The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (December 30) said that it is investigating two preliminary positive import-related cases of COVID-19 and a preliminary positive imported case.

     The first import-related preliminary positive case involves a 76-year-old male patient living at Wing Chak House, Chak On Estate in Shek Kip Mei. He is a non-household family member of the earlier confirmed imported case 12611 (confirmed to be carrying Omicron mutant strain). His test conducted on December 28 was negative. After case 12611 tested positive, he was sent to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre (PBQC) for quarantine on December 28. His specimen collected on December 29 tested preliminarily positive with a Ct value larger than 30 involving N501Y and T478K mutant strains. He remains asymptomatic. He is retired and has no recent travel history. The patient received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comiraty) on July 7 and 28 in Hong Kong. He had lunch with case 12611 and another woman from around 1.30pm to 3pm on December 27 at Moon Palace, Shop G25, Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong. The woman was sent to the PBQC for quarantine on December 28 and her specimen collected on December 29 tested negative.

     The second import-related case involves a 34-year-old male patient living in a village house in Tuen Tsz Wai, Lam Tei, Tuen Mun with no recent travel history. He had meal at Moon Palace with three family members from around 2.30pm to 4pm on December 27. He went to a community testing centre for test in accordance with the relevant requirement of the compulsory testing notice (CTN) on December 28 and tested negative. He developed cough on December 29 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital by Light Rail today. His specimen collected tested preliminarily positive with a Ct value of about 30 involving N501Y and T478K mutant strains. The patient received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comiraty) on June 13 and July 4 in Hong Kong. He works at construction sites and last went to work on December 29.

     Noting the above cases, the CHP has immediately conducted a field inspection today together with officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to evaluate the possibility of transmission at Moon Palace and investigate whether the case infections are related in order to stop the potential risk of a further spread of the virus. According to the investigation at this stage, it could not be ruled out that the 76-year-old and 34-year-old male patients were infected by case 12611 during the meal at Moon Palace on December 27. Whole genome sequencing analysis would be needed to ascertain the connection of the three cases. The CHP collected 44 environmental samples during the inspection with the test results pending. The restaurant was requested to be closed for carrying out thorough cleansing and disinfection and improving the air change of the premises.

     The Government has earlier exercised power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to require any person who had been present at Moon Palace from 1pm to 3pm on December 27 (including but not limited to visitors and workers), have to undergo testing by December 30. The CHP is also arranging all the staff of the restaurant to conduct compulsory quarantine. The CHP appeals to those who had meals at Moon Palace from 1pm to 3pm on December 27 to call the CHP's hotlines at 2125 1111 or 2125 1122 as soon as possible to facilitate the CHP's epidemiological investigations and contact tracing.

     The third preliminary positive case is an imported case involving a 47-year-old male who lives in Block A, Hoi Tao Building, 7-11 Belchers Street, Kennedy Town. He is an aircrew member and departed for the United States (US) on December 22 by flight CX840 after he tested negative for COVID-19 on December 20 before his departure. He is a co-worker of an earlier confirmed imported case 12610 (confirmed to be carrying Omicron mutant strain) and they arrived Hong Kong on December 25 by flight CX843 together from the US. His specimen collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested negative for COVID-19. The patient underwent medical surveillance and regular compulsory testing in accordance with the relevant requirements for exempted persons, during which he tested negative on December 27. After case 12610 tested positive, he was sent to the PBQC for quarantine on December 28 and tested preliminarily positive on December 29 with a Ct value of about 25 involving N501Y mutant strain. He remains asymptomatic. The patient received three doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comiraty) on March 17, April 7 and December 16 in Hong Kong.

     As the aforementioned cases may carry the Omicron mutant strain, the Government has made "restriction-testing declaration" tonight for the buildings where the 76-year-old male patient (lives in Wing Chak House, Chak On Estate in Shek Kip Mei) and the 47-year-old male patient (lives in Block A, Hoi Tao Building, 7-11 Belchers Street, Kennedy Town) resided and persons who resided or worked at the buildings will be subject to increased compulsory testing frequency. The other floors of the village house where the 34-year-old male patient resides will be included in a CTN. The places where the three cases had visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will also be included in a CTN. Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date. An epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the cases will continue.

     The spokesman for the CHP said, "The Government has remained vigilant and has been closely monitoring the latest scientific data on mutant strains as well as the epidemic situation of various places. The most stringent anti-epidemic measures will be implemented to prevent the mutant strain from spreading in the local community."

     â€‹At the moment, the adverse impact on the epidemic situation caused by the newly emerged mutant strains is not fully known yet, but vaccination is still essential to prevent severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 infection. The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

     The Government today (December 30) 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 10pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Kennedy Town (i.e. Block A, Hoi Tao Building, 7-11 Belcher's Street, Kennedy Town. 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 (December 31).
      
     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'. As a preliminary positive case 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 1.30am 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.
      
     Persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from December 28 to December 30, 2021, and are able to provide the SMS notification through a mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, are not required to take the test again. However, they are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. Also, 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 December 9 to December 30, 2021, 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 1, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons are also required to undergo testing.
      
     In addition, in accordance with the latest arrangement, persons who resided in the same building as the preliminary case 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 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 Government announced today (December 30) that in view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Belarus, Curaçao and Vietnam will be specified as Group A specified places from 0.00am on January 2, 2022, to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.
 
     To manage and prevent the importation risks posed by Omicron cases, the Government will continue to employ the most stringent measures to guard against importation of cases. Overseas places where Omicron cases have been detected that may lead to local transmission and exportation of cases will be specified as Group A specified places. Noting that the detection of Omicron cases was confirmed in Belarus, Curaçao and Vietnam, the Government will specify them as Group A specified places from 0.00am on January 2, 2022. Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised vaccination record. They will have to undergo compulsory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel for 21 days upon returning to Hong Kong, with six tests to be conducted during quarantine, followed by compulsory testing in a community testing centre on the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong.
 
     Details on the relevant boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for respective specified places can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html.
 
     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Passing-out Parade cum 60th Anniversary Grand Parade of the Immigration Department (ImmD) today (December 30) to review 171 officers on parade, including 45 Immigration Officers and 126 Immigration Assistants.
      
     As the first disciplined service to introduce Chinese-style footdrill, the ImmD adopted a totally Chinese style for the flag raising ceremony and the footdrill performance of the 60th Anniversary Grand Parade. In the Chinese-style footdrill performance, the parade marched in step and lined up to form the numerals "1961" to represent the year of establishment of the ImmD, the abbreviation for the department "IMMD", and the Chinese numerals "60" to symbolise the ImmD's 60 years of serving the Hong Kong community. In addition, the youth were also engaged in the parade. Members of the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) marched into the venue in the Chinese-style footdrill performance, holding the national, regional and departmental flags, which were taken over by the Flag Party to perform a Chinese-style flag raising ceremony, with the Immigration Band playing the national anthem live and guests rising to sing.
      
     In her speech, Mrs Carrie Lam said despite the many challenges over the years, the ImmD remained dauntless and forged ahead bravely, tiding over one difficulty after another with positive attitude and professionalism. She also commended the ImmD for its remarkable achievements in the past six decades, repeatedly winning great acclaim from citizens and visitors. For instance, the Next Generation Electronic Passport System was given the Award of the Year at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2021 in recognition of the ImmD's efforts and contributions in harnessing information technology to provide quality public service experience for the community.
      
     She also appreciated the ImmD's incorporation of an element of youth engagement in the parade, which reflected its active role in promoting youth training and its dedication to nurturing new blood who had positive energy and had aspirations for serving the community and to ensure passing on the baton to the new generation.
      
     Lastly, Mrs Carrie Lam called on passing-out officers to stay true to their original aspirations and founding mission, ride out difficulties, and serve Hong Kong and contribute to the motherland with all their efforts. She hoped that the ImmD would continue to uphold the principles of putting people first and striving for excellence, and make sustained efforts to expand its scope of services and enhance the existing services in support of the sustainable development of the country as well as Hong Kong.   

                    

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session today (December 30) on the quarterly land sale programme for January to March 2022:
 
Reporter: How do the Government arrive at the new size limit? Do you expect that the new policy will make it harder for people to get on the property ladder? Is the Government planning to apply this limit to all development projects in Hong Kong?
 
Secretary for Development: In reaching the figure of 26 square metres, we have first looked at the subsidised housing project on Anderson Road. In that case, the minimum flat size is 23 square metres, so it is basically 10 per cent above that. Given the position of private housing on the home ownership ladder, which is the next rung up, we do believe it is appropriate for us to set a slightly bigger minimum size. The other factor we have considered is that according to the figures provided by the Rating and Valuation Department, for the past 5 years, if we look at the proportion of private housing unit supply, those that is smaller than 26 square metres in salable area is about 13 per cent. So about one-eighth of the private housing supply will be impacted by our new measure. We think is about the right balance, so that is why we choose the figure of 26 square metres in salable area as the minimum size.
 
     With regard to the coverage, it applies to Government land sale projects. If it works, we believe this requirement will continue in the 2022-23 land sale programme. We also believe that the MTR Corporation Limited is likely to also follow the Government’s practice. With regard to Urban Renewal Authority’s projects, they have already adopted a higher minimum size which we do not think we should intervene. As for existing housing stocks, the existing size is their existing size.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)