The Sai Kung District Office together with the Tseung Kwan O Police District and the Department of Health (DH) conducted an enforcement operation today (January 14) at a building in Tseung Kwan O, which was included in a compulsory testing notice earlier. The operation started at around 7am and ended at around 10.30am today.
        
     Starting from around 7am today, persons subject to compulsory testing of Block 6, On Ning Garden, 10 Sheung Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O, were requested to provide the SMS notification received through a mobile phone or related certification containing the results of COVID-19 tests, to show that they had taken such tests as required pursuant to the compulsory testing notice of the building within the specified period issued by the Government earlier on. The Government arranged for staff to verify the testing certifications of the persons subject to compulsory testing at the entrance/exit of the building, and conducted checks in the building to verify whether persons subject to compulsory testing had undergone testing in compliance with the requirement.
           
     During the operation, test records of around 430 persons were checked. Among them, 11 persons were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice. The Government has issued compulsory testing orders to them, requiring them to undergo testing within a specified period. Non-compliance with a compulsory testing order is an offence, and offenders are liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
           
     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. Persons subject to testing under a compulsory testing notice should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures, including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.
           
     The Government wishes to thank the many residents who had complied with the compulsory testing notice for their co-operation to fight against the virus together. The Government will continue to enforce the law strictly. All persons subject to compulsory testing should comply with the compulsory testing notice. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notice 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. Non-compliance with the order is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
           
     The Sai Kung District Office is grateful for the support and co-operation of the Police and the DH to enable the enforcement action to be carried out smoothly. The Government understands that the enforcement process may cause some inconvenience to the residents, but hopes that the residents can understand.

     In view of suspected silent transmission chains in Tuen Mun District, the Government urges residents and those working in Tuen Mun who are exposed to infection risks to undergo testing as soon as possible. The Home Affairs Department will distribute 3 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents of Tuen Mun District for free through Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link in the hope of identifying infected persons early, so as to safeguard their health and that of their families.
      
     Volunteers from Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link will help distribute the rapid test kits to residents, including elderly people in need, living in Tuen Mun District today (January 14) and will urge them to take the test by themselves, in the hope of identifying infected persons early. It should be noted that the Government does not accept rapid test kit testing as a recognised testing method for fulfilling the compulsory testing requirement. If feeling unwell (even if the symptoms are very mild), people should seek medical advice promptly and get tested under the instructions of a healthcare worker.
      
     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 that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.
      
     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 fight the virus together.   

     The Government announced today (January 14) the re-appointment of the Chairperson and six non-official members, as well as the appointment of two new members, namely Dr So Wing-yee and Mr Adrian Tam Kin, to the Women's Commission (WoC). Their two-year term will take effect from January 15, 2022.

     Ms Chan Yuen-han has been re-appointed as the Chairperson of the WoC. Ms Chan served the WoC as a member before taking up the chairmanship from January 2018. Under her leadership, the WoC has continued its dedicated efforts in advancing the development of women in Hong Kong and maintained close ties with women's groups and concerned stakeholders in promoting the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said, "Since its establishment in 2001, the WoC has spared no effort in promoting the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong and advising the Government on policies and initiatives on women's issues.

     "The re-appointed and newly appointed members come from a diverse background and have rich experience in their professions and community services. I hope that they will give valuable advice on the work of the WoC. Eighty-one per cent of non-official members of the WoC for the new term are female," Dr Law added.

     Dr Law also thanked the outgoing members, Ms Scarlett Pong Oi-lan and Dr Loletta So Kit-ying, for their contribution to the WoC.

     The membership of the WoC for the new term is as follows:

Non-official members
————————
Ms Chan Yuen-han (Chairperson)
Ms Susanna Chiu Lai-kuen
Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi
Ms Lam Wai-ling
Mrs Emily Tim-yi Lam Ho
Dr Kevin Lau Chung-hang
Ms Melaine Lee Kam-ha
Ms Elaine Lo Yuen-man
Professor Lui Yu-hon
Ms Winnie Ng Wing-mui
Mrs Katherine Ngan Ng Yu-ying
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Ms Cindy Pun Siu-fung
Ms Rigam Rai
Professor Sham Mai-har
Dr So Wing-yee
Mr Adrian Tam Kin
Miss Sherry Tsai Hiu-wai
Mr Walter Tsui Yu-hang
Mrs Viola Wong Ho Suk-ying
Dr Kitty Wu Kit-ying

Ex-officio members
———————-
Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare or representative (Vice-Chairperson)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs or representative
Director of Social Welfare or representative

     The Labour Department (LD) today (January 14) reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to take note of and comply with the compulsory testing notices (CTN) to undergo free COVID-19 testing on time, and appealed to them to comply with social distancing measures announced by the Government.

     An LD spokesman said, "According to the CTNs issued by the Government, any persons who had been present at specified places during specified date(s) and time period(s) should undergo the multiple tests on time as required. The above compulsory testing requirement also applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course. The LD has disseminated the latest information to FDHs through various channels, including Consulates-General of FDH-sending countries in Hong Kong, FDH and employer groups, employment agency associations, etc. The LD calls on employers to remind FDHs who had been present at specified places during specified date(s) and time period(s) to undergo testing. FDHs can undergo the tests at community testing centres or mobile specimen collection stations. Details of compulsory testing matters can be found at the Government's thematic webpage
     (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/compulsory-testing.html). Persons may also click here for the CTNs."
      
     The Government will strictly enforce CTNs. Any person who fails to comply with a CTN commits an offence and may be fined 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 would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The spokesman continued, "According to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I), a person who participates in a prohibited group gathering of more than four persons in public places or fails to wear a mask in accordance with the requirement may be charged a fixed penalty of $5,000. On January 15 and 16, the LD will, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, conduct mobile broadcasts in multiple languages at popular FDH gathering places, including Central, Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Tsuen Wan Park, the footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, etc, to call upon FDHs to comply with the relevant requirements. Relevant departments will take enforcement action against those who still refuse to abide by the regulations after repeated reminders.

     "We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including those in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and holidays, and stay at home for rest as far as possible in order to safeguard their personal health and reduce the risk of infection. We also encourage employers and FDHs to discuss rest day arrangements, so as to minimise the health risk of participating in social activities."

     Employers are reminded that they must not compel their FDHs to work on a rest day. An employer who compels his or her FDH to work on a rest day without the agreement of the FDH, or fails to grant rest days to the FDH, is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000.

     Moreover, according to Clause 3 of the Standard Employment Contract, all FDHs working in Hong Kong must work and reside in the employer's residence during their employment period. If an employer breaches the above Clause and/or fails to provide the FDH with free, suitable and furnished accommodation, it will be one of the factors in the Immigration Department's consideration of the employer's future applications for employing an FDH. The adverse record may lead to any such application being refused. Furthermore, in case employers and/or FDHs knowingly furnish a false representation/statement to immigration officers in the course of a visa application, including the intended accommodation arrangement, they may be subject to criminal investigation and prosecution of the relevant offence.

     The LD has issued letters to all employment agencies (EAs) providing FDH placement services to remind them that arrangements should not be made for any FDH under employment to stay at a place other than the employer's residence, including the boarding facilities provided by the EAs. The LD also reminded those EAs that if it is necessary to provide boarding facilities to FDHs who have ceased to be employed, they should avoid arranging FDHs to stay in overcrowded environments and ensure that appropriate infection control measures are in place at their boarding facilities.

     All Hong Kong residents, including FDHs, can get vaccinated for COVID-19 free of charge. For booking and details, please visit the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). The Government appeals to FDHs to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others.

     Should FDHs and their employers have any enquiries on employment matters, they may contact the LD through the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823), by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk or through the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).

     The Government gazetted today (January 14) the proposed installation of noise barriers on New Clear Water Bay Road near Choi Wan Estate to mitigate traffic noise.

     Details of the proposed works are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Wong Tai Sin Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, 
Unit 201, 2/F, Lung Cheung Office Block,
138 Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon

Kwun Tong Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Eastcore, 
398 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

District Lands Office, Kowloon East and Kowloon West,
4/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 
11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon

     The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan are available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.

     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau's drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than March 15, 2022.