The Housing Department learned today (February 15) that a Housing Manager had tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

     The Housing Manager who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 today worked at Housing Department's Shek Yam East Estate Office located on G/F, Yam Hing House, Shek Yam East Estate, Kwai Chung and Ha Kwai Chung District Tenancy Management Office at Wing C, G/F, Shek Cheung House, Shek Lei (II) Estate, Kwai Chung. She last worked in the office on February 14. She did not have contact with the public recently while performing duties. She had been wearing masks and following relevant disease prevention measures at work.

     The Housing Department has arranged to thoroughly clean and sterilise the offices in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).

     The Housing Department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and co-operate with its disease prevention measures and quarantine work.

     In light of the positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Yuen Long District, Eastern District, Islands District, North District and Sham Shui Po District, the Home Affairs Department (including the Yuen Long District Office (YLDO), the Eastern District Office (EDO), the Islands District Office (IsDO), the North District Office (NDO) and the Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO)) today (February 15) distributed a total of about 4 920 COVID-19 rapid test kits (rapid test kits) to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The YLDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Hung Foon House for voluntary testing through the property management company of Hung Fuk Estate.

     The EDO also distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Hing Wah (I) Estate and Hing Wah (II) Estate for voluntary testing through the estates' property management company and the Housing Department.

     The IsDO also distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Yat Tung (II) Estate for voluntary testing through the property management company of the Estate.

     The NDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Ching Ho Estate for voluntary testing through the property service management office of the Estate.

     In addition, the SSPDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Hoi Ying Estate and Hoi Lok Court for voluntary testing through property management companies.
      
     The Home Affairs Department made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early, so as to better protect the infected persons and their families. However, the Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the Government's compulsory testing requirement.

     For more information on rapid test kits, please view the following demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection, the Department of Health: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk.

     â€‹The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.

          

     The Government announced today (February 13) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.
 
Rapid test
 
     As regards positive sewage testing results in Islands, Sha Tin, Sham Shui Po and Kwai Tsing Districts, the Home Affairs Department (including Islands, Sha Tin, Kwai Tsing and Sham Shui Po District Offices) will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents and all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas (see Annex) starting from tomorrow (February 14) for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Tung Chung Yat Tung Estate Site 04 (YTE-04) – Ching Yat House, Hong Yat House and Yung Yat House of Yat Tung (I) Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Sha Tin Site 10A (Sha Tin Site 10A) – Pok Chi House, Pok Yat House and Pok Tai House of Pok Hong Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Sham Shui Po Site 2-4 (Sham Shui Po Site 2-4) – Lai Chi Kok Bay Garden
• Sewage Testing Area Sham Shui Po Site 2-5 (Sham Shui Po Site 2-5) (Part) – Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre Staff Quarters
   

     Members of the public may refer to (www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk) for enquiries relating to the use of the rapid test kits.
 
     When positive result (including vaguely positive with a faint band showing on the test kit) is obtained, one should immediately seek medical attention for follow up management. Residents tested positive should stay home as far as possible to avoid spreading the virus in the community. The Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the compulsory testing requirement. Individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, who have visited places with epidemic outbreaks or have had contact with persons tested positive, etc., should undergo testing promptly at testing centres.

     â€‹A spokesman for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced today (February 10) that as there is a significant number of passengers currently at the departure hall of Shenzhen Bay Control Point, members of the public should consider adjusting their travel plans so as to prevent crowd gathering.

     Meanwhile, all passengers who are entering Shenzhen would be required to present a valid proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result issued within 24 hours by one of the testing institutions recognised by Governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong; as well as a hotel reservation confirmation for the 14-day period of centralised quarantine and medical surveillance after their entry into Shenzhen through the Shenzhen Municipal Government quarantine hotel online reservation system, otherwise they will not be allowed to enter Shenzhen.

     The Government of HKSAR urged that the passengers not fulfilling the above mentioned requirements should not go to Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     The Land Registry today (February 7) released its statistics for January 2022.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in January was 5,911 (-16.5 per cent compared with December 2021 and -4.8 per cent compared with January 2021)

* The 12-month moving average for January was 7,986 (0.3 per cent below the 12-month moving average for December 2021 but 26.5 per cent above that for January 2021)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in January was $54.4 billion (-38.0 per cent compared with December 2021 and -18.6 per cent compared with January 2021)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 4,275 were for residential units (-16.9 per cent compared with December 2021 and -6.3 per cent compared with January 2021)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $43.4 billion (-10.5 per cent compared with December 2021 but +9.3 per cent compared with January 2021)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.
 
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in January was 429,213 (-1.6 per cent compared with December 2021 and -3.8 per cent compared with January 2021)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.