The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (January 25) said that in line with the "vaccine bubble" arrangement for government employees to be implemented at government buildings and offices from February 16, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau has issued a circular memorandum to all bureaux/departments (B/Ds) to direct them that suitable clauses should be incorporated in all service contracts awarded on or after February 16, requiring the contractors, their agents and subcontractors to follow the relevant "vaccine bubble" arrangement.
Same as the "vaccine bubble" arrangement for government employees, save for those who are medically unfit for COVID-19 vaccination as supported by a valid medical certificate or pregnant staff with prior exemption granted on a case-by-case basis, all employees of the service contractors, their agents and subcontractors will be required to present a vaccination record of at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine when they enter indoor government premises for work-related purposes.
Mr Hui said, "Extending the 'vaccine bubble' arrangement at government buildings and offices from government employees to service contractors could further fortify the protective barrier, reduce the risk of the spread of mutant strains of COVID-19, and safeguard the health of government employees and members of the public."
Moreover, financial regulators, namely the Insurance Authority, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (including the eMPF Platform Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Authority) and the Financial Reporting Council will from February 16 implement the "vaccine bubble" arrangement same with that to be adopted at government buildings and offices for their own employees, as well as extending the arrangement to employees of their service contractors. The aforesaid financial regulators will formulate the implementation details at their office buildings and premises according to their actual situations.
Mr Hui said, "The vaccination rate of the employees under various financial regulators is over 90 per cent at present. I strongly believe that as long as everyone works together to set a good example to all walks of life by trying their best to implement the 'vaccine bubble' arrangement, it will surely be conducive to steady economic recovery and resumption of the normal operation of society."
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