The Government today (August 14) officially launched the three-month Government Programme on Tackling Hygiene Black Spots. Government departments strengthen their work on tackling some 600 hygiene and street management black spots. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, together with directors of bureaux and heads of departments inspected the work on tackling hygiene black spots in various districts.
      
     Mr Cheuk, together with the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Ms Irene Young; the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung, visited a hygiene black spot at a rear lane located at Lai Chi Kok Road to observe the operations carried out by departments to clear away rubbish and articles that had been discarded there, as well as several abandoned vehicles.

     Mr Cheuk said the Government has the responsibility to maintain Hong Kong clean and hygienic. He stressed, "If the Government continues to clean up while members of the public continue to dump, we will keep reincarnating in the vicious cycle. Hong Kong is ours. Starting from today, we must clean up rubbish ourselves. Rubbish produced in Hong Kong must be cleaned up by Hongkongers. As the slogan of the 'Government Programme on Tackling Hygiene Black Spots' says – we can do it!"

     Joined by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, and the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung, Mr Cheuk later inspected the vicinity of two "three-nil" buildings (i.e. buildings that do not have owners’ corporation or any form of residents’ organisation or have not engaged a property management company) in Kowloon City to look at the related environmental hygiene issues. They also went to Hung Hom Estate to look at the pilot use of a new rodent control device.

     Together with the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, and the Director of Buildings, Ms Clarice Yu, Mr Cheuk then visited Sham Shui Po to see several abandoned and defective signboards. Ms Yu said that the Buildings Department (BD) is carrying out a Planned Sign Survey in the district. It is anticipated that about 260 Dangerous Structure Removal Notices will be issued, involving some 570 dangerous or abandoned signboards, and the removal works will be completed in October.

     Under the Planned Sign Survey, a target district is selected based on factors including the density of signboards, pedestrian and vehicular flows and the number of reports on signboards. Through proactive inspections of signboards in the district and enhanced enforcement action, dangerous or abandoned signboards in the district will be removed in one go. In addition, the BD will handle dangerous or abandoned signboards in response to public reports and through large-scale operations at target street sections. It is estimated that not less than 1 700 dangerous or abandoned signboards will be removed or rectified this year.

     The Government Programme on Tackling Hygiene Black Spots has three focuses, namely: placing emphasis on tackling hygiene black spots and strengthening normal cleaning work; enhancing education and publicity, as well as community participation; and stepping up law enforcement. With the concerted efforts of the Government and members of the public, the programme aims to improve Hong Kong's urban areas and nurture a new culture of keeping the environment clean and cherishing the cityscape.

                

     The Director of Immirgration, Mr Au Ka-wang, today (August 14) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Ambrose S K Lee.

     Mr Lee joined the Immigration Department in 1974. He was appointed as the Director of Immigration in 1998 and the Secretary for Security in 2003, a post he held until June 30, 2012.

     Mr Au said, "I had ample opportunity to come into contact with Mr Lee when he was the Director of Immigration. I was deeply impressed by his outstanding leadership, pleasant and friendly character. He is indeed a good role model for all of us. He assumed office as the Secretary for Security some time later to lead various disciplinary forces including the Immigration Department, making exemplary efforts in maintaining stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

     "Mr Lee has been dedicated to serving our country and Hong Kong community over the years and made outstanding contributions in different sectors. He commanded the respect and love of government colleagues and members of the pubilc.

     "Mr Lee's family was approached in the morning. My deepest condolences were extended to them and I expressed that every possible assitance will be provided. He is not just a leader much respected by his fellows, but also a mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed by all of us."

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (August 14), a total of 1 690 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 223 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 481 patients are in isolation wards, 84 patients are in second-tier isolation wards and 529 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, of which 188 in total are new patients. There are four newly reported critical patients and two newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 31 patients in critical condition and 22 are in serious condition, of which 10 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 133 patients who have recovered, including 119 patients who have been discharged. In addition, three patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.

     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 58 205 patients who have recovered so far, including 57 921 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 70 585 patients who have recovered, including 70 301 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 following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (August 14), a total of 1 690 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 223 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 481 patients are in isolation wards, 84 patients are in second-tier isolation wards and 529 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, of which 188 in total are new patients. There are four newly reported critical patients and two newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 31 patients in critical condition and 22 are in serious condition, of which 10 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 133 patients who have recovered, including 119 patients who have been discharged. In addition, three patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.

     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 58 205 patients who have recovered so far, including 57 921 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 70 585 patients who have recovered, including 70 301 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 (August 14) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, August 14, the CHP was investigating 4 764 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 534 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (665 confirmed cases, 695 asymptomatic cases and 174 cases with pending status) and 3 230 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) verified in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 215 additional imported cases were reported, including 195 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (15 confirmed cases, 147 asymptomatic cases and 33 cases with pending status) and 20 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 844 446 and 572 576 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     Meanwhile, the CHP updated the classification of cases reported yesterday (August 13). Upon further verification of the information, among the 5 148 locally acquired cases, 25 of them (all are cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests) should be classified as imported cases. Therefore, the number of locally acquired cases and imported cases for yesterday are 5 123 and 185 respectively.

     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.

     As of yesterday, among the specimens received by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch in the past seven days for verification testing of local cases, about 7 per cent and 16.1 per cent of them are related to the sub-lineages BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) under the Omicron mutant strain respectively.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, August 14, a total of 9 352 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 272 and 77 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 9 565 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, the total number of confirmed cases was 365 286, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 241 109, 31 and 236 291 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that as the local situation of COVID-19 infection is still severe, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     â€‹The spokesman reminded the public 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 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.