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ExCo Non-official Members visit Hong Kong Palace Museum (with photos)

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
      
     The Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (July 20) visited the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) at the West Kowloon Cultural District to tour the opening exhibitions jointly curated by the HKPM and the Palace Museum.
      
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the HKPM Board, Mr Bernard Chan, and the Chief Executive Officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Mrs Betty Fung, the ExCo Non-official Members first received a briefing from the Museum Director of the HKPM, Dr Louis Ng, on the exhibitions and facilities of the HKPM. They were then introduced to the design and architectural features of the museum. They also toured the galleries to view the priceless treasures on loan from the Palace Museum and other items. The HKPM’s opening exhibitions feature 914 priceless treasures that will go on display in rotation and together form the largest and finest selection of exhibits the Palace Museum has ever lent to another cultural institution outside the Mainland since its establishment in 1925. Many of the treasures are being exhibited in Hong Kong for the first time.
      
     The Convenor of the ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, “The exhibits on loan from the Palace Museum is unprecedented both in terms of quantity and rarity. Among them, more than 100 exhibits are grade-one objects that are classified as national treasures. We are very grateful to the Central Government and the Palace Museum for their support for the cultural and arts development of Hong Kong. This is particularly meaningful for Hong Kong in proactively leveraging its positioning as set out in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which supports the development of Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”
      
     The ExCo Non-official Members said they were pleased to know that the exhibitions of the HKPM have received an overwhelming public response since the museum’s opening early this month. They expressed appreciation to the museum for combining arts with technology in its gallery multimedia projects to enhance visitors’ experiences. They also said they are hopeful that the HKPM will achieve its objective of proactively promoting the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture to foster cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world and tell the story of China, including that of Hong Kong, through collaboration with cultural institutions from around the world, thus marking a new chapter in the advancement of Chinese arts and culture in Hong Kong.
      
     The ExCo Non-official Members joining the visit today were Convenor Mrs Regina Ip, Mr Jeffrey Lam, Mr Tommy Cheung, Mr Joseph Yam, Dr Lam Ching-choi, Mr Kenneth Lau, Dr Moses Cheng, Mrs Margaret Leung, Mr Chan Kin-por, Mr Stanley Ng and Mr Gary Chan.

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HKETO, Brussels promotes Hong Kong cinema and culture at Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic, Spain (with photos)

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) and Create Hong Kong jointly supported the 19th Asian Summer Film Festival (the Festival) in Vic, Spain, from July 19 to 24. The Festival is one of the celebration events of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

     The Festival screened a total of seven Hong Kong productions or co-productions, of which four films are from 2021: Longman Leung’s “Anita”, Wei Junzi’s documentary “Kungfu Stuntmen”, Emily Chan’s “Madalena” and Chui Chi-yiu’s “Remember What I Forgot”.  

     As a prelude to the Spanish premiere of the biographical film “Anita”, the Festival screened three films starring Anita Mui, namely Stanley Kwan’s “Rouge”, shown at the Festival’s press conference on July 8; and Sammo Hung’s “Moon Warriors” and Corey Yuen’s “Saviour of the Soul”, screened on July 9.

     HKETO, Brussels hosted an afternoon reception on July 19 (Vic time) to promote the Hong Kong productions to media representatives and film industry professionals. The reception included a tribute to Mui, with a compilation of visual material from her career and a presentation of the film “Anita”.  

     The Festival’s opening night held later that evening focused on Hong Kong culture. Besides Mui’s films and her classic songs, the audience also enjoyed a special lion dance featuring a lion from Vic’s traditional folklore, and Hong Kong lions.   

     In her welcoming remarks to the audience, the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Grace Li , said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government was committed to supporting the Hong Kong film industry and its talents. She highlighted that the opening of the M+ museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum would further enhance Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. She encouraged audience members to visit Hong Kong and experience the city’s vibrant culture first hand. 

     “You will see the latest developments for yourselves as our city heads into a new era of stability, prosperity and opportunity,” Ms Li said.

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Government gazettes compulsory testing notice

     The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 63 specified places during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.

     In view of a number of cases testing positive, 55 specified places are included in the compulsory testing notice. Furthermore, since some sewage samples collected in Shau Kei Wan and Lai Chi Kok have tested positive, eight specified premises are included in the compulsory testing notice. The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. Mobile specimen collection stations have been set up by the Government in different districts to facilitate testing to be conducted in compliance with the compulsory testing notice. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     Persons who have tested positive in the past three months (including positive cases tested either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests (RATs) that have been self-declared to the DH) do not need to undergo compulsory testing. For those who are subject to compulsory testing (save for those who have declared their positive RAT results as mentioned above), they must undergo nucleic acid tests in accordance with relevant compulsory testing notices and cannot use RATs to fulfil the requirement of such notices. In other words, a negative RAT result cannot be deemed as fulfilling the compulsory testing requirement. Furthermore, unless a person subject to compulsory testing has obtained a medical certificate proving that he or she is unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons, the person cannot provide a deep throat saliva sample to fulfil the compulsory testing requirement.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the Centre for Health Protection (CHP)’s website via the following link: www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/ctn_20220720.pdf.

     If any persons test positive under compulsory testing, such positive cases will be handled in the same manner as in those identified through other nucleic acid tests or self-declared through RATs. Their isolation arrangements (as well as the quarantine arrangements of their household members) are no different from other positive cases.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must go to any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions to undergo professional swab sampling in fulfilling the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen. For details on obtaining stool specimen bottles, please refer to the COVID-19 thematic website: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/Stool_bottle_collection_points.pdf.

     If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above, the Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the post-super typhoon “extreme conditions” announcement by the Government is in force at any time during the period for undergoing the compulsory testing, the period for undergoing the compulsory testing will be extended for one day.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection. The Government appeals to persons who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated without delay. The Government is working towards the goal of boosting the vaccination rates of children, teenagers and the elderly so that they can be protected by the vaccines as early as possible. Furthermore, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the CHP of the DH has earlier updated the consensus interim recommendations, and persons aged 60 or above who have taken three doses of vaccine are recommended to receive an additional dose (i.e. fourth dose) of either Comirnaty vaccine or CoronaVac vaccine at least three months after their last dose. Members of the public who are eligible should get the fourth dose as early as possible for better protection.

     CTCs provide testing services for the public. Booking and walk-in services are available. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming two weeks to facilitate the public’s planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (July 20), there was around 96 per cent availability for booking places for the coming two weeks. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.
 
     The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection station at Cheung Ching Estate in Tsing Yi tomorrow (July 21). The service period of the mobile specimen collection station at Wang Tau Hom Estate in Lok Fu will be extended to July 22 (Friday). Separately, ticketing machines have been installed in a number of service points for on-site ticket arrangement. Members of the public who have obtained a ticket can visit the CTC website (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to check the real-time queueing ticket status. Booking service is also provided for some large-scale mobile specimen collection stations, and members of the public may use the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to reserve a suitable time slot for testing.
 
     Other than persons subject to compulsory testing, all members of the public may conduct free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in the Annex.
 
     Outdoor mobile specimen collection stations will be closed if the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 or Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, while all mobile specimen collection stations together with all CTCs will be closed when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above or the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force. Any changes in the arrangements of testing service will be announced on site, and members of the public may also pay attention to the relevant press releases.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

(a) For tests which require using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs
1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the CTCs (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en);
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf), and the relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs; or
4. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the stool sample collected as per relevant guidelines.

(b) For persons holding a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner proving that they are unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from post offices, vending machines set up at MTR stations or designated general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
2. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results.

     A Government spokesman cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.

     “If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs.”

     Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. 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 at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The spokesman said, “The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.” read more

HAD distributes complimentary COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff in Islands, Kwun Tong, Yuen Long and Central and Western Districts (with photos)

     â€‹In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Islands, Kwun Tong, Yuen Long and Central and Western Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (July 20) that the Islands District Office (IsDO), Kwun Tong District Office (KTDO), Yuen Long District Office (YLDO) and Central and Western District Office (C&WDO) have distributed a total of about 379 000 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 Yu Tai Court and Caribbean Coast for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The KTDO also commenced distributing rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Fu Wah Court, Hiu Kwong Court, Hiu Ming Court, Hiu Wah Building, Kai Tin Tower, Hong Ying Court, Hong Tin Court, Sceneway Garden, Lei On Court, Hong Pak Court, Hong Shui Court, Hong Nga Court, Hong Wah Court and Hong Yat Court for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The YLDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Tan Kwai Garden, Tan Kwai Villa, Trafalgar Gardens, Osmanthus Gardens, Arnold Gardens, Tin Fu Court, Central Park Towers, Central Park Towers Phase 2 and Tin Oi Court for voluntary testing through the property management companies and the owners’ corporations.

     In addition, the C&WDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in residential premises around Queen’s Road West and Belcher’s Street 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.

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