TID fully mobilises manpower to conduct “restriction-testing declaration” and compulsory testing notice operation (with photos)

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said today (March 8) that the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) and its departments are proactively participating in anti-epidemic work. The Trade and Industry Department (TID) mobilised about 130 staff members to conduct a "restriction-testing declaration" (RTD) and compulsory testing notice operation in the "restricted area" at Yuet Ching House, Kai Ching Estate, Kowloon City, yesterday (March 7).
      
     Mr Yau inspected the RTD operation conducted by the TID yesterday and encouraged colleagues. He said, "In the face of such an unprecedented and challenging epidemic situation, stabilising the epidemic as soon as possible is the utmost priority of the Government and the civil service. Colleagues in the bureau and the departments, while discharging their normal duties, fulfil their responsibility in fighting the epidemic. It is our common goal to enable Hong Kong to ride out the pandemic and the public to resume normal life early with the economic recovery."
      
     The TID deployed a total of about 130 staff members, including Administrative Officers, Trade Officers, Clerical Officers and hired contract staff, to co-ordinate and conduct the RTD and compulsory testing notice operation in respect of a specified "restricted area" at Yuet Ching House yesterday, fully mobilising its manpower to join the anti-epidemic effort.
      
     The operation started at 5pm yesterday and finished at around 7pm today, and involved over 600 residential units. The TID staff arranged registration and testing for the residents, delivered food packs, distributed rapid antigen test kits and handed out anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government to help the residents fight against the virus. Upon completion of the operation, the TID staff arranged for those who tested preliminary positive to be admitted to isolation facilities.
      
     Mr Yau said, "We understand that the public have encountered numerous difficulties amid the pandemic but they were co-operative during the operation, contributing to the smooth completion of the operation."
      
     In addition, he expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its staunch support for Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work and providing anti-epidemic supplies. He also thanked community groups for their help, which included volunteers of the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link handing anti-epidemic care packs to the residents of Kai Ching Estate recently.
      
     He stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will unite all sectors of the community and spare no efforts in combating the fifth wave of the epidemic. The CEDB and its departments will continue to proactively participate in the work to tackle the epidemic.