The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority.

     The spokesperson for Castle Peak Hospital made the following announcement today (December 31):

     Four patients (aged 24 to 67) and two staff members in a female adult psychiatric ward have presented with respiratory symptoms since December 27. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Enterovirus/Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition. The two staff members are currently on sick leave.

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

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

     Hongkong Post announced today (December 31) that, owing to the substantial reduction in flight frequencies or even cancellation of flights by airlines for certain destinations, all airmail services (including Speedpost) to Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United States will be suspended from tomorrow (January 1) until further notice. Hongkong Post will continue working closely with air freight contractors for resumption of the impacted services as soon as possible.
 
     In addition, airmail services to Belize, Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Norfolk Islands will also be suspended in view of mail transiting via Australia and Mexico.
 
     Members of the public may visit the web page of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index_id_1105.html on the service availability for overseas destinations. For enquiries, please contact Hongkong Post at 2921 2222. 

     Police today (December 31) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Mong Kok.

     Tam Sin-luen, aged 16, went missing after she was last seen on Portland Street on December 29 night. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.55 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and long blond hair. She was last seen wearing a black sweater, black shorts, white sneakers and carrying a black bag.

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

  

     In light of the latest developments of the global and local epidemic situation, the Government has further tightened the quarantine arrangements for locally based air crew. For all locally based air cargo crew who have laid over at overseas places or Taiwan and are currently subject to self-isolation in designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) for three days, with effect from 0.00am tomorrow (January 1) they will be required to stay in DQHs until obtaining negative results from the polymerase chain reaction-based (PCR) nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 taken on the seventh day following their return to Hong Kong. After leaving DQHs, they will remain subject to multiple PCR nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 regularly during their medical surveillance periods, in order to monitor their health conditions on a continued basis. The measure will further safeguard public health.

     Hong Kong's air services are very important for people's daily lives and for the operation of society and the economy. As a contingency plan, the Government will approve and support the operation of more charter cargo flights, and urged local airlines to enhance their management of closed-loop operation and implement measures to alleviate disruptions on capacity, so as to minimise the impact on Hong Kong as far as possible.

     Upon the Government's request, the airline concerned is conducting a holistic and in-depth investigation into each of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving locally based air crew and will submit detailed reports as soon as possible. The Government expresses deep regret over non-compliance by individual air crew members, and has directed the airline concerned to follow up seriously. The Government has also urged the airline to take effective measures to ensure its air crew strictly comply with the relevant requirements under the anti-epidemic measures so as to prevent recurrence of contraventions. The Government points out that air cargo crew are subject to medical surveillance and those who contravene the conditions in the Notification of Medical Surveillance may be in violation of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation. The Government will review the cases seriously and pursue the cases in accordance with the law if illegal acts are identified.

     The Government will continue to review the quarantine arrangements applicable to air crew to cope with the challenges arising from the epidemic, and will endeavour to maintain the essential air cargo services into and out of Hong Kong.

     The Government today (December 31) announced the appointment of four new members and the re-appointment of nine incumbent members to the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (BLPSC). Four new members and nine incumbent members are appointed for a term of two years. The appointments will be effective from January 1, 2022.

     The four new members are Mr Kwok Wing-keung, Mr Lee Luen-fai, Mr Perry Suen Pang and Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai.

     The nine re-appointed incumbent members for a term of two years are Mrs Viola Chan Man Yee-wai, Miss Debbie Cheung Sui-ki, Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing, Miss Fang Xin, Mr Vincent Lam Tak-hing, Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai, Ms Carol Wong, Mr Eric Yeung Chuen-sing and Mr Yu Tai-wai.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration and BLPSC Chairman, Mr John Lee, thanked outgoing members Dr Henry Ho Kin-chung, Mr Lau Ping-cheung and Dr Simon Hoey Lee for their contributions and dedication to the work of the BLPSC during their term of service. He also welcomed the four new members and said he looked forward to working with them closely.
 
     Mr Lee said, "The Constitution is the root and origin of the Basic Law and 'one country, two systems'. The BLPSC will work with relevant bureaux of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote the Constitution and the Basic Law through publicity and education."
   
     The BLPSC provides the necessary steer on the overall programme and strategy for promoting the Basic Law, and provides an organisational focus for co-ordinating the efforts of various parties concerned, both in the Government and in the community.

     Following is the membership list of the BLPSC with effect from January 1, 2022:

Chairperson
————–
Chief Secretary for Administration
 
Non-official Members
———————–
Ms Teresa Au Pui-yee
Mrs Viola Chan Man Yee-wai
Miss Debbie Cheung Sui-ki
Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
Miss Fang Xin
Dr Wendy Hong
Mr Chris Ip Ngo-tung
Mr Kwok Wing-keung
Mr Vincent Lam Tak-hing
Mr Lee Luen-fai
Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Mr Perry Suen Pang
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Ms Carol Wong
Mr Eric Yeung Chuen-sing
Mr Yu Tai-wai
 
Official Members
——————-
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Secretary for the Civil Service
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Secretary for Education
Secretary for Home Affairs
Secretary for Security
Solicitor General, Department of Justice
Director of Home Affairs
Director of Information Services
Director-General of Trade and Industry