HONG KONG - Experts involved in the K11 MUSEA investigation have considered all available evidence and exercised their duty and judgment based on scientific evidence and professional knowledge, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong government said on Monday.

The response came following recent comments on the air change requirement for catering businesses and the findings of a related site investigation at a restaurant in K11 MUSEA in early March.

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The spokesperson said available information does not indicate any flaws in the investigation process.

The Centre for Health Protection invited Yuen Kwok-yung to join a multi-disciplinary team to conduct a visit to the restaurant in the mall on March 1 to investigate the cause of the cluster of COVID-19 cases.

The team consisted of an epidemiologist from the center as well as officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the Environmental Protection Department.

The spokesperson refuted comments that air ventilation of the seating area and the kitchen should be taken together for food premises

This was necessary as engineers and epidemiologists do not have expertise in virology and infectious diseases, the spokesperson said.

Following the on-site investigation with airflow measurements by engineers, a meeting was chaired by Yuen. Members of the team listened to all the initial findings reported by different team members and came up with a consensus of the initial findings and the corresponding recommendations.

The conclusion was that the outbreak was more likely due to the low air change in certain parts of the dining area of the lower floor on which the outbreak occurred. 

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The spokesperson refuted comments that air ventilation of the seating area and the kitchen should be taken together for food premises.

The law requires separate ventilation systems for the seating area and the kitchen, and the guide for application for restaurant licenses has also made this point clear, according to the statement. 

The actual ventilation system for the restaurant's kitchen is in fact connected to the central system of K11 MUSEA and is completely independent of that for its seating area, according to the spokesperson.