The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Yan Chai Hospital made the following announcement today (January 18) regarding a patient who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19:
      
     A 79-year-old surgical male patient was admitted to the hospital for performing a colonscopy examination this morning. His admission screening sample for nucleic acid test was later reported as preliminary positive. He is now staying in isolation ward for treatment.
      
     The hospital commenced contact tracing immediately and initially identified a surgeon, who performed the colonoscopy examination without eye protection; and a nurse, who was at the vicinity of the patient while collecting the deep throat saliva but did not have eye protection in time, as close contacts. Besides, a patient who stayed with the patient concerned in the same side room was also preliminarily identified as close contact.
      
     Admission to the ward concerned has been suspended. The hospital will arrange other patients in the ward and staff to perform tests and will arrange thorough cleansing for the area concerned.

     â€‹The hospital reminded healthcare staff again to remain vigilant, amidst silent transmission chain appeared in community; and should wear proper personal protective equipment for performing high risk procedures with patients and when patients cannot wear masks.
           
     The hospital will continue the contact tracing and will communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     The Inland Revenue Department today (January 18) said the department was notified by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today that a person who visited the Central Enquiry Counter on the first floor of the Revenue Tower in Wan Chai on January 14 had been tested preliminary positive for COVID-19.

     The department completed thorough cleaning and sterilisation at the first floor of the Revenue Tower in accordance with the CHP's advice, and will arrange staff of the concerned office to undergo COVID-19 testing.

     The Central Enquiry Counter will continue to provide services as normal tomorrow (January 19). In view that a number of staff are required to undergo COVID-testing, members of the public should be prepared to experience a longer waiting time before they can be served at the counters. The department encourages the public to use its electronic services to handle their tax affairs as much as possible. A list of such services can be found in the department's website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/ese/index.htm.

     During the situation of COVID-19 infection, the department has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of all persons before their entry into the building, providing employees with masks and stepping up the cleaning and sterilising measures for the working environment.

     The department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP, actively co-operate with CHP's quarantine arrangements. The department has also reminded its staff to pay attention to personal hygiene and stay vigilant.

     In view of suspected silent transmission chains in several areas of Sham Shui Po district (including Tai Hang Tung Estate, Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Nam Cheong Street and Hing Wah Street) where risks of community transmission are higher, the Government urges residents and those working in relevant areas who are exposed to infection risks to undergo testing as soon as possible. The Government will set up additional service points tomorrow (January 19) to facilitate testing for residents and workers.
      
     In the coming few days, a total of eight service points will be available in Sham Shui Po district to provide free testing service for all local residents and those who work there to undergo compulsory and voluntary testing. Details of the service points for testing are as follows:
 
Community testing centre (CTC)
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• Pak Tin Community Hall (G/F, Pak Tin Community Complex on Pak Wan Street) (8am to 8pm)

 
Mobile specimen collection stations
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• Tai Hang Tung Community Centre (10am to 8pm)
• Maple Street Playground, Sham Shui Po (Junction of Cheung Sha Wan Road and Maple Street) (8am to 8pm)
• Lai Kok Community Hall (10am to 8pm)
• Cheung Sha Wan Playground (near Exit B of Cheung Sha Wan MTR Station) (10am to 8pm)
• Cheung Sha Wan Sports Centre (near Hing Wah Street) (9am to 9pm)
• Lai Chi Kok Park entrance (near Exit D of Mei Foo MTR Station) (9am to 9pm)
• Po On Road Playground (near Lei Cheng Uk Estate) (January 19: 10am to 9pm; January 20-21: 9am to 9pm)

  
     Apart from service points in the district, Sham Shui Po residents and those working in the district can also go to CTCs/mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable) across the city to receive free testing service. Members of the public may make good use of the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) and select suitable testing centre and time slot for testing with a view to minimising their waiting time at CTCs.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "The  Omicron variant has a high transmissibility. The Government is very concerned about the transmission risks in several areas of Sham Shui Po district and has therefore arranged eight service points for testing to enable local residents and those who work there to undergo testing on a voluntary basis. The Government will review the need to further extend opening dates and hours of the aforementioned specimen collection stations with regard to actual usage and demand."
 
     The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19. Furthermore, the Government strongly appeals to the community again to continue to refrain from participating in gatherings (including cross-family gatherings) in the near future.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 18) said as six cases tested positive (cases 13045, 13064, 13067, 13069, 13070 and 13071) and two cases tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus recently occurring at Tung Moon House, Tai Hang Tung Estate, Sham Shui Po, which involved units 14 on two different floors, the CHP is proactively following up to investigate whether the infections of the cases that tested preliminarily positive are related to the cases that tested positive earlier, so as to stop the potential risk of further spread of the virus.

     In view of case 13045 who tested positive earlier and resides at a unit 14 of Tung Moon House, Tai Hang Tung Estate, Sham Shui Po, the Government made a "restriction-testing declaration" for the building on January 15 and no case that tested positive was found. Five family members of case 13045 living together (cases 13064, 13067, 13069, 13070 and 13071) who were sent to a quarantine centre on the same day, tested positive subsequently. The CHP has found another two cases who tested preliminarily positive today involving a 42-year-old female resident (a housewife who is asymptomatic) and a 3-year-old girl (developed fever on January 16) in unit 14 on another floor of the building. They undergo testing in accordance with the relevant compulsory testing requirement.

     The CHP has co-ordinated with related government departments and experts and conducted a site inspection today of the floors and units concerned at Tung Moon House, Tai Hang Tung Estate to investigate and examine if environmental factors were involved in the infection of the two cases who tested preliminarily positive. The CHP took into account the opinions from experts and decided to carry out prudent measures on infection control. The DH will issue quarantine orders to asymptomatic residents of unit 14 on 1/F to 11/F of Tung Moon House, Tai Hang Tung Estate who lived there during the incubation period of the relevant cases and transfer them to a quarantine facility; symptomatic residents will be sent to the hospital for treatment. A total of 19 environmental samples were collected from the relevant units with the test results pending.

     The CHP reminded members of the public to ensure household environmental hygiene by maintaining drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) by pouring about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap). They should also pay attention to hygiene when using the toilet by putting the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs.

     In light of the case that tested positive earlier, persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of the relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).

     The CHP strongly reminded members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo the multiple tests on time as required. The compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well. The Government will seriously verify whether they have complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the 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 order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. Relevant officers of different government departments are empowered to perform certain functions under the relevant Regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), including requesting individuals to provide information and assistance when necessary. Any person who fails to comply with the relevant request commits an offence and would be liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000). The Government reiterates that the aim of issuing a compulsory testing notice is to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the community as soon as possible to protect overall public health and safety.

     Hong Kong and Chile signed an exchange of notes today (January 18) to confirm the updated commitments of both sides on trade in services under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and Chile, marking a new milestone in trade and investment co-operation between the two economies. 

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and the Vice Minister of Trade of Chile, Mr Rodrigo Yáñez, signed the exchange of notes at a virtual signing ceremony.

     Mr Yau noted that Chile is the first FTA partner of Hong Kong in Latin America. Since the FTA has entered into force in 2014, bilateral merchandise trade has been growing steadily at an average annualised rate of 18.2 per cent from 2015 to 2019, and has remained resilient amidst the pandemic which has brought unprecedented challenges to global trade.

     Mr Yau said, "I welcome the updated commitments, which are a testimony of the mutual and ongoing commitment of Hong Kong and Chile to a free and open trade and investment regime, amidst rising protectionism and uncertainties in the global trade environment. They represent a big boost of confidence to the rules-based trading system. The updates also demonstrate that the FTA is a vibrant and thriving platform for continuous trade liberalisation between our two sides."

     He said, "Premised on the existing services commitments of both sides under the FTA covering some 80 service sectors, the updated commitments will open up more service sectors, creating more opportunities for businesses and investors in Hong Kong and Chile. I look forward to boosting trade and investment flows between Hong Kong and Chile, especially during the post-pandemic economic recovery."

     In addition to improving its existing commitments in a wide variety of service sectors, Chile has made commitments in over 50 new service sectors, encompassing those priority service sectors in which Hong Kong has traditional strengths or has potential for priority development. These include professional and business services, technical testing and analysis services, convention services, computer and related services, communication services including audio-visual services, distribution services, educational services, and transport services such as maritime and logistics services. For these sectors, Hong Kong's service providers would be able to enjoy access to the Chilean market and treatment no less favourable than that for Chile's local service providers.   

     "Hong Kong's economy, driven by a strong recovery in trade, has rebounded after being hit by the pandemic. Despite that, Hong Kong still faces formidable challenges in global trade. The Government has been striving to open up new frontiers for Hong Kong's traders and service providers. I encourage them to make the best use of the updated commitments in developing their business in Chile, which is also a gateway to the Latin American markets," Mr Yau added.

     The updated commitments (details at www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkclfta/exchange_of_notes.html) will take effect after Hong Kong and Chile have completed all the necessary procedures. Details of the FTA, including the full text, are available on the Trade and Industry Department website (www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkclfta/index.html).

     Hong Kong has signed eight FTAs with 20 economies, namely the Mainland, the Macao Special Administrative Region, the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Australia, Chile, the four member states of the European Free Trade Association, Georgia and New Zealand, all of which have entered into force.