All kindergartens, primary schools, child care centers and special schools in Hong Kong will be closed for 14 days starting Friday to prevent the local transmission of A/H1N1 influenza, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said on Thursday.

The decision came after a meeting held by Tsang together with the steering committee on pandemic strategies.

Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Tsang said 12 students from St. Paul's Convent School in Causeway Bay were confirmed to have contracted the A/H1N1 virus, which became the first local cluster of cases in the territory. This brings about the decision of class suspension arrangement mentioned above.

The Hospital Authority will open on Saturday eight flu clinics for managing patients with influenza like illness. The authority will expand the number of clinics to 18 if necessary, he said.

Tsang told the community not to panic but urged people to remain alert to combat the disease.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2009)