The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Rhinovirus in a male ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following update today (November 24):

     One more 20-year-old patient in the ward presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patient and the test results were positive for Rhinovirus. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     At the invitation of the Minister of Health of Singapore, the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, will lead a delegation to Singapore tomorrow afternoon (November 25) to attend the Ministerial Conference on Diabetes to be held on November 26 and 27.

     The conference, organised by the Singapore Ministry of Health, will seek to place the importance and benefits of proper prevention and management of diabetes high on the global agenda. It will also share international best practices, experience and innovation aimed at addressing the common modifiable risk factors for diabetes, as well as building capacity in the populations to make healthier choices and follow lifestyle patterns that foster good health.

     Professor Chan said, "Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major cause of death in Hong Kong. Cardiovascular diseases including heart diseases and stroke, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases accounted for about 58 per cent of all registered deaths in 2017.

     "To combat the threat posed by NCDs and in line with World Health Organization's Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020, the Government earlier this year launched Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control NCDs in Hong Kong, which sets out nine local targets to be achieved by 2025, including halting the rise in diabetes and obesity.

     "I believe that the Ministerial Conference on Diabetes will give us useful and valuable insights, and provide a platform for us to exchange views with other health officials regarding effective ways to combat diabetes."

     The delegation, comprising representatives from the Food and Health Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, will also meet with members of the Health Promotion Board and visit a polyclinic before returning to Hong Kong on November 27.

     During Professor Chan's absence from Hong Kong, the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health.

     The Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency by-election will be held tomorrow (November 25). The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) reminds electors to carry the original of their Hong Kong identity card to the designated polling station to vote.

     A total of 73 ordinary polling stations in the Kowloon West geographical constituency and a maximum of 22 dedicated polling stations will open tomorrow for about 490 000 electors of the Kowloon West geographical constituency listed on the 2018 Final Register to cast their votes.

     The polling hours for the ordinary polling stations and the dedicated polling station set up at Cheung Sha Wan Police Station will be from 7.30am to 10.30pm. For the dedicated polling stations set up at penal institutions, for security reasons, the polling hours will be from 9am to 4pm.

     "Electors must carry the original of their Hong Kong identity card or other specified alternative documents to the designated polling station to collect their ballot papers to cast votes," a spokesman for the REO said.

     "Voting is very simple. Electors must use the chop provided by the polling stations to stamp the ballot paper with a tick in the circle opposite the name of the chosen candidate. Electors should then fold the ballot paper once according to the pre-folding by polling staff to conceal the mark before putting the ballot paper into the ballot box."

     Electors may only cast their votes at the designated polling station as specified on their poll card. Electors can log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (OVIES) (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) if they have not yet received their poll card to check whether they are registered electors of the Kowloon West geographical constituency and their designated polling station. They can also call the election hotline 2891 1001 for enquiries.

     The spokesman reminded the public that according to the law, polling stations are restricted areas accessible only by electors and authorised persons.

     "Unauthorised persons are strictly prohibited from using mobile phones, taking photographs, filming, and making video or audio recordings in the polling stations," he said.

     Once the poll closes, all ordinary polling stations will be converted into counting stations for counting of votes. The counting stations will be open to the public once the conversion has been completed. Members of the public will be able to watch the counting process at designated areas inside the counting stations.

     A media centre will be set up at the Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre, 2 Chui Ling Road, Tseung Kwan O, where the election result will be announced by the Returning Officer. A public gallery will be set up for members of the public to watch the announcement of result at the media centre. In view of the limited seating capacity, admission to the public gallery will be arranged on a first come, first served basis from 11pm tomorrow. To facilitate admission control, members of the public admitted to the venue will be required to wear a wristband provided by the REO for identification purpose. Public enquiries about the venue arrangement can be made at 3904 0290, which will operate from 10pm tomorrow until the announcement of the election result.

     Enquiries about the by-election can be made to the election hotline at 2891 1001, which will operate from 7am to 11pm tomorrow.

     A complaints hotline, 2827 7251, will also be in service from 7.30am to 11pm tomorrow to handle complaints about breaches of electoral rules and guidelines.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (November 25).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tsing Yi in the small hours today (November 24) in which a 34-year-old man died.

At about 1.21am, a bus driven by a 47-year-old man was travelling along Tsing Yi Road West north bound. The bus was later stopped at roadside. A motorcycle driven by the 34-year-old man reportedly rammed into the rear end of the bus.

Sustaining injuries to his head, the motorcyclist was rushed to Yan Chai Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 1.50am.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1300 or 3661 1348.