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).

     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.    

     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 Phase III, 51 Kin Wah Street, North Point, which involved B units  on two different floors, the CHP is proactively following up to investigate whether the infection of a case that tested preliminarily positive is related to the case that tested positive earlier, so as to stop the potential risk of further spread of the virus.

     In view of case 12985 who tested positive earlier and resides at Maple Gardens Phase III, the Government made a "restriction-testing declaration" for the building yesterday (January 11) and no case that tested positive was found. A household contact (an 83-year-old female) of case 12985, who was sent to a quarantine facility on January 8, tested preliminarily positive subsequently. The CHP has found another case who tested preliminarily positive yesterday involving a 32-year-old male resident in unit B on another floor of the building. He developed fever and upper respiratory tract infection symptoms on January 9 and sought medical attention at a hospital yesterday.

     The CHP has co-ordinated with related government departments and experts and conducted a site inspection today of the floors and units concerned at Maple Gardens Phase III to investigate and examine if environmental factors were involved in the infection of the case 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 B on all floors of Maple Gardens Phase III 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 22 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).

     â€‹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.

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 medical ward have been confirmed as carriers of Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter since January 4. Among them, a patient has been discharged, a patient in critical condition due to underlying disease was transferred to Pok Oi Hospital earlier for further treatment, and the other three patients are currently hospitalised for treatment under isolation and are in stable condition. 

     The following enhanced infection control measures have been implemented according to the established guidelines: 

     1. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned; 
     2. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients; and
     3. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures. 

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward concerned.

     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:
 

 
     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.