Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Government yesterday (May 30) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” with effect from 5.30pm yesterday under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Tsuen Wan (i.e. Shek Tsui House, Shek Wai Kok Estate, Tsuen Wan, excluding kindergarten and social service unit on G/F) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.
 
     In addition, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from May 24 to May 30, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before June 1, 2022.
 
     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today (May 31) and carried out enforcement action in the “restricted area” afterwards to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 10am today.
 
     The Government provided food packs for persons subject to compulsory testing, so as to facilitate their meal arrangements.  Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central People’s Government or procured with the co-ordination of the Central People’s Government and rapid test kits were also provided to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus. The Housing Department set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
 
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the efforts of the testing contractors throughout the night, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative test result as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 10am. Test records of about 830 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Seven persons were found to have not undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing orders were issued to them. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminded the households who have not answered the door to undergo a nucleic acid test as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

     To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China, the Government and different sectors of the community will organise a full range of exciting activities for members of the public to join and share the joy of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.

    The Steering Committee for the Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR said the Government today (May 31) released two promotional videos, marking the beginning of a wealth of activities to be launched. A dedicated Facebook page and an Instagram account were also launched today to keep members of the public posted of various celebration activities.

     One of the promotional videos presents the 25th Anniversary theme song titled “Heading Forward” produced by the Radio Television Hong Kong. It showcases new opportunities brought about by the country to Hong Kong and encourages young people to seize these opportunities and work together to enable Hong Kong to move forward in sustaining prosperity and stability. The theme song is written and produced by renowned musician Keith Chan and composed, arranged and recorded by musician Alan Cheung. A total of 28 local and Mainland singers are invited to perform together for the first time. The theme song and its lyrics have been uploaded to the dedicated website www.hksar25.gov.hk.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said, “I am glad that activities for celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland can be rolled out smoothly as the epidemic situation has been brought under control, adding joy to the gradual restoration of the society’s normal operations and economic activities. I am deeply grateful to the two musicians and all singers for their unwavering support. It was a formidable task to complete the production during the pandemic.”

     Singers participating in the first edition of the theme song are: Alan Tam, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Kenny Bee, Priscilla Chan, Grasshopper, Hacken Lee, Joey Yung, Miriam Yeung, Patrick Lui, David Lui, Jason Zhang, Jane Zhang, Karrie Wu, Edmond Leung, Raymond Lam, Janice M Vidal, Gin Lee, AGA, Hana Kuk, Jinny Ng, Hubert Wu, Jerry Lamb, Michelle Siu, Gigi Yim and Mike Tsang.

     Another video is to promote the theme for the 25th anniversary celebrations: “A New Era – Stability. Prosperity. Opportunity”. It highlights that for the past 25 years since the return to the motherland, Hong Kong has been resilient when facing challenges. Through actively integrating into the overall development of the country, Hong Kong will embrace more opportunities and build the future together. 

     Regarding celebration activities, the Steering Committee said a rich array of celebration activities would be gradually rolled out across the territory, including arts and culture, leisure and recreation, wines and cuisine as well as various thematic seminars.

     As for arts and cultural activities, apart from the inaugural exhibitions for the new extension of the Oil Street Art Space (Oi!), the much-anticipated Hong Kong Palace Museum will be opened to the public soon, showcasing over 900 precious relics from the Palace Museum and artefacts from around the globe. Moreover, artwork installations that integrate science with art will be displayed on both sides of Victoria Harbour from end-June. In July and August, exhibitions showcasing precious dinosaur fossil skeletons, featuring Italian treasures from the National Museum of Capodimonte and displaying invaluable cultural relics of Dunhuang grottoes will be held.

     In addition, the Happy@Parks series will be held from mid-June for everyone to enjoy the fun-filled parks through a variety of activities and games.

     The Hong Kong Tourism Board will also organise various mega celebration events, including the Special Edition of “A Symphony of Lights” and “Hong Kong Cocktail Hopping” in July, as well as “Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival” in October, etc.

     The Steering Committee said celebratory events would also spread the message of caring and inclusiveness. The Home Affairs Department (HAD) will co-ordinate the “Celebrations for All” project, in which the elderly and the less privileged families can share the joy of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland through family visits and participation in territory-wide as well as district celebratory events.

     The HAD will also organise promotion projects under the theme of “connecting to homeland and searching for roots” with clansman organisations, among which a signature event, “Clansmen Culture Exhibition”, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 6 to 12.

     Hongkong Post will issue on July 1 a set of commemorative stamps to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.

     In addition to the activities, the joyful atmosphere in the community will be further enhanced in 18 districts with various publicity and city dress-up installations which beautify the cityscape and offer attractions for phototaking. The major programmes include installations at the Victoria Harbour promenades, as well as erecting floral fields, floral walls, setting up theme garden displays and enhancements of roadside amenity areas at major locations and parks under the “Blossom Around Town” programme.

     The Steering Committee said that on top of local celebratory events, the overseas Economic and Trade Offices of the HKSAR and offices in the Mainland would also organise promotion activities overseas and in major Mainland cities, including economic and trade promotion seminars, cultural performances, outdoor activities, film festivals and roving exhibitions to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems”.

     The Steering Committee encourages all sectors of the community including the commercial sector, professional groups and community organisations to continue organising activities under the accreditation scheme to bring celebratory ambience around town. 

     Members of the public are welcome to visit the dedicated website www.hksar25.gov.hk, and social media pages (Facebook page：www.facebook.com/HKSAR25A and Instagram account：www.instagram.com/hksar25) for the latest information about the celebratory events. read more

     The Government today (May 31) announced that the 65th round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly.

     In accordance with section 10(1) of the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), the Secretary for Food and Health issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday (May 30), requiring persons who are employed by and will be on duty at RCHEs, RCHDs, nursing homes and day service units attached to the premises of residential care homes during the period from June 8 to 14, 2022, or who will provide services to residents or users through hire-of-service contracts with residential care homes and the aforementioned units during that period (including full-time, part-time and relief staff), to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 during the period from June 1 to 7, 2022, according to the requirements and procedure set out in the notice (the Specified Test). The samples must be collected by using combined nasal and throat swabs and must not be taken by the person to be tested. However, persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course (i.e. received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the end of the testing period) are not required to undergo the Specified Test. Persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course in places outside Hong Kong (i.e. received the recommended dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine as stipulated in relevant guidelines at least 14 days before the end of the testing period, and the vaccine used is included on the list of vaccines recognised for specified purposes as published on www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/list_of_recognised_covid19_vaccines.pdf), are also not required to undergo the Specified Test.

     The staff of institutions who had obtained a positive test result in the Specified Test or rapid antigen test for COVID-19 on or after May 2, 2022, are not required to undergo testing in accordance with the requirements of the notice provided that they can produce the relevant SMS (mobile phone text message) notification containing the positive result of the test, or the relevant SMS notification or isolation order issued after making a declaration on the Government’s Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test.

     The staff of institutions who are required to undergo the Specified Test may choose the following means:

(1) To undergo the Specified Test in any of the community testing centres (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en), temporary testing centres (if any) (see the list at www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_supportser/sub_ttc), or mobile specimen collection stations (if any) (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) in accordance with the instructions given by the staff at the centre/station;

(2) To have a sample collected by a healthcare professional or trained personnel as arranged by institution operators at a laboratory listed on the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf); or

(3) To self-arrange testing provided by a laboratory listed on the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” at their own expense (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf) and the sample through a combined nasal and throat swab must not be taken by the person himself or herself.

     Any person who fails to comply with the testing notice commits an offence and may be subject to a fixed penalty of $10,000. He or she would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said that the SWD and the Department of Health would issue letters to institutions to inform them of the relevant arrangements and requirements. The spokesman reminded staff of the said institutions who will undergo testing at community testing centres that they should make an advance booking via the community testing centre booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk) for the free testing service. In addition, institution operators should remind their staff members to properly keep the SMS notifications of their test results or their test result reports.

     Institution operators are required to keep records of their staff having received the Specified Test and the results within the time frames specified by the Government. They are also required to keep the list of staff members who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course. Institution operators also have to co-operate with Checking Officers (Compulsory Testing) of the SWD who are enforcing the Regulation at residential care homes.

     The SWD spokesman said that starting from the 26th round of compulsory testing, staff members who have not been vaccinated and do not have medical certificates certifying that they are unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination owing to health reasons have had to undergo compulsory testing at their own expense. The Government will continue to monitor the epidemic situation and make adjustments to the aforementioned testing policy after taking the overall anti-epidemic measures into account. Although staff members who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course are exempted from the regular compulsory testing, they can still receive free testing for the time being if they voluntarily choose to undergo the test. read more

     The Government today (May 31) announced that, as proposed in the 2022-23 Budget, a one-off extra allowance, equal to a half-month of the standard rate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payments, Old Age Allowance, Old Age … read more

     A Government spokesman announced today (May 31) that the supply of fresh food from the Mainland yesterday (May 30) was sufficient and stable.

     According to the latest information, the quantity of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong yesterday (as of midnight) by land and water transportation was over 2 600 tonnes, comparable to the average daily supply from the Mainland on a normal day. The volume of vegetables sold through the wholesale markets of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Vegetable Marketing Organization was about 851 tonnes. The average wholesale prices of choi sum and pak choi stood at $6.10 and $5.40 per catty respectively yesterday, comparable to their average daily wholesale prices last year. The supply of eggs to the wholesale market remained steady, with the average daily supply standing at about 3.7 million for the past week, comparable to the average daily supply on a normal day last year.

     The total supply of chilled meat from the Mainland yesterday was about 37 tonnes. The supply of live pigs was plentiful.

     The supply of chilled poultry from the Mainland was over 140 000 head yesterday, and about 10 000 live chickens were slaughtered locally. The supply was abundant.

     Regarding the rice supply, in compliance with the requirement by the Government, stockholders of rice have to maintain the reserve stock of rice at a level sufficient for consumption by the local population for 15 days. The trade generally stocks double the required amount, which is sufficient for one month’s consumption by Hong Kong citizens. In recent years, the import and consumption of rice in Hong Kong has stood at a steady level of around 320 000 to 330 000 tonnes per year. The import quantity (including reserve stock) as of end-April 2022 was 28 800 tonnes. Suppliers also maintain a reserve for food that can be stored, such as frozen meat, for around three months’ stock generally.

     The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities and major food suppliers to ensure a stable food supply.

     The AFCD updates and publishes the fresh food supply information daily. Members of the public may visit the AFCD website for updates on daily supplies and wholesale prices of fresh food (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_fresh/agr_fresh.html). read more