The Government announced today (January 19) the gazettal of extension of existing social distancing measures for 14 days from January 21 till February 3.
　　
     In view of the epidemic developments in Hong Kong, the Chief Executive announced on January 14 the extension of the current set of tightened social distancing measures for two weeks. This arrangement aims to reduce public traffic, social functions and crowd gatherings to the greatest extent, with a view to curbing the spread of the virus in the community through discouraging members of the public from going out and joining activities unnecessarily.
 
     "Hong Kong is now facing the imminent threat of both the Delta and Omicron mutant strains spreading in the community. We strongly urge residents to reduce social contact and avoid gatherings among families during the festive season in order to contain the pandemic," a Government spokesman said.
 
     Relevant measures will apply to all catering business and scheduled premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). Specific measures (details in Annex 1) include:
 
(I) Catering business
 
(1) From 6pm to 4.59am of the subsequent day, save for specific premises (details in Annex 3), a person responsible for carrying on a catering business must cease selling or supplying food or drink for consumption on the premises of the business, and close any premises or part of the premises (whichever is applicable) on which food or drink is sold or supplied by the business for consumption on the premises. The premises concerned may still sell or supply food and/or drink for takeaway services and deliveries. A person responsible for carrying on a catering business is also required to put up a notice at the entrance to the catering premises to remind customers that food or drink should not be consumed in areas adjacent to the catering premises. The maximum number of persons per table for catering premises under Types B, C and D Modes of Operation will be reduced to two, four and six respectively, whereas the maximum number of customers per premises and per banquet will remain unchanged.
 
(2) No live performance and dancing activity is allowed in catering premises. Karaoke or mahjong-tin kau activity should also be suspended therein.
 
(3) Other requirements and restrictions on catering premises will remain in force, including that all customers, when they are away from the table, must not consume food or drink and must wear a mask, and they must scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code using the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application on their mobile phones/other mobile devices before entering the premises (excluding persons who only order takeaway).
 
(4) Bars or pubs will be closed.
 
(II) Scheduled premises
 
(5) Except for club houses and hotels or guesthouses, all scheduled premises regulated under Cap. 599F as listed below must suspend operation:
(a) Amusement game centres;
(b) Bathhouses;
(c) Fitness centres;
(d) Places of amusement;
(e) Places of public entertainment;
(f) Premises (commonly known as party rooms) that are maintained or intended to be maintained for hire for holding social gatherings;
(g) Beauty parlours;
(h) Establishments (commonly known as clubs or nightclubs) that are open late into the night, usually for drinking, and dancing or other entertainment;
(i) Karaoke establishments;
(j) Mahjong-tin kau premises;
(k) Massage establishments;
(l) Sports premises;
(m) Swimming pools;
(n) cruise ships (i.e. suspension of "cruise-to-nowhere" itineraries); and
(o) event premises (except for wedding ceremonies or specified business meetings subject to a headcount limit).
 
(6) For club houses and hotels or guesthouses, managers must comply with the relevant restrictions under Cap. 599F, including closing the facilities therein that are being used or operated as premises mentioned in points (4) and (5) above, and the catering premises therein must comply with all applicable requirements, including that of suspension of dine-in service during dinnertime.
 
(III) Mask-wearing requirement
 
(7) The mandatory mask-wearing requirement under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) will be extended for a period of 14 days from January 21 to February 3. A person must wear a mask all the time when the person is boarding or on board a public transport carrier, is entering or present in an MTR paid area, or is entering or present in a specified public place (i.e. all public places, save for outdoor public places in country parks and special areas as defined in section 2 of the Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208)).
 
(8) Under Cap. 599I, if a person does not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement, an authorised person may deny that person from boarding a public transport carrier or entering the area concerned, as well as require that person to wear a mask and disembark from the carrier or leave the said area. A person in contravention of the relevant provision commits an offence and the maximum penalty is a fine at level 3 ($10,000). In addition, authorised public officers may issue fixed penalty notices to persons who do not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement and such persons may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty at $5,000.

(IV) Cessation of mass events to avoid group gatherings
 
(9) Unless exempted, the prohibition on group gatherings of more than four persons in public places will continue during the 14-day period from January 21 to February 3. The requirement is also applicable to group gatherings in catering business and scheduled premises regulated under Cap. 599F in which the relevant requirements or restrictions are not complied with.
 
(10) Any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering; organises a prohibited group gathering; owns, controls or operates the place of such a gathering; and knowingly allows the taking place of such gathering commits an offence under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. Persons who participate in a prohibited group gathering may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty at $5,000.
 
(11) All local tours will continue to be suspended.
 
     "Upon expiry of the existing social distancing measures, the Government will consider relaxing the measures on the basis of a 'vaccine bubble' in an orderly manner. Staff members of the relevant premises will be required to have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while the customers and users of premises where they are required to receive vaccination for entry will be required to have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The details will be announced later. To protect public health, we urge residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible and build a barrier against the epidemic for Hong Kong together," the spokesman said.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Segovia Province of Castilla y León in Spain, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 770 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 1.76 million poultry eggs from Spain in the first nine months of last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Spanish authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Government announced today (January 19) that in view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Papua New Guinea and Suriname will be specified as Group A specified places from 0.00am on January 22 to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.
 
     To manage and prevent the importation risks posed by Omicron cases, the Government continues to employ the most stringent measures to guard against importation of cases. Overseas places where Omicron cases have been detected that may lead to local transmission and exportation of cases will be specified as Group A specified places. Noting that the detection of Omicron cases was confirmed in Papua New Guinea and Suriname, the Government will specify them as Group A specified places from 0.00am on January 22. Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised vaccination record. They will have to undergo compulsory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel for 21 days upon returning to Hong Kong, with six tests to be conducted during quarantine, followed by compulsory testing in a community testing centre on the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong.
 
     Details on the relevant boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for respective specified places can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html.
 
     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures.

     Pursuant to the earlier announcement to launch the fifth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (Fund) to provide a one-off subsidy to business premises which have been directed to suspend business operations since January 7, 2022, the Government will launch the Subsidy Scheme for Beauty Parlours, Massage Establishments and Party Rooms 2022 (the Scheme).

     As multiple types and a great number of business premises will be covered under the Scheme, in line with the arrangement in the previous three rounds, a dedicated website (bmpsubsidy.gov.hk) will be set up to receive applications. The online application system will facilitate submission of applications by concerned operators and efficient processing of applications and disbursement of subsidies.
 
     The Scheme Secretariat is now pressing ahead with the preparatory work. Applications under the Scheme will open on February 7 (Monday).
 
     The application arrangements of the Scheme are as follows:

Beneficiaries
 
     Beauty parlours, massage establishments and party rooms (including local pleasure vessels let for hire or reward (pleasure vessels)) that have suspended operations since January 7 pursuant to the closure order issued by the Government under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) will be eligible for the Scheme. The Scheme is also applicable to beauty parlours, massage establishments and party rooms operated by social enterprises (SEs).

Subsidy amount
 
     Each eligible beauty parlour or massage establishment will receive a one-off subsidy depending on its number of workers:
 

 
     The maximum subsidy amount for beauty parlour or massage establishment chain stores operated by a single entity under the same business registration is $1.5 million.
 
     Each eligible party room or pleasure vessel will receive a one-off subsidy of $20,000.

Application period
 
     The online application system will commence operation at 9am on February 7 (Monday). The deadline for application is 11.59pm on February 20 (Sunday).

Application methods
 

• Beauty parlours, massage establishments and party rooms with a business registration should file their applications through the Scheme's dedicated online application website (bmpsubsidy.gov.hk) within the application period.
• SE operators of beauty parlours, massage establishments and party rooms without a business registration should submit their applications via the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
• Owners of pleasure vessels do not need to use the online application system to file an application. The Marine Department will issue a notification letter to the owners of all eligible pleasure vessels owners by late January. The Department will handle the relevant procedures and the disbursement of the subsidy. 

Information and enquiries
 
     A dedicated telephone hotline (1836 188) and email (info@bmpsubsidy.hk) will commence operation at 9am on January 26 (Wednesday) to handle enquiries on the details of the Scheme. Information on the Scheme will also be available at the hotline's voice response system from 2pm on January 24 (Monday).

Disbursement of subsidy
 
     The Scheme is expected to benefit about 13 000 eligible premises (including pleasure vessels). A sum of $318 million has been earmarked under the Fund for the Scheme. The Scheme Secretariat will give priority to the processing of applications from successful applicants in the previous three rounds of the Scheme, with a view of disbursing the subsidy from mid-February onwards.

     The Government today (January 19) 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 6.30pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Kwun Tong (i.e. Tower 3, Grand Central, 33 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, excluding the shops located on first floor and second floor of Yue Man Square (YM²). 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 6.30am tomorrow (January 20).
      
     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'. As a case tested preliminarily positive who has lived in the abovementioned building was detected today, and the preliminary test result involved a mutant strain, the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, so the Government decided to make a 'restriction-testing declaration' for the relevant area after the test result was found to be positive."
      
     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 12am 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 6.30am 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 6, 2022 to January 19, 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 January 21, 2022. 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.
      
     In addition, in accordance with the latest arrangement, persons who resided in the same building as the confirmed local case carrying variants of concern are required to undergo compulsory testing on days 3, 7, 12 and 19 counting from the day subsequent to that when the relevant confirmed case last stayed in that building before being admitted to hospital for treatment or leaving Hong Kong.
      
     The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2835 1473) which starts operation at 6.30pm today 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 "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.