Hong Kong confirmed 625 new cases of influenza A/H1N1 in the 24 hours up to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, bringing the number of the city's cumulative cases to 16,989, the Hong Kong health authorities said.

The new cases involved 329 males and 296 females, aged between four months and 79 years, said a spokesman from the Department of Health of Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said currently a total of 142 confirmed patients are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 126 are in stable condition, eight in serious and eight in critical condition.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2009)