The 67-year-old Secretary for Education Michael Suen Ming-yeung is reported in satisfactory condition in Queen Mary Hospital, undergoing treatment of legionnaires' disease. Late on Thursday night, he was reported to be moved out of intensive care unit.

The chief of service for the adult intensive care unit, Chan Wai-ming, could not say when the secretary would be discharged.

Chan, who is also one of Suen's attending physicians, said that as an elderly patient suffering kidney failure, Suen's situation has become more complicated with the onset of legionnaires' disease. The disease easily affects aged people who suffer from chronic disease.

"However, to be infected with legionnaires' disease doesn't necessarily mean it will affect his working ability," said Chan.

Suen's condition was reported to be stable. He has regained consciousness, able to breathe on his own and be out of bed.

Staff members from the Centre for Health Protection and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department conducted inspections and took water samples from Suen's Happy Valley residence and his office in the new government headquarters at Tamar to try to identify the source of the infection.

Suen's wife Rita Suen Chung Siu-fan visited Suen in hospital. The couple celebrated the Winter Solstice, a traditional rite among the Chinese community. She said she wasn't worried about Suen's situation, noting he is being treated with antibiotics. She said she will leave it to her husband to make his own decision on whether to take earlier retirement before his term of office ends in July of next year.

Secretary for Food and Health Chow Yat-ngok spoke in support of Suen. Chow said he didn't think it fair to judge whether Suen is capable of working on the basis of a single admission to hospital. Suen was reported to have gone to Dongguan, Guangdong province, for a two-day trip with his family on Dec 10. On Dec 16, he experienced high fever, a cough, breathing difficulty and became lethargic. Two days later, he was taken to Queen Mary Hospital. Suen initially was diagnosed with pneumonia. Later he was found to be infected with legionnaires' disease. No symptoms were found among those with whom Suen had close contact.

His duties are being filled temporarily by the current Under Secretary for Education Kenneth Chen Wei-on until Dec 23. Suen has already asked for three more days leave until Jan 3, 2012. The bureau has not indicated whether it will prolong Chen's tenure as acting chief arrangement.

Suen is currently under treatment for peritoneal dialysis as well. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in April but following that diagnosis, he said he would be able to complete his term of office ending next July.

Sixteen cases of legionnaires' disease have been reported in Hong Kong this year. There were 20 in 2010 and 37 in 2009.

stushadow@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/23/2011 page1)