A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (February 7) that the FEHD will set up a point of sale (POS) at Chui Tin Street Soccer Pitch in Sha Tin, the site originally designated for the 2021 Che Kung Festival Fair. The POS, with 32 dry goods stalls, will be opened from February 9 to 26, with the operating hours matching the opening hours of Che Kung Temple. To make anti-epidemic efforts effective, apart from strictly enforcing various anti-epidemic measures, the admission to and exit from the POS will be monitored and the footfall at the POS will be controlled with the use of technology, with a view to avoiding the risk of mass gathering.
The spokesman said, "Under the premise of upholding the anti-epidemic principles, the Government has to keep the risk of the sale event under control. The footfall of the POS will be counted with the use of Infrared Sensing devices and displayed in a 'Green, Amber and Red Lights' format. Green light means few people inside the POS, amber light indicates an increase in footfall, while red light represents footfall saturation at the POS and entry will be temporarily suspended. As its circumstances are different from the 15 points of sale for Lunar New Year flowers, implementing a ticketing system is not required in this POS."
Various anti-epidemic measures will be strictly enforced at the POS. Stall operators and their staff must undergo COVID-19 virus testing within 48 hours before the opening of the POS, and must present or submit a negative test result when entering the POS prior to the commencement of operation. The FEHD will provide one-off free testing services for stall operators and their staff, and has already arranged the testing agency to deliver specimen bottles to them for collecting deep throat saliva samples.
In addition, stall operators are required by the FEHD to provide a list of staff and their contact information for tracing of confirmed cases and their contacts when necessary. Stall operators are also required to provide sufficient hand sanitisers at their stalls during operation hours. A cleansing session which is estimated to last around an hour will be arranged every afternoon at the POS, during which the FEHD will conduct cleansing and disinfection at public areas. Stall owners will be responsible for carrying out such work at their own stalls.
The spokesman said all persons entering the POS must observe the ground rules including conducting body temperature screening before entering the POS and persons with symptoms will be refused entry. A mask must be worn when entering and within the POS, and eating, drinking or smoking are not allowed at the POS. The "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code will be displayed at the entrance of and inside the POS for members of the public to scan and record their visits.
Members of the public may call the FEHD hotline at 2868 0000 for enquiries.
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