The Government earlier exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration", under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Kwai Chung (i.e. Ha Kwai House, Kwai Chung Estate) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The declaration has been effective from 7pm, January 24. The Government extended the period of operation on January 25 and aimed at finishing the exercise at about 7am today (January 29). Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises and undergo five tests under the designated arrangement (including those conducted in the past few days under the declaration), until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained, and upon the agreement of the Secretary for Food and Health having regard to all the circumstances and the public interest of Hong Kong. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today and carried out enforcement action in the "restricted area" afterwards to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 10am today.
In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Tsuen Wan District Office, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Social Welfare Department and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised around 1 286 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.
The Government delivered breakfast, lunch and dinner boxes to persons subject to compulsory testing and provided simple food for them, including canned food and instant noodles, so as to facilitate the meal arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing. One box of masks was also provided to each person subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.
The Housing Department set up hotlines 2751 4421 / 2751 4424 / 2751 4428 for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone's co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today, the Government took enforcement action in the "restricted area" immediately to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative test result could leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 10am. Test records of 579 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. No person was found to have not undergone compulsory testing. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
The Government reminded the households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the "restriction-testing declaration" by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and 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. Failure to comply with the order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.
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