The Department of Health and the Hospital Authority report that as of 1pm today, Hong Kong has seen a total of 425 patients admitted to public hospitals with atypical pneumonia symptoms.

Of these, twenty-five had recovered and been discharged.

Another 58 patients had been admitted in the last 24 hours, including four healthcare workers and 34 patients from Amoy Garden. The other 20 were new patients and people who had come in contact with atypical pneumonia patients.

The number of  deaths remained unchanged at 11. Only 45 of the 389 victims still in hospital are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.

Prince of Wales head shows symptoms

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority has reported that the Chief Executive of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Dr Fung Hong, has been hospitalised with atypical pneumonia symptoms.

Another bank reports cases to Monetary Authority

A second banking outlet, HSBC's Premier Centre at the main office in Central, has reported that a staff member has atypical pneumonia. About 20 other branch employees who had close contact with this person have been put on leave for seven days' observation.

The bank has made arrangements to disinfect the working area to step up cleaning in its premises in general.

Another HSBC staff member at its Mongkok Branch is suspected of having the disease, but it is not confirmed.

A bank spokesperson said the two HSBC branches will continue to operate as usual.

Earlier in the week, the Lei Tung Estate branch of the Bank of East Asia closed for disinfection after a staff member was confirmed to have contracted atypical pneumonia.

Both banks contacted the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to report the cases. The Authority has been reminding authorised institutions to ensure that their contingency and business continuity plans are adequate to address the situations arising from the outbreak of atypical pneumonia.

Hotline, website available

The Department of Health has set up a telephone hotline, 2961 8968, to provide health advice on the prevention of atypical pneumonia. The hotline is manned from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Information on atypical pneumonia is also available at the Department's website, www.info.gov.hk/dh.