The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     â€‹Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) today (December 23) reminded members of the public to stay alert to fraudulent calls.

     TMH recently received reports that members of the public received calls in the form of pre-recorded messages and claimed to be calling from TMH. The calls requested recipients to follow instructions to collect a document. TMH has reported the case to the Police.

     TMH reiterates that hospital staff will contact patients personally by phone and provide relevant information to verify the identity of both parties. Members of the public are advised not to disclose personal information during any unidentified phone calls, and report any suspected fraudulent calls to the Police.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 23) appealed to members of the public to keep venues clean and mind their safety while celebrating Christmas.

      The LCSD will work with other government departments to implement a series of measures over Christmas (December 24 to 26) to maintain cleanliness and safety at LCSD venues, especially at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Middle Road Children's Playground, Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden and Urban Council Centenary Garden along the Kowloon waterfront, where large crowds are expected.

      An LCSD spokesman said, "Our staff, together with law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will step up patrols at our venues and take action against littering, illegal hawking and vandalism of public property. Those who litter will be liable to a fine of $3,000.

      "In crowded areas, people should remain calm and take care of their own safety," he added. Publicity materials reminding members of the public to keep places clean will be displayed at the venues while additional cleaning staff and security guards will also be deployed.

      The public announcement systems at the HKCC will also broadcast anti-littering and crowd management messages in Cantonese, Putonghua and English on a regular basis during the holidays. Crowd control measures will be implemented at the HKCC Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars and the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade based on actual conditions. Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the announcements, follow the instructions of the duty personnel and mind their safety.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (December 23) announced that samples taken from a pig farm in Yuen Long had tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF) virus.

     An AFCD spokesman said, "AFCD staff yesterday (December 22) inspected a licensed pig farm at Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long, and took samples from 60 pigs for testing. Results showed that samples from at least four pigs tested positive for ASF virus. The AFCD has immediately suspended transportation of any pigs from the farm concerned until further notice according to the contingency plan on ASF. The AFCD is arranging culling of all pigs, totaling around 2 800 on the farm concerned for the sake of prudence. The culling operations will commence next week."

     He further said, "AFCD staff immediately notified all local pig farmers of this incident and reminded them to alert the AFCD immediately if abnormal health condition is observed in pigs. In addition, AFCD staff has arranged to inspect the other two pig farms within three kilometres of the index farm and collected pig samples for ASF testing. For the sake of prudence, the AFCD has also temporarily suspended movements of pigs on these farms until further notice. No reports of abnormalities from pig farms outside the three-kilometre zone have been received so far. AFCD staff are conducting visits to all local licensed pig farms to ensure biosecurity measures have been properly implemented; and continued close surveillance to detect pigs with abnormalities and if a farm is infected as early as possible."

     The spokesman stressed that ASF is not a zoonotic disease and will not infect humans, hence does not cause any food safety risk. Pork cooked thoroughly is safe for consumption. Members of the public do not need to be concerned.

     The present case does not affect the operation of local slaughterhouses nor the overall supply of live pigs. Since June 2019, a daily clearance arrangement whereby live pigs will be slaughtered within 24 hours upon admittance has been imposed in Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan slaughterhouses. Under the arrangement, lairages in different areas of the slaughterhouses will be cleared out and undergo thorough cleaning and disinfection every day to further enhance the bio-security of, and minimise the risk of infection among pigs, in the slaughterhouses.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the AFCD will continue to stringently conduct cleaning and disinfection of Mainland live pig transportation vehicles and their counterparts for local pigs at slaughterhouses to minimise the risk of cross infection of ASF. Mainland live pig vehicles and local ones should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every time they leave the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse (SSSH), and the respective designated positions for their cleaning and disinfection are separated. Manpower and equipment of the SSSH have been strengthened immediately for cleaning and disinfection of the vehicles. In light of these stepped up measures, the slaughterhouses need not be closed and other pigs need not be culled.

     As culling operations take time, the AFCD will release updated operation information every day since next week on the departmental web page, www.afcd.gov.hk for the public.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (December 23) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 23) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.