The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (September 20), a total of 2 506 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 235 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 451 patients are in isolation wards, 132 patients are in second-tier isolation wards, 492 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and 194 patients are in the Treatment Centre for COVID-19 (AsiaWorld-Expo), of which 145 in total are new patients. There are 10 newly reported critical patients and seven newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 56 patients in critical condition and 49 are in serious condition, of which 20 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 366 patients who have recovered, including 331 patients who have been discharged. In addition, seven patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.
 
     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 69 444 patients who have recovered so far, including 69 111 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 81 824 patients who have recovered, including 81 491 patients who have been discharged.
 
     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.
 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 20) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, September 20, the CHP was investigating 5 459 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 348 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (573 confirmed cases, 643 asymptomatic cases and 132 cases with pending status) and 4 111 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 135 additional imported cases were reported, including 119 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (six confirmed cases, 92 asymptomatic cases and 21 cases with pending status) and 16 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 937 202 and 782 147 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations of the cases. Please refer to the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.

     Among the specimens received by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch during September 11 to 17 for verification testing of local cases, about 3.6 per cent and 82.3 per cent of them (seven-day moving average) are related to the sub-lineages BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) of the Omicron mutant strain respectively.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, September 20, a total of 9 695 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 611 and 81 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as three deaths reported from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 9 908 death cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (September 19), the total number of confirmed cases was 407 558, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 286 859, 31 and 241 287 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that the local situation of COVID-19 infection is severe, with the number of cases tested positive growing at an increased pace. The CHP strongly appeals to the community to strictly comply with social distancing measures and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or mass gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     The spokesman said that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who have yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients, children, and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected.

     â€‹â€‹The spokesman reminded members of the public that they can call various hotlines to make enquiries on COVID-19 (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#hotline).

     Police today (September 20) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Western District.    

     Hui May-yee, Jennifer, aged 66, went missing after she was last seen in MTR Hong Kong University Station on June 28. Her family made a report to Police on September 15.

     She is about 1.6 metres tall, 46 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a square face with yellow complexion and short black hair. She was last seen wearing a blue and black jacket, black trousers, yellow slippers and carrying a brownish-black backpack and a grey suitcase.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
 

  

     The Lands Department announced today (September 20) that the tender for a site, Sha Tin Town Lot No. 643 at Hin Wo Lane, Sha Tin, New Territories, has been awarded to the highest tenderer, Champion Estate (HK) Limited (parent company: Wing Tai Properties Limited), on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $786,380,000.

     The tenderers, other than the successful tenderer, in alphabetical order, with the name of the parent company where provided by the tenderer in brackets, were:

(1) Cheerful United Limited (Chevalier International Holdings Limited and Wang On Properties Limited);
(2) Dynasty Rise Limited (Sino Land Company Limited);
(3) East Classic Development Limited (Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited); 
(4) Ever Maple Limited (Noble Steed Limited);
(5) Excel Top Development Limited (China Overseas Land & Investment Limited);
(6) Grand Build Development Limited (Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited);
(7) Grand Harvest (HK) Development Limited;
(8) Happy Land Corporation Limited (Emperor International Holdings Limited);
(9) Large Earnings Limited (CITIC Pacific Limited);
(10) Make Glory Limited (Far East Consortium International Limited);
(11) Million Weal Limited (K. Wah International Holdings Limited);
(12) Star World Property Limited (Hon Kwok Land Investment Company, Limited);
(13) Sunlight Fortune Limited (Great Eagle Holdings Limited);
(14) Tide Crystal Limited (Paliburg Holdings Limited and Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited);
(15) Treasure Estate Development Limited (HKR International Limited); and
(16) Treasure King Investment Limited (CK Asset Holdings Limited).

     Sha Tin Town Lot No. 643 has a site area of about 1,383.3 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes. The minimum gross floor area is 4,979.9 sq m. The maximum gross floor area for private residential purposes that may be attained is 8,299.8 sq m. The maximum gross floor area for non-industrial (excluding private residential, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes is computed according to the relevant special condition in the Conditions of Sale.

     The exhibition "From a Distance: Art Dialogues between Chao Shao-an and Chin Kee" will be held from tomorrow (September 21) at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM). Forty-five paintings including works by renowned master of the Lingnan school of painting Chao Shao-an (1905-1998) and assignments by Malaysian-Chinese painter Chin Kee (1929-2012), who was trained under Chao through correspondence in the 1950s and 1960s, are being showcased together for the first time. Visitors will be able to learn about Chao's teaching and painting skills and appreciate the unique characteristics and style of the Lingnan school's stylistic paintings.
          
     Chao was an eminent artist of the Lingnan stylistic school as well as a dedicated and visionary educator. He founded the Lingnan Art Studio in Guangzhou and Hong Kong and trained young artists for more than 60 years, making him a painting master for numerous students. Being passionate about art, Chin held great admiration for Chao's artistic endowment. As he did not have a chance to study under Chao in Hong Kong, he chose to enrol in Chao's distance learning course in the 1950s and graduated from the Lingnan Art Studio in 1961. Although the duo had never met in person, Chin learned from his master by mailing painting assignments.
      
     The exhibition is categorised into five sections – "Correspondence Course", "Flowers and Birds", "Insects", "Fruit and Vegetables" and "Figures and Animals". Through the questions and answers between Chao and Chin as well as demonstration drafts marked on the painting assignments on display, the exhibition gives visitors an overview of the contents of Chao's course, including the brushwork, colouring methods and painting steps. These precious materials documented Chao's teaching approach overseas and the way he promoted the art of the Lingnan school. Highlight exhibits include Chin's paintings "Magnolia and butterfly", "Egret", "Lychee", "Ixora" and "Tiger". 
    
     The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and organised by the HKHM. The exhibition will run from tomorrow until August 27 next year at the HKHM (1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin). For details of the exhibition and admission arrangements, please visit hk.heritage.museum/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid273.html, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.
      
     To coincide with the exhibition, the HKHM will hold "Sharing Session: Studying Painting with Professor Chao Shao-an" at the 1/F Theatre from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on September 24 (Saturday). In the sharing session, Dr Susan Ho, who was a student of Chao, and the Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Mr Cheng Woon-tong, will share with the audience stories of Chao's enlightenment and precious moments with Chao during his years of teaching. The audience will learn how Chao overcame difficulties and strove hard to pass on the legacy of the Lingnan school of painting around the world. For details of the programme and admission arrangements, please visit www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/eventsactivities/programmes/distance.html.
          
     In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the museum for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the relevant requirements of the Vaccine Pass. According to the latest requirement on Vaccine Pass announced by the Government, all persons with their Vaccine Pass QR codes displayed in red or amber are not allowed to enter museums under the management of the LCSD.