A spokesman for the Department of Health of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said in the 24 hours to noon on Friday, 25 people fulfilling influenza A/H1N1 reporting criteria were reported to the Center for Health Protection (CHP).

Eight of them tested negative for new strain while laboratory results of the remaining 17 are still pending, the spokesman said, adding that they are in stable condition.

So far, a total of 119 cases fulfilling the reporting criteria were received. One hundred of them tested negative.

Up to 4:00 PM on Friday, the CHP's hotline had received 2,258 calls since it was set up on April 30.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2009)