Hong Kong health authorities announced on Friday that up to 2:30 PM local time, 16 new cases of influenza A/H1N1 were confirmed, bring to 237 the total number of influenza A/H1N1 cases in the city.

The new cases involved nine male and seven female aged between 10 and 51. All of them are in stable condition and have been admitted to public hospitals for medical treatment.

Among the cases, nine are imported while seven are local, said the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

On the same day, the Education Bureau of the HKSAR government announced that classes of four schools would be suspended for 14 days between June 20 and July 3.

To better combat the virus, Hong Kong's Legislative Council Finance Committee approved on Friday about 1 billion HK dollars (US$129 million) in funding for the Government to procureinfluenza A/H1N1 vaccines, and pneumococcal and seasonal flu vaccines, of the total, 700 million HK dollars (US$90 million) will be used for influenza A/H1N1 vaccines.

York Chow, secretary for Food and Health of the HKSAR government, thanked lawmakers for their support, adding the Government will sign a contract with qualified vaccine producers shortly to secure an ample supply before winter.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2009)