The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 22) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Morbihan Department of France, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 540 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 25 000 poultry eggs from France in the first six months of this year.

     â€‹"The CFS has contacted the French authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau today (August 22) said that the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, has been identified as a close contact after an assessment conducted by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, as one of the family members in his household had tested positive for COVID-19. He is undergoing quarantine in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection.
 
     Mr Leung has taken COVID-19 rapid antigen tests regularly with negative test results obtained. He also tested negative after conducting a COVID-19 rapid antigen test today.

     In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Islands, Kwai Tsing and Central and Western Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (August 22) that the Islands District Office (IsDO), the Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO) and the Central and Western District Office (C&WDO) have distributed a total of about 191 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The IsDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Caribbean Coast, The Visionary, Century Link, Seaview Crescent and Coastal Skyline for voluntary testing through the property management companies.
 
     The K&TDO started distributing rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Wang Wah Mansion, Sheung Man Court, Yen Ya Building, 23-25 Texaco Road, 45-55 Texaco Road, Tak Tai Court, Tak Tai Building, Yau Cheung Building, Wing Wo Building, Kwai Yin Court, Regency Park, Wah Yuen Chuen, Wonderland Villas, Cheung Hang Village, Tsui Yiu Court, Tai Wong Ha Resite Village, San Uk Resite Village and Fung Shue Wo Resite Village for voluntary testing through the property management company, the owners' corporations, the village office and the management committees. 
 
     In addition, the C&WDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Hillsborough Court, The Belcher's, Kam Ling Court and residential buildings around Po Tuck Street and Clarence Terrace for voluntary testing through the property management companies and the owners' corporations.
 
     The HAD made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early.

     Members of the public may refer to the demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) via www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk to learn how to use the rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.

     Persons testing positive through an RAT should take a photo of the test result and declare the result within 24 hours via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If members of the public encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP under the DH will contact the relevant person later to complete the report procedure. There is no need to declare negative test results.

     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     â€‹Result of tenders of People's Bank of China RMB Bills held on August 22, 2022:
 

     The Department of Health (DH) today (August 22) reminded members of the public to combat the fifth wave of the epidemic and fight against the virus together by complying with isolation orders or quarantine orders respectively if they are cases who tested positive for COVID-19 or close contacts of cases. Members of the public should follow relevant requirements and the DH will stringently follow up on all non-compliant cases.

     Since July 15, the Government has required confirmed cases to put on electronic wristbands during the home isolation period, with a view to ensuring compliance with the isolation requirement under the law that they must not leave their household area so as to further minimise the chance of community transmission. Confirmed cases who leave their household area during the home isolation period, do not put on the electronic wristbands, cut off the electronic wristbands or uninstall the "StayHomeSafe" mobile app are considered as violating the isolation orders, which is a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Government has enacted a number of regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599). For the cases handled by the DH, as of August 20, around 260 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching regulations related to isolation or quarantine and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to four months or a fine of up to $15,000.

     A spokesman for the DH stressed that the sentences have sent a clear message to the community that breaching relevant regulations is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate. In addition, currently over 600 suspected cases of violating isolation or quarantine related requirements are under investigation or follow-up, including over 140 suspected cases of violating isolation orders in relation to wearing of electronic wristbands. The DH will stringently follow up on all cases. Prosecutions will be considered based on investigation results and evidence.

     Separately, the Government called on members of the public to follow compulsory testing directions and compulsory testing notices under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) by undergoing testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing directions/compulsory testing notices commits an offence and the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months, while the fixed penalty for discharging the liability is $10,000. The person may also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Any person in breach of the compulsory testing order would be liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. As of August 20, the DH had processed over 25 000 compulsory testing orders and over 7 000 fixed penalty notices.

     Apart from enforcing the above regulations, all relevant government departments will carry out enforcement actions proactively with regard to people entering specified premises and other relevant regulations, so as to ensure compliance with all anti-epidemic regulations. The spokesman reiterated that co-operation and support by members of the public play a critical role in the anti-epidemic work. They must strictly observe relevant requirements in order to fight the epidemic and minimise the risk of transmission in the community.