The Government yesterday (February 6) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Sha Tin (i.e. Mei Sau House, Mei Tin Estate, Sha Tin, excluding the car park thereat.) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained.
 
     In addition, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the above building, for more than two hours from January 24 to February 6, 2022 to undergo compulsory testing on or before February 8, 2022 even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 1pm today (February 7) and is now carrying out enforcement actions in the "restricted area" to verify that all people in the "restricted area" have undergone compulsory testing. The Government will further announce the revocation time of the declaration.
 
     Starting from around 1pm today, persons in the specified "restricted area" in Mei Sau House, Mei Tin Estate, Sha Tin who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.
 
     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 1am today. Around 1 890 people within the area had undergone testing, among which five cases tested preliminarily positive and one case tested indeterminate were found. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will arrange to follow up.
 
     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 792 households within the "restricted area", among which 73 households did not answer the door. The Government will take measures to follow up.
 
     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him/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 may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

  

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: 

     Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals: 

     The Marine Department today (February 7) reminded masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in Hong Kong waters to proceed at a safe speed and exercise extreme caution because restricted visibility of less than 2 nautical miles has been reported. 

     Appropriate sound signals shall be made when underway or at anchor. All vessels must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea. 

     Also, when radar is used without the benefit of adequate plotting facilities, the information obtained from the equipment is rather limited and should be construed accordingly. 

     Visibility reports are broadcast by the Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) on VHF channels 02, 12, 14, 63 and 67. 

     In the event of an accident, a report shall be made immediately to the VTC at Tel: 2233 7801. 

     â€‹The Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" on February 5 with effect from 7 pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tuen Mun (i.e. Hing Cheung House, 6 Tai Hing Street, (excluding Yuen Long (2) District Maintenance Office, Housing Department, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation-Community Rehabilitation Network (Tai Hing Centre), The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tai Hing Hostel and Tuen Mun Youths Association on G/F), and Hing Tai House, 2 Tai Hing Street (excluding District Lands Office/Tuen Mun Squatter Control Team, Clearance (2) Office (Tuen Mun Sub-office), Lands Department, and Fu Hong Society Kit Hong Home), Tai Hing Estate, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government yesterday (February 6) extended the period of operation for Hing Tai House to today (February 7). Persons subject to compulsory testing at Hing Tai House are required to stay in their premises and undergo two tests under the designated arrangement (including the one conducted yesterday under the declaration), until all such persons identified in Hing Tai House in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained, and upon the agreement of the Secretary for Food and Health having regard to all the circumstances and the public interest of Hong Kong.

     In addition, for those who have visited Hing Tai House in the past two weeks for more than two hours should undergo testing on or before February 7, 2022, in accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 9 am today 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 10 am today.

     In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised 484 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government delivered lunch and dinner boxes to persons subject to compulsory testing and provided simple food for them, including canned food, instant noodles and corn kernels, so as to facilitate the meal arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing.

     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 tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at 9 am 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 10 am. Test records of around 400 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Seven persons were found to have not undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing order was 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 contact the Government for arrangement of testing 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 liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will 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 or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

  

     â€‹The Transport and Housing Bureau learned that a structural engineer of the Independent Checking Unit had tested preliminarily positive today (February 7) for COVID-19.

     The structural engineer worked at 10/F of the Lung Cheung Office Block in Wong Tai Sin. He last worked in the office on January 31.  He had also worked at the Housing Authority Headquarters (HAHQ) in Ho Man Tin on February 4.  He did not have contact with the public recently while performing duties. He had been wearing masks and following relevant disease prevention measures at work.
 
     The office and work place in HAHQ have been fully cleaned and sterilised in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). 

    The Transport and Housing Bureau will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and co-operate with its disease prevention measures and quarantine work.

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) said today (February 7) that a fireman serving at Ap Lei Chau Fire Station has tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. The FSD has been following up on the case with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health and is waiting for further instructions from the CHP.

     The fireman last performed duties on February 3. He did not have high risk contact with members of the public while at work. He wore masks and followed the relevant disease prevention measures at work. The FSD has arranged a thorough cleaning and disinfection at the premises concerned and in the vicinity, in accordance with the CHP's advice, and has maintained close liaison with the CHP in taking appropriate follow-up actions.

     The FSD has made arrangements on staff deployment to ensure that relevant services are not affected.

     The FSD has been strictly implementing disease prevention measures during the epidemic. Staff members are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.