The Chief Executive in Council has authorised the proposed road works for the Queensway Plaza Redevelopment. The notice was gazetted today (December 24).

     Details of the works are set out in the Annex. 

     The Government today (December 24) announced that the 43rd round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly.
 
     In accordance with section 10(1) of the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), the Secretary for Food and Health issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday (December 23), requiring persons who are employed by and will be on duty at RCHEs, RCHDs, nursing homes and day service units attached to the premises of residential care homes during the period from January 5 to 11, 2022, or who will provide services to residents or users through hire-of-service contracts with residential care homes and the aforementioned units during that period (including full-time, part-time and relief staff), to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 during the period from December 29, 2021, to January 4, 2022, according to the requirements and procedure set out in the notice (the Specified Test). The samples must be collected by using combined nasal and throat swabs and must not be taken by the person to be tested. However, persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course (i.e. received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the end of the testing period) are not required to undergo the Specified Test. Persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course in places outside Hong Kong (i.e. received the recommended dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine as stipulated in relevant guidelines at least 14 days before the end of the testing period, and the vaccine used is included on the list of vaccines recognised for specified purposes as published on www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/list_of_recognised_covid19_vaccines.pdf), are also not required to undergo the Specified Test.
 
     The staff of the aforementioned institutions may choose the following means to undergo the Specified Test:
 
(1) To undergo the Specified Test in any of the Community Testing Centres (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en), Temporary Testing Centres (if any) (see the list at www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_supportser/sub_ttc), or mobile specimen collection stations (if any) (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) in accordance with the instructions given by the staff at the centre/station;
 
(2) To have a sample collected by a healthcare professional or trained personnel as arranged by institution operators at a laboratory listed on the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf); or
 
(3) To self-arrange testing provided by a laboratory listed on the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" at their own expense (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf) and the sample through a combined nasal and throat swab must not be taken by the person himself or herself.
 
     Any person who fails to comply with the testing notice commits an offence and may be subject to a fixed penalty of $5,000. He or she 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.
 
     A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said that the SWD and the Department of Health would issue letters to institutions to inform them of the relevant arrangements and requirements. The spokesman reminded that staff of the said institutions who would undergo testing at community testing centres should make an advance booking via the community testing centre booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk) for the free testing service. In addition, institution operators should remind their staff members to properly keep the SMS notifications of their test results or their test result reports.
 
     Institution operators are required to keep records of their staff having received the Specified Test and the results within the time frame specified by the Government. They are also required to keep the list of staff members who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course. Institution operators also have to co-operate with Checking Officers (Compulsory Testing) of the SWD who are enforcing the Regulation at residential care homes.
 
     The SWD spokesman said that starting from the 26th round of compulsory testing, staff members who have not been vaccinated and do not have medical certificates certifying that they are unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination owing to health reasons have to undergo compulsory testing at their own expense. The Government will continue to monitor the epidemic situation and make adjustments to the aforementioned testing policy after taking the overall anti-epidemic measures into account. Although staff members who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course are exempted from the regular compulsory testing, they can still receive free testing if they voluntarily choose to undergo the test for the time being.

     The Transport Department (TD) published a Gazette notice today (December 24) to invite applications for passenger service licences for the operation of two packages of public light bus (scheduled) routes (green minibus routes) in the New Territories and Kowloon.

     The two packages (covering a total of three routes) are:

(1) between Sheung Shui (San Fat Street) and Sha Tin (Yuen Chau Kok); and

(2) between Whampoa Garden and Festival Walk Public Transport Interchange; and
     between Whampoa Garden and Festival Walk Public Transport Interchange (supplementary service).
      
     Application forms are obtainable free of charge from the following TD offices:
      
(a) TD New Territories Regional Office, 7/F, Mongkok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Kowloon;
(b) TD Urban (Hong Kong) Regional Office, 37/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; and
(c) TD Hong Kong Licensing Office, 3/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong.

     Applicants should refer to the details of the public light bus (scheduled) routes and "Guidance Notes for Applicants" attached in the application form when completing the application form.

     Completed application forms and supporting documents (one original and seven photocopies) must be submitted in a plain white envelope sealed and marked on the outside of the envelope with "Application for Passenger Service Licence(s) in Respect of the Packages of Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Routes Gazetted in December 2021" and placed in the TD Tender Box located at the reception counter of the TD Headquarters at 10/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, before noon on February 18, 2022 (Friday). Applications by any other means or submitted late will not be considered.

     The Government announced today (December 24) the appointment of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and four new members, and the re-appointment of five incumbent members to the Toys and Children's Products Safety Appeal Board Panel for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2022. 
 
     Miss Abigail Wong Kei-yee and Miss Queenie Fiona Lau are appointed as the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Panel respectively.
 
     The new members are Ms Stephanie Hung Yu-jie, Dr Mak Shu-lun, Miss Tse Pui-pui and Miss Wong Men-chu. The re-appointed incumbent members are Mr Chan Ming-kei, Mr Desmond Cheung Chung-fu, Ms Pauline Lo Po-lin, Professor Shum Ho-cheung and Mr Jerome Wong Ching-long.
 
     Established under section 15 of the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance, the Toys and Children's Products Safety Appeal Board Panel is responsible for hearing appeals against enforcement decisions or actions taken by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise under the Ordinance.
 
     The Panel's membership with effect from January 1, 2022, will be as follows:
 
Chairman
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Miss Abigail Wong Kei-yee
 
Deputy Chairman
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Miss Queenie Fiona Lau
 
Members
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(1) Scientists or technologists with relevant expertise in toys or children's products
Dr Mak Shu-lun
Professor Shum Ho-cheung
Miss Tse Pui-pui
 
(2) Persons from the toys or children’s products industry
Mr Chan Ming-kei
Mr Desmond Cheung Chung-fu
Miss Wong Men-chu
 
(3) General public
Ms Stephanie Hung Yu-jie
Ms Pauline Lo Po-lin
Mr Jerome Wong Ching-long                   

     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (January).

     Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing areas before and during firing practice. For their safety, people are advised not to enter the firing area.

     Following are the dates and times for the firing practice sessions in January 2022:

San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range
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Tsing Shan Firing Range
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