The Yau Tsim Mong District Office together with the Office of the Licensing Authority of the Home Affairs Department, Tsim Sha Tsui Police District, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS), conducted an enforcement operation today (February 17) at two buildings in Tsim Sha Tsui, which were included in compulsory testing notices earlier. The operation started at around 7.20am and ended at around 11am today.
Starting from around 7.20am today, residents of Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, 83-97 Nathan Road/36-50 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mirador Mansion, 58 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, were requested to provide the SMS notification received through a mobile phone or related certification containing the results of COVID-19 tests, to show that they had taken such tests as required pursuant to the compulsory testing notices of respective buildings within the specified period issued by the Government earlier on. The Government arranged for staff to verify the testing certifications of the residents at the entrances/exits of the buildings, and conducted checks in the buildings to verify whether residents had undergone testing in compliance with the requirements.
During the operation conducted at Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, test records of around 290 residents were checked. Among them, around 60 persons were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice. As for the operation conducted at Mirador Mansion, test records of around 420 residents were checked. Among them, more than 60 persons were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice. The Government has issued fixed penalties of $5,000 and/or compulsory testing orders to them, requiring them to undergo testing within a specified period. Non-compliance with a compulsory testing order is an offence, and offenders are liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
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. Persons subject to testing under a compulsory testing notice should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.
The Government wishes to thank the many residents who had complied with the compulsory testing notices for their co-operation to fight against the virus together. The Government will continue to enforce the law strictly. All persons subject to compulsory testing should comply with the compulsory testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Non-compliance with the order is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
The Yau Tsim Mong District Office is grateful for the support and co-operation of the Police, the CHP and the AMS to enable the enforcement action to be carried out smoothly. The Government understands that the enforcement process may cause some inconvenience to the residents, but hopes that the residents can understand.
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