Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Legionnaires' disease found at Hong Kong' government complex
Legionnaires' disease is caused by bacteria and is a form of
pneumonia
Hong Kong's brand-new government headquarters compound is
contaminated with a bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease,
officials have confirmed.
Health officials conducted an investigation after a minister was
hospitalised with the potentially fatal disease last month.
Traces of the bacteria were found to be up to 14 times above
acceptable levels.
Authorities are now disinfecting the buildings.
Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection has been collecting water
samples from various sites in the new Central Government Offices
after Education Secretary Michael Suen was diagnosed with
Legionnaires' disease last month.
Samples collected from various toilets - including those at the
office of Chief Executive Donald Tsang - tested positive for
Legionella pneumophila, said a government statement.
Other trouble spots include water taps inside the kitchens of a
canteen and the Dining Hall in the Legislative Council Complex.
Wong Kwok-hing, a pro-Beijing unionist legislator, has described
the news as a "scandal".
He says government offices and the legislature should return to
their original locations if the situation gets worse, reported
local public broadcaster RTHK.
The new complex was opened last August
However Dr Thomas Tsang, controller of the Centre for Health
Protection, said there was no need for officials to stay away from
the new building.
The HK$5.5bn site ($708m; £455m) was officially opened last August
by Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang.
Back then, most of the site was still undergoing engineering work.
Former legislator and physician Lo Wing-lok blamed a rushed move
into the new compound for the presence of the deadly bug.