The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority (HA) is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     In addition, the weekly bulletin "Surge in Brief" (appended) will be issued every Thursday to illustrate the past month's trends of key service statistics in public hospitals. "Surge in Brief" can be accessed in the HA Winter Surge designated webpage (www.ha.org.hk/goto/wintersurge/en).

     Police are investigating a murder case in Tseung Kwan O in which a 34-year-old woman died.

     When Police were investigating a case on possession of offensive weapon yesterday (March 19), Police suspected that the 46-year-old arrested man had murdered a woman earlier.

     Upon investigation, police located the arrested man’s girlfriend lying unconsciously inside a unit in Po Kim House, Po Lam Estate at about 5.30am today (March 20). The woman sustained multiple injuries and was certified dead at scene.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the man was suspected to have attacked his 34-year-old girlfriend inside the unit. The man was arrested for murder, and is being detained for enquiries.

     Police found some exhibits inside the unit, including three blankets, a jacket and a towel, in suspected connection with the case.

     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the causes of the deceased.

     Investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of Kowloon East is underway.

     Police today (March 20) appealed to the public for information on a missing man.

     Tai Yu-ting, aged 40, entered Hong Kong through Lo Wu Control Point in the morning of March 18 and missing since then. Staff of the care home made a report to the Police yesterday (March 19).

     He is about 1.65 metres tall, 70 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing glasses, a red jacket, black trousers, black shoes and carrying a rucksack in orange and black color.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9820 4246, or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     Police today (March 20) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Mong Kok.
 
     Lee Miu-lin, aged 80, went missing after she left her residence on Argyle Street on March 18 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police yesterday (March 19).
 
     She is about 1.6 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short curly grey hair. She was last seen wearing a light green vest, a yellow polo shirt, deep blue trousers and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of West Kowloon on 3661 8038, 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or any police station.

  

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, this afternoon (March 20) visited Wong Tai Sin District, where he went to a wet market, called at a youth centre and met with members of the Wong Tai Sin District Council (WTSDC) to learn more about the latest developments and needs of the district. 
      
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the WTSDC, Mr Li Tak-hong, and the District Officer (Wong Tai Sin), Ms Annie Kong, Mr Chan first visited Tai Shing Street Market. Mr Chan exchanged views with representatives of the Committee of Stall Keepers at Tai Shing Street Market and visited the stalls inside the market to understand their operating environment.
       
     Mr Chan said that last year the Government earmarked $2 billion for implementing a Market Modernisation Programme. In the 2019-20 Budget, he will allocate $600 million to refurbish 240 public toilets in phases to further improve municipal facilities.
      
     He then visited Choi Wan Rhenish Integrated Children and Youth Services Centre of the Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod to chat with children, young people and parents to learn more about their learning and living conditions. The Centre provides a variety of comprehensive youth services to promote their holistic development.
      
     When chatting with the young people, Mr Chan said that the Government is committed to fostering the development innovation and technology (I&T), so as to diversify the economy and provide more opportunities for young people. He encouraged the promotion of popular science education in schools for paving the way for nurturing local technology talents.
      
     He pointed out that $500 million has been earmarked in the 2019-20 Budget to implement the IT Innovation Lab in Secondary Schools Programme in the coming three school years and each secondary school benefiting will be granted $1 million. This will enable students to deepen their I&T knowledge through more relevant extra-curricular activities on top of the traditional classroom learning.
      
     Before concluding the visit, Mr Chan met with members of the WTSDC to exchange views on various livelihood and development issues of the district.