Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Government today (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, 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. See Annex) are 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. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about 10am tomorrow (February 7).
      
     A Government spokesman said, “Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’. As the sewage discharged from the above building was tested positive for COVID-19, it is suspected that there are asymptomatic patients in the building. Given the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, the Government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the relevant area.”
 
     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 1am tomorrow. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility and elderly persons.
 
     The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the ‘restricted area’ as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 10am tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”
 
    If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.
 
     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from January 24 to February 6, 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 February 8, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
 
     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. 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 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

     In the light of the positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Kowloon City District, Tai Po District, Wan Chai District and Central and Western District, the Home Affairs Department (including the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO), the Tai Po District Office (TPDO), the Wan Chai District Office (WCDO) and the Central and Western District Office (C&WDO)) today (February 6) distributed a total of about 41 900 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the districts.

     The KCDO today distributed a total of around 14 400 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Kai Ching Estate for voluntary testing through the property management company. The TPDO today also distributed a total of around 20 500 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Tai Yuen Estate, Eightland Gardens, Jade Plaza, Treasure Garden and Mei Sun Building in Tai Po for voluntary testing through their property management companies. Moreover, the WCDO and the C&WDO today distributed a total of around 7 000 rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in the vincinity of Peak Road, Magazine Gap Road and Cotton Tree Drive for voluntary testing through the property management companies, in the hope of identifying infected persons early, so as to better protect the infected persons and their families. However, the Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the Government’s compulsory testing requirement.

     For more information on the use of the rapid test kits, residents may refer to the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjLzD3-gab4.

     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.

      

     â€‹The Government yesterday (February 5) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” (declaration) effective from 7pm yesterday, 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) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government today (February 6) decided to extend the period of operation for Hing Tai House (See Annex) in the “restricted area” and aims at finishing the exercise at about 7.30am tomorrow (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.

     A Government spokesman said, “Recently, sewage discharged from Hing Tai House, Tai Hing Estate, was tested positive for COVID-19 and 11 preliminarily tested positive cases as well as one indeterminate case have been identified under the ‘restriction-testing declaration’ operation conducted yesterday, which is worrying. In view of the significant risk of infection at Hing Tai House, Tai Hing Estate, we consider it necessary to undertake determined action by extending the ‘restriction-testing declaration’ operation made earlier under Cap. 599J to February 7 to prevent the virus from further spreading.”

     The Government has set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and requested persons subject to testing to undergo testing as designated on February 5 and February 6. Arrangements have been made for persons subject to testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. As a mutant strain is involved, and having considered relevant infection risks, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.

     The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience for the public. We sincerely appeal for the co-operation of residents of Hing Tai House (including those who are at work and not currently at the premises) to return to their household and to comply with the testing arrangement. 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 will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially.”

     In order to maintain public and emergency services within the “restricted area”, the Government and relevant working staff (such as healthcare officers and other officers of the Hospital Authority, testing service providers engaged by the Government and cleaning service providers) are allowed to enter and leave the “restricted area” on condition that personal information and contact details are given as well as certain infection control instructions are followed (including undergoing testing before leaving the “restricted area” without the need to wait for the test results). In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”

     If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship for individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow those persons to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. Such persons must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and must leave their personal information for contact purposes.

     The Housing Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2129 8029) for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.

     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. 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 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

     The Government yesterday (February 5) 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 7pm yesterday, 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), as well as 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. 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.

     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring person who had been present at the above buildings for more than two hours from January 23 to February 5, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect to undergo compulsory testing on or before February 7, 2022.

     The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise in respect of Hing Cheung House “restricted area” at around 8am today (February 6) and carried out enforcement action in Hing Cheung House afterwards to ascertain that all people in Hing Cheung House had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation in respect of Hing Cheung House ended at around 11am today.

     In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised 230 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government provided simple food for persons subject to compulsory testing, including canned food, instant noodles and baked beans, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing.

     The Housing Department has 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 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 11am. Test records of 586 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Four 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 151 households at Hing Cheung House 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.

  

The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:

     The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) spokesperson noted that an Assistant Investigator of the Operations Department was yesterday (February 5) preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The case has yet to be confirmed by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and further instructions are awaiting.

     The ICAC officer concerned worked at the ICAC Building in North Point and last went to the office on January 28. He had wore a mask and followed the relevant disease prevention measures at work. In the 14 days before his case was preliminarily confirmed, the officer had no contact with members of the public when carrying out his duties.

     In accordance with the CHP’s guidelines, the ICAC has arranged thorough cleaning and disinfection of the area concerned at the ICAC Building. ICAC officers who had contacts with the officer concerned and those who worked on the same floor are undergoing COVID-19 testing. They will work from home while waiting for testing results. Staff redeployment has been made to ensure relevant services are not affected. 

     The ICAC has reminded all officers to pay attention to personal hygiene and reduce social contacts to minimise the risks of spreading COVID-19. Should they feel unwell, they should report the case and consult a doctor immediately.

     The ICAC will continue to strictly implement disease prevention measures during the epidemic, and will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP in taking appropriate follow-up actions. read more