li Lu-jen as members of the SCCS.

     The Chief Executive has re-appointed Dr Chui Hong-sheung as Chairman of the SCDS, and re-appointed Mr Wilfred Wong Kam-pui as member and Chairman of the General Disciplined Services Sub-Committee of the SCDS; and Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting, Ms Ivy Cheung Wing-han, Ms Quince Chong Wai-yan, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang and Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung as members of the SCDS. The Chief Executive has also appointed Mrs Edith Chan Ngan Man-ling as a member of the SCDS.

     The above appointments will be for a term of two years from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022.
 
     In addition, the Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Victor Lam Hoi-cheung and Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching as members and Chairmen of the ICAC Sub-Committee and the Police Sub-Committee of the SCDS respectively. The above appointments will be for a term of one year from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021.
 
     The Government expresses its sincere gratitude to retiring SCCS members Mr Lee Ming-kwai and Ms Angela Lee Wai-yin, as well as retiring SCDS member Mr Alan Lui Siu-lun, for their invaluable contributions to the work of the SCCS and SCDS.

     The SCCS tenders advice to the Chief Executive on matters concerning pay and conditions of service of non-directorate civilian civil servants. Other serving members are Mr Chan Chun-ying, Mrs Edith Chan Ngan Man-ling, Mr Lee Luen-fai and Mrs Betty Yuen So Siu-mai. The SCDS advises the Chief Executive on issues relating to the pay and conditions of service of the disciplined services. Other serving members are Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung, Professor Chong Tai-leung and Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (December 22) announced the launch of the Time-limited Programme on Enhancing Infection Control and Ventilation of Residential Care Homes to help around 1 100 residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities in Hong Kong to enhance their infection control and improve their ventilation with a view to minimising the risks of virus spreading in residential care homes.
 
     The 12-month programme comprises the following components:
 

1. Assessment on infection control measures and provision of on-site training for residential care homes
   To arrange for a nurse (or nurses) to conduct at least four sessions of on-site assessment and training on infection control for staff of residential care homes within the programme period; and
2. On-site ventilation assessments for residential care homes
   To arrange for relevant technical personnel to conduct on-site ventilation assessments for residential care homes and make recommendations on ventilation improvement. 

     The SWD will provide a special subsidy for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating subvented or contract residential care homes to facilitate their arrangements for conducting the assessments under the programme at their residential care homes.
 
     For private or self-financing residential care homes, the SWD will commission NGOs which are providing Visiting Medical Practitioner Service for private or self-financing residential care homes to arrange free delivery of services under the programme to all private or self-financing residential care homes in the cluster(s) they serve.
 
     The SWD will send letters to residential care homes and the NGOs concerned today to introduce the details of the programme.
 
     Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has also launched the Jockey Club Facilities Enhancement Scheme for Pandemic Preparedness at Residential Care Homes which will offer a one-off subsidy to all residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities in Hong Kong to upgrade their safety and infection control facilities, including subsidising residential care homes to purchase equipment to improve ventilation, in response to the impact of COVID-19. The Hong Kong Jockey Club issued a press release today to introduce details of the scheme.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     In view of the latest situation of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat (Secretariat) will continue to arrange staff to work from home until January 6, 2021, except those who are responsible for servicing Council meetings or committee meetings and maintaining basic operation of the Secretariat, and those performing on-site duties.
      
     Meanwhile, the Secretariat will maintain all the existing special arrangements and epidemic prevention measures. For details, please refer to the announcement on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/sec/corg_ser/whats_on_20201222-e.pdf ).
      
     The Secretariat will closely monitor the development of the epidemic and review the measures to make further announcements in due course.

     The Government announced today (December 22) that the Chief Executive has appointed Professor Emily Chan Ying-yang and re-appointed Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi as members of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for two years starting from January 1, 2021. Moreover, Mr Lau Kwok-fan has been nominated by the Legislative Council (LegCo) and appointed by the Chief Executive as a member of the Committee. Mr Lau's tenure in the Committee took effect on December 16, 2020, and is concurrent with his term of office in the current-term LegCo.
 
     "We would like to express our gratitude to Dr Tik Chi-yuen, who is retiring from the Committee, for his valuable contribution to the work of the Committee in the past six years," a Government spokesman said.
 
     Established in 1993, the Disaster Relief Fund provides a ready mechanism for Hong Kong to respond swiftly to international appeals for humanitarian aid in relief of disasters that occur outside Hong Kong. The Committee is tasked to advise on disbursement from the Disaster Relief Fund and monitor the use of grants by the recipients.
 
     The membership of the Committee from January 1, 2021, is as follows:
 
Chairman:
Chief Secretary for Administration (ex-officio)
 
Members:
Mr Ip Kwok-him
Dr Lam Ching-choi
Mr Kenneth Lau Ip-keung
Mr Lau Kwok-fan
Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi
Professor Emily Chan Ying-yang
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury or representative (ex-officio)
Secretary for Labour and Welfare or representative (ex-officio)