Author Archives: hksar gov

     In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Kowloon City and Central and Western Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (May 25) that the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO) and the Central and Western District Office (C&WDO) have distributed a total of about 44 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.
 
     The KCDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Lok Man Sun Chuen, Lung Teck Mansion, Morning Joy Building, City 151, 80 Maidstone Road, Sunrise Villa, Wang Fung Building, Po Teck Mansion, Luen Yip Building, City Hub, Ngan Hon Mansion, Yick Man Building and On Hing Mansion 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 Academic Terrace, Joyful Building, Ying Ga Garden, Ivy On Belcher’s, Hee Wong Terrace, 1-15 Tai Pak Terrace, Man Fat Building, Tai Pak Terrace, Treasure Court, Yue Yee Mansion and Mau Wah Mansion 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 Government announced today (May 25) the addition of two more designated quarantine hotels (DQHs). These two hotels will start accepting room bookings from late May onwards and commence service from early June. They are expected … read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 0.00am today (May 25), a total of 484 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 67 new patients. Amo… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 25) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, May 25, the CHP was investigating 104 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus by nucleic acid tests (34 confirmed cases, 53 asymptomatic cases and 17 cases with pending case status) in the past 24 hours. Separately, 147 additional positive cases through rapid antigen tests (RATs) (77 symptomatic cases and 70 asymptomatic cases) were reported. Hong Kong has recorded a total of 761 509 and 449 578 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The aforementioned newly reported cases consist of 28 imported cases (21 cases and seven cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively). The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations on the cases. Please refer to the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.

     Meanwhile, according to the whole genome sequencing analysis by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 13 cases, 69 cases, 12 cases and three cases carrying the sub-lineages BA.2.12, BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 under the Omicron mutant strain respectively.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, May 25, a total of 9 159 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 081 and 75 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as three deaths reported from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 9 372 death cases that have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (May 24), the total number of confirmed cases was 332 074, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 198 830, 23 and 230 478 respectively.

     As the passenger flight (EK384) operated by Emirates arriving in Hong Kong from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and Bangkok, Thailand, on May 23, had five passengers who failed to comply with the requirements specified under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H), as well as three passengers who tested positive upon arrival, the DH thus invoked Cap. 599H to prohibit the landing of passenger flights in Hong Kong from Dubai and Bangkok operated by Emirates from May 26 to 30.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that as the local situation of COVID-19 infection is still severe, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     â€‹â€‹The spokesman reminded that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who have yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected. read more

     The AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, under the auspices of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) and with major support from the Central People’s Government (CPG), was officially opened today (May 25) at the Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower in Central. The Centre forms part of the Hong Kong Legal Hub.

     At the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, said she hoped that the Centre will, together with the existing AALCO arbitration centres in Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria, Iran and Kenya, stand united by the ideals of friendship and collaboration by promoting trade and investment in the Asian-African region. She expressed her gratitude to the CPG and the AALCO for their staunch support and trust, and said that the Department of Justice (DoJ) looks forward to working with the Centre and the legal and dispute resolution community to promote Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution hub, which will be beneficial to all.

     The Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Liu Guangyuan, and the Director of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, Mr Nick Chan, also officiated at the ceremony.

     The establishment of the Centre, officially announced in November 2021 at the 59th Annual Session of AALCO hosted by Hong Kong, marks a major milestone in the development of Hong Kong as a leading centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, and constitutes a significant vote of confidence from the CPG and the AALCO to Hong Kong.

     The AALCO is the only inter-governmental legal consultative organisation in the Asian and African region comprising almost all the major states from Asia and Africa. Regional arbitration centres under its auspices function as international institutions with the objective of promoting international commercial arbitration in the Asian-African region and providing for the conduction of international arbitrations.

     Adding to the five existing regional arbitration centres of the AALCO, the regional arbitration centre in Hong Kong will act as a co-ordinating agency in the AALCO dispute settlement system, aiming to promote the growth and effective functioning of arbitration institutions and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services, including online dispute resolution services, to promote the wider application of various ADR rules within the Asian and Pacific region, to provide facilities for ADR services including ad hoc arbitrations as well as arbitrations held under the auspices of the Centre and other arbitral institutions, and to provide assistance in the enforcement of arbitral awards.

     The DoJ will continue its efforts to establish Hong Kong as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, which is in line with the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, bringing vast opportunities for the sector.