Correctional officers stopped three persons in custody assaulting another person in custody at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution yesterday (January 7).

     At 12.32pm yesterday, three male persons in custody aged from 32 to 61 attacked a 38-year-old male person in custody outside a dining hall. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailants and applied OC foam to subdue them after repeated warnings were ignored.

     During the incident, the victim sustained injuries to his head and back. After examination and treatment provided by the institution Medical Officer, he was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. One of the assailants sustained injuries to his hand and foot. He did not need to be sent out after receiving medical treatment. The remaining two assailants did not sustain any injury.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The four persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of forgery, robbery, blackmail and possession of forged identity cards respectively.
 

     â€‹The Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Dr David Chung; and the Political Assistant to the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Ms Lillian Cheong, made a joint statement today (January 8) regarding their attendance of a banquet in the evening on January 3 and apologised to the public for their inadequate awareness and the additional burden brought to the anti-epidemic work caused by the incident.

     "We have all along been attending activities organised by the industry and different sectors to strengthen our interactions with stakeholders. The banquet of a stakeholder held in the evening of January 3 was one of them. We adhered to law in wearing masks and using the 'LeaveHomeSafe' mobile app when entering the restaurant and left in the middle of the banquet. We also fully co-operate to meet the requirements laid down by the Centre for Health Protection and have started quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre early this morning after knowing the banquet involved a case tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus involving mutant strains or another preliminary positive case. 

     "Looking back, we are inadequate, both in vigilance and sensitivity. Concerted efforts of the whole society are needed to fight the virus, especially in light of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus involving mutant strains. We are deeply sorry for the additional burden brought to the anti-epidemic work caused by the incident. We have learnt a lesson the hard way and will spare no effort to elevate our level of vigilance from now on," they said. 

     The Political Assistant to the Secretary for Education, Mr Jeff Sze Chun-fai, today (January 8) said, "I briefly stayed at a birthday gathering in Wan Chai at around 6pm on January 3. In view of the situation where individual participants of the gathering had been tested positive or tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus involving mutant strains, I will fully co-operate with the arrangement made by the Centre for Health Protection by undergoing quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre."

     "Hong Kong is currently facing severe epidemic situation. I apologise to the community for the additional burden to the anti-epidemic work caused by the incident. I have reflected on the experience and will step up vigilance in the future."

     The Political Assistant to the Secretary for Education, Mr Jeff Sze Chun-fai, today (January 8) said, "I briefly stayed at a birthday gathering in Wan Chai at around 6pm on January 3. In view of the situation where individual participants of the gathering had been tested positive or tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus involving mutant strains, I will fully co-operate with the arrangement made by the Centre for Health Protection by undergoing quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre."

     "Hong Kong is currently facing severe epidemic situation. I apologise to the community for the additional burden to the anti-epidemic work caused by the incident. I have reflected on the experience and will step up vigilance in the future."

     The following statement is issued by the Political Assistant to the Chief Secretary for Administration, Ms Siu Ka-yi today (January 8):

        I briefly stayed at a birthday gathering in Wan Chai at around 6pm on January 3. As there were participants of the gathering tested positive or tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus involving mutant strains, I have proceeded to undergo quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre in accordance with the arrangement of the Centre for Health Protection. 

     â€‹I hereby apologise to the community for the additional burden to the anti-epidemic work caused by the incident. I have reflected on the experience and will step up vigilance in the future.