Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited the COVID-19 vaccination day of an elderly home in Mong Kok this morning (January 5) to take a closer look at the implementation of the Assess and Vaccinate Programme for residents’ early vaccination. The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, also joined the visit.

     Accompanied by the elderly home operator, Dr Law first chatted with residents and healthcare workers. He then learnt more about the preparatory work prior to the vaccination day, including health assessments for unvaccinated residents conducted by the Visiting Medical Officer (VMO). Upon confirmation that the residents are suitable for receiving the Sinovac vaccine and their family members do not clearly oppose vaccination, VMOs will provide vaccination under residents’ informed consent or that of their legal guardians. About 80 residents received vaccination in this round via the above programme. Together with residents vaccinated earlier, more than 70 per cent of residents in the elderly home have received vaccination.

     Under the Assess and Vaccinate Programme, VMOs are arranged to carry out health assessments and vaccination at residential care homes (RCHs) for the elderly and persons with disabilities in various districts. The vaccination arrangements have been smooth so far and no residents have complained of feeling apparently unwell. Apart from outreach medical practitioners/VMOs arranged by RCHs, the Government will also arrange for health and medical organisations to provide health assessments and vaccination under the programme. From the implementation of the Assess and Vaccinate Programme on September 29, 2021, till January 2, 2022, about 5 300 residents had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine through the outreach services.

     Dr Law stressed, “In the face of the more transmissible mutant strains, relying on younger citizens alone to get vaccinated in building an immune barrier within the household is no longer sufficient to protect our elderly. The elderly’s vaccination therefore provides them with the highest, most prudent and most effective protection. This programme provides health consultation by doctors to residents and their families in need so that they can better understand the vaccine effectiveness to allay their concerns. We appeal to the management of RCHs for active participation in the programme to provide early vaccination and enhanced protection for residents. This will reduce their risk of getting seriously ill or death upon infection.” read more

     The Land Registry today (January 5) released its statistics for 2021.   Land registration ——————- * The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration for 2021 wa… read more

     The second COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Station (MVS) will commerce operation on Friday (January 7) and provide vaccination services at Wong Tai Sin Temple Square for three consecutive days (from January 7 to 9) to enable people in t… read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (January 5) that Hong Kong residents born in 1983, 1984, 1987 or 1988 and holding the old form of smart identity card should bring along their identity cards and apply for new smart identity cards in person at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) (see Annex I) from January 19 (Wednesday) to April 2, 2022 (Saturday). The SIDCCs are open from 8am to 10pm and from Monday to Saturday (except public holidays).

     The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart identity cards 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.
 
     To avoid the gathering of crowds, the ImmD appeals to the applicants to make appointment bookings via the ImmD mobile application, the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. To download the ImmD mobile application or to make an appointment booking via the Internet, please scan the QR codes (see Annex II). The ImmD also appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the mobile application or the Internet in order to enjoy faster identity card replacement service.
 
     For this Replacement Exercise, the ImmD is also implementing 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.

     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 as early as possible. Eligible Hong Kong residents who are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period can apply within 30 days upon their return to Hong Kong.

     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

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 5) that apart from Badminton Court No. 2, the Activity Room and Squash Court No. 2, which will remain temporarily closed until further notice, other fac… read more