Appeal on in-patient missing from Kowloon Hospital
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following appeal today (January 4) regarding an incident of an in-patient who absconded from the hospital:
        
     A 56-year-old male patient who was admitted to a male ward of Department of Respiratory Medicine in KH for the treatment of open tuberculosis with isolation order issued by the Department of Health absconded from the ward on January 2. The hospital security guards on the scene immediately chased the patient but in vain. No one was injured in the incident.

     The staff of the ward reported to the police immediately and searched the hospital. The hospital is very concerned about the incident and the patient’s relatives were informed immediately.  The incident was reported to the Tuberculosis and Chest Service, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health. The hospital will fully provide assistance to the police for the search.

     In view that the patient had been hospitalized for treatment of tuberculosis for one month and that tuberculosis transmission often requires a long period of close contact, the risk is relatively low.

     The patient is about 1.64 meters tall, thin build, black short hair. The hospital appeals to the public to contact the Police or call the hospital hotline (3129 7111) if they know the whereabouts of the patient.

Ends/Friday, January 4, 2019
Issued at HKT 20:34

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