â€‹In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Sai Kung and Tai Po Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (August 3) that the Sai Kung District Office (SKDO) and the Tai Po District Office (TPDO) have distributed a total of about 235 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The SKDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Tseung Kwan O Plaza, Beverly Garden, Park Central and Tong Ming Court for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     In addition, the TPDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Fortune Plaza, Tai Wo Estate, Po Nga Court and Parc Versailles for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     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 Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (August 3) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members identified as close contacts and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases.
 
     The following are the statistics of patients who tested positive via admission screening or by testing in public hospitals with patients or staff members identified as close contacts:
 

 
     Thorough cleaning and disinfection operations have been performed in the affected areas by the hospitals. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor the health conditions of patients and staff members, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
 
     There have been no clusters of nosocomial infection cases reported in public hospitals today.

     The Task Force on Supplies from the Mainland led by the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) has been working closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government to explore various means to stabilise the supply of goods from the Mainland to Hong Kong.
 
     A spokesperson for the TLB said that the "Sea Express" water transportation service from the Mainland to Hong Kong has been fully launched and its capacity is rising to increase the supplies of fresh food, other daily necessities and manufacturing materials. The current supply of fresh food from the Mainland is stable.
 
     The spokesperson said today (August 3) that Shenzhen operated 63 cargo vessel trips and transported around 6 660 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cross-boundary supplies by water yesterday (August 2), equivalent to about 27 730 tonnes of goods, all of which were non-fresh food, according to information from the Mainland authorities.
 
     Since the launch of services from the three ports in Shenzhen since February 18 to yesterday, a total of around 758 110 TEUs of cross-boundary supplies have been transported, equivalent to about 3 671 270 tonnes of goods, of which around 2 170 TEUs (about 18 570 tonnes) were fresh food and around 755 940 TEUs (about 3 652 700 tonnes) were non-fresh food.
 
     Meanwhile, to avoid a spillover of the epidemic, the Transport Department (TD) arranges for dedicated staff to conduct rapid nucleic acid tests, using nasopharyngeal swabs for specimen collection, for cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers at various land boundary control points. Only drivers with a negative result are allowed to enter the Mainland. A total of 3 209 rapid nucleic acid tests were conducted yesterday, among which four cases that tested preliminarily positive or indeterminate were found. The TD has passed the cases to the Department of Health for follow-up.
 
     The TLB will closely monitor the situation and co-operate with the Mainland authorities to facilitate and implement various measures to ensure both smooth cross-boundary land transport and a stable goods supply to Hong Kong, while reducing the risk of epidemic transmission in both the Mainland and Hong Kong. 

     A government spokesman said today (August 3) that, according to the 2022 (Phase II) Consumption Voucher Scheme, about 6.36 million people whose eligibility has been verified will receive consumption vouchers by instalments from Sunday (August 7).

     Among them, about 6.21 million people will receive vouchers worth $5,000 by instalments under Phase II, including (a) existing registrants who received vouchers under Phase I in April this year and meet the relevant eligibility criteria under Phase II, and (b) new eligible registrants who have come to live in Hong Kong through different admission schemes for talents, professionals and entrepreneurs, etc, and to study in Hong Kong. These people will receive a $2,000 voucher on August 7.

     As for about 150 000 new eligible registrants who are Hong Kong permanent residents or new arrivals, they will receive vouchers worth $10,000 by instalments, the first $3,000 of which will be disbursed on August 7.

     The voucher disbursement arrangement and the timetable for different stored value facilities (SVFs) are set out in Annexes I and II.

     The Government has issued SMS messages to registrants whose eligibility checking has been completed based on the eligibility criteria announced on June 13 through the designated telephone number (6059 1120). The spokesman reminded them to read the SMS. People can also enquire about their eligibility checking result and entitled voucher value through the interactive voice response system of the hotline 18 5000. 

     Registrants who have been notified that they do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Scheme but disagree with the result may apply for review in writing within 14 days after receiving the SMS notification. Details can be found at the Scheme website (www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk/en/faqs.html#G1). As at August 1, the Secretariat has received about 158 000 applications for review (excluding duplicated applications), most of which are from people who have submitted valid claim requests for early withdrawal of their Mandatory Provident Fund or benefits under occupational retirement schemes on the grounds of "permanent departure from Hong Kong". Among them, about 104 000 cases have been successful. The relevant registrants have been confirmed to be eligible and notified by the relevant SMS. Vouchers will also be disbursed to them on August 7. As for the remaining review cases, they are still being processed by the Secretariat, including verifying the information provided by the applicants or awaiting further information from them. The Secretariat will endeavour to notify the applicants of the review results by SMS within six weeks upon receipt of their applications. Those who have their cases successfully reviewed will receive the first voucher on August 16 at the earliest.

     During the registration period, the Secretariat has received a total of about 290 000 new registrations and 260 000 applications for changing SVF accounts (excluding duplicated registrations/applications).

     A fire broke out at Kwan Tei North Village in Fanling at 5.14am today (August 3). The fire was upgraded to No. 3 alarm at 6.50am. The fire was surrounded at 10am, put under control at 1pm and largely put out at 4.30pm.
             
     Firemen used three jets and mobilising three breathing apparatus teams to fight the blaze.

     One charred body was found at the fire site.

     One person was injured and was sent to North District Hospital for treatment.