Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs today (January 12) arrested a male director cum salesperson of a renovation company suspected of having applied false trade descriptions to the renovation service he supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a renovation company director cum salesperson had made false claims to a customer that the tailor-made furniture included in the renovation service supplied would be made according to the specifications designated by the customer. However, significant gaps from those specified in the contract were found later by the customer.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 49-year-old male director of the renovation company concerned.

     An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

     The Government today (January 12) 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, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Yau Tong (i.e. Maya Tower 1, 8 Shung Shan Street, Yau Tong. 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 7am tomorrow (January 13).
      
     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 7am 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 3, 2022 to January 12, 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 14, 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 case tested preliminarily positive carrying variant of concern suspected to be Omicron are required to undergo compulsory testing on days 2, 3, 4, 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 7pm 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.     read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 12) said as one case tested positive and two cases tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus recently occurring at Maple Gardens Ph… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The spokesperson for Tin Shui Wai Hospital made the following announcement today (January 12):       Five male patients (aged 68 to 83) in a medi… read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (January 12) that the fifth cycle of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise (Replacement Exercise) will commence on April 4, 2022.

     The Secretary for Security has made an Amendment Order to announce the call-up programme of the fifth cycle of the Replacement Exercise. The details are as follows:
 

Eligible persons	Application period
Holders of the old form of smart identity cards born in 1989, 1990 or 1991	April 4 – June 10, 2022
Holders of the old form of smart identity cards born in 1992, 1993, 1994 or 1995	June 11 – September 7, 2022
Holders of the old form of smart identity cards born in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 or 2000	September 8 – December 10, 2022
Holders of the old form of smart identity cards born in 1954 or before	April 4, 2022 – January 14, 2023

 
     The Amendment Order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on January 19, 2022, for negative vetting.

     Moreover, the ImmD spokesman reminded the public that for Hong Kong residents born in 1980, 1981 or 1982, their specified period for identity card replacement will end on January 18, 2022 (Tuesday). Those who have not yet applied for a new smart identity card should do so at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) (see Annex I) as early as possible. Persons being called up before and are unable to replace their Hong Kong identity cards (HKICs) within their specified period due to the epidemic or other reasons shall apply for HKIC replacement at the SIDCCs immediately.

     The Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who are required to apply for a new smart identity card in person at the SIDCCs during specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents who are permitted to take up employment, make investment, reside or study in Hong Kong. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up periods, they need not rush back to Hong Kong to replace their identity cards. They can apply within 30 days upon their return to Hong Kong.

     To avoid the gathering of crowds, the ImmD appeals to the applicants to make appointments via the ImmD mobile application, the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. Residents may also scan the QR codes at Annex II to download the mobile application or to make an appointment for identity card replacement via the Internet. The ImmD also appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointments through the mobile application or the Internet for faster identity card replacement service. Applicants are required to bring along their old form of smart identity cards when they proceed to the SIDCCs.

     For this Replacement Exercise, the ImmD has implemented a caring arrangement under which each eligible applicant for identity card replacement may bring along up to two family members or friends aged 65 or above and two persons with disabilities to replace their identity cards together during the same visit to an SIDCC. Starting from April 4, 2022, all eligible applicants aged 65 or above may choose to visit an SIDCC on their own or with an eligible applicant for identity card replacement.

     For details of the Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the ImmD’s enquiry hotline at 2824 6111. read more