Princess Margaret Hospital updates on cases concerning patient with hepatitis C infection
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding an earlier announcement on the case concerning two patients with hepatitis C infection, the spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital made the following update today (November 26):
Two male patients, aged 24 and 52, admitted to the same cubicle of high dependency unit of the Neurosurgery Department were tested positive with hepatitis C viral in late June. The hospital is very concerned about the cases and has been closely following up on the other 14 patients stayed in the same cubicle, including closely monitoring their clinical situations and conducting multiple hepatitis C viral tests. The results of the 14 patients' hepatitis C viral test have all along stayed negative. The hospital has also strengthened the infection control measures of the ward concerned, including enhanced surveillance and infection control training of hand hygiene, environmental cleansing and care procedures.
As a precautionary measure, the hospital has been conducting medical surveillance to other patients stayed in the ward concerned over the same period. A female patient, aged 60, who is under medical surveillance programme was found to have liver enzymes deranged on November 4. The hospital has arranged the patient to undergo hepatitis C viral test and other examinations immediately and the result was positive with hepatitis C infection.
The patient concerned was admitted to the high dependency unit of the Neurosurgery Department in May. After epidemiological investigation and genetic sequencing, it is showed that the genetic sequence of the female patient's hepatitis C virus is identical with the two male patients infected earlier. As the incubation period for hepatitis C ranges from two weeks to six months, the hospital cannot rule out the possibility of nosocomial infection. The hospital has provided appropriate treatment and follow-up for the patient, including prescribing antiviral drugs and explaining the situation to her and her family members. The patient is in stable condition and was discharged on November 5. Currently, antiviral drugs for acute hepatitis C are highly effective and over 95 per cent of hepatitis C infection can be cured in general. Hepatitis C virus is now undetectable from the two concerned male patients after receiving treatment of antiviral drugs.
The hospital is very concerned about the case and has extended contact tracing investigation as a precautionary measure. The hospital will contact and arrange hepatitis C viral testing for about 200 patients who stayed in the wards concerned during the relevant period and will also provide continuous health surveillance for these patients.
The hospital has reported the case to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and the Hospital Authority Head Office (HAHO). The hospital will continue to follow up with CHP and HAHO.
Ten persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Swordfish" today (November 26). A total of five suspected illegal workers and five suspected employers were arrested.
During the operation, the ImmD's Foreign Domestic Helpers Special Investigation Section investigators raided over 15 target locations including restaurants, employment agencies, retail, grocery shops and industrial buildings. The suspected illegal workers comprised five women, aged 39 to 59. Among them, two persons were foreign domestic helpers, and three persons were overstayers. Meanwhile, four men and one woman, aged 39 to 62, were suspected of employing the suspected illegal workers. ImmD investigators found the suspected illegal workers on the target locations performing different jobs, including dishwashing, waitressing, clerical work and delivery. A copy of a forged Hong Kong identity card was also found during the operation. The case is still under investigation, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.
"Ahelper should only perform domestic duties for the employer specified in the contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person," an ImmD spokesman said.
The spokesman also said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him/her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to an Immigration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Moreover, any person who makes, uses or has in his custody a false instrument commits an offence and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to imprisonment for 14 years.
The spokesman warned that, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order,an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment."
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order,an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
Ten persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Ten persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
