Author Archives: hksar gov

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced toda… read more

     On occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) presented four Hong Kong productions to the Swiss audience at the 18th edition of the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), taking place from September 22 to October 2 (Zurich time).
 
     Switzerland’s largest autumn festival featured this year’s greatest discoveries and most anticipated films. In total, 146 films from 49 countries and regions, ranging from Hollywood to Hong Kong, were presented. With a century of history in film-making and being one of the most dynamic film industries in the world in present times, Hong Kong was featured in the “Window To The World” section of the ZFF, taking the audience onto a unique journey of four Hong Kong film productions with the opening film “Table for Six” presented on September 23.
 
     At the opening reception on September 23, the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Ms Jenny Szeto, shared the latest updates on Hong Kong’s film and cultural developments and officiated the opening of the “Window To The World” section dedicated to Hong Kong films. The other three movies presented in this section were the action thriller “Detective vs Sleuths”, the biopic “Anita” and crime thriller “Infernal Affairs”. “They highlight different genres with typical elements of the cinematic style, giving an all-round impression of what Hong Kong films have to offer,” as Ms Szeto put it. 
 
     “With its unique heritage, Hong Kong has all along been an East‑meets-West hub for international arts and cultural exchanges,” Ms Szeto stated. The Hong Kong Government is committed to supporting the arts and cultural sector, and the promotion of the arts is no doubt one of the top priorities. The development of the city’s arts and culture formed a key part of the Government’s Budget in 2021-22, with over HK$5.7 billion (720 million Euros) allocated to arts and culture.
 
     HKETO Berlin is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the HKSAR by hosting and participating in a series of events ranging from gala dinners, receptions, a photo exhibition, dragon boat races, a street food festival to film festivals across Central and Eastern Europe.
 
     For details on the celebration events of HKETO Berlin, please visit www.hketoberlin.gov.hk/en/events_25th.htm.
 
About HKETO Berlin
 
     HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Switzerland as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia.

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     A spokesman for the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (September 26) that the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the HAD continued to step up inspections of premises licensed by the OLA (including hotels, guesthouses, club-houses and amusement game centres) and take stringent enforcement actions against premises operators, staff and customers in premises that defy the anti-epidemic regulations. The OLA will proactively take stringent enforcement actions on an ongoing basis. Premises operators and the public are urged not to defy the law, but to work together to reduce the risk of virus transmission in the community.
 
     The spokesman reminds the licensees, customers and guests to strictly comply with the requirements and directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) etc., including the requirement on the Red Code and Amber Code under the Vaccine Pass (i.e. including using the “QR Code Verification Scanner” mobile application developed by the Government to scan patron’s vaccination record or exemption certificate, updating the application to the version 4.4.0 or above and maintaining the mobile device connected to the internet); and customers of catering premises participating in a banquet activity have to comply with the rapid antigen test requirement.

     From September 13 to 25, the inspection and enforcement figures of the OLA under the HAD in respect of scheduled premises licensed by it are set out below:
 

Premises	Number of inspections	Initiation of prosecution actions against operators of premises	Fixed Penalty Notices issued to patrons/staff of premises
Hotels	143	–	–
Guesthouses	130	–	–
Club-houses	812	1	–
Amusement Game Centres	34	–	–

     Moreover, the OLA also required the clubhouse found with irregularities as shown in the table above to, on the subsequent day of being identified of the irregularities by the enforcement officers, take corresponding measures for reducing the risk of transmission (i.e. closure of the relevant part of the premises for 14 days). 
 
     The HAD strongly appealed to all persons-in-charge and patrons of the premises again to stay vigilant and continue to comply with the relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease, especially during the upcoming National Day and Chung Yeung Festival holidays,in a concerted and persistent manner, with a view to keeping their staff, customers and the public safe, and controlling the epidemic situation. The HAD will continue to strengthen its publicity efforts and enforcement actions. All trades are reminded to exercise self-discipline and comply with the regulations to fight the virus together. read more

     In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Kowloon City, Wan Chai, Tuen Mun and Tai Po Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (September 26) that the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO), the Wan Chai District Office (WCDO), the Tuen Mun District Office (TMDO) and the Tai Po District Office (TPDO) have distributed a total of about 260 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The KCDO commenced distributing rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in United Building, Harbour Place, Hung Hom Bay Centre, Lux Theatre Building, Whampoa Estate and residential premises around Liberty Avenue and Victory Avenue for voluntary testing through the property management companies, the owners’ corporations and a local origanisation.
                                                                                    
     The WCDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Kar Yau Building, Man Hee Mansion, Li Chit Garden, Tung Hey Building, Wing Cheong Building, Rialto Building, Lai Tak Tsuen and residential premises around Jupiter Street and Shell Street for voluntary testing through the property management companies and the owners’ corporations.
      
     The TMDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Botania Villa, GreenView, Tuen Mun San Tsuen, Fuk Hang Tsuen, The Sherwood, Sun Fung Wai, Marina Garden, Miami Beach Towers and Pierhead Garden for voluntary testing through the property management companies, the Village Representatives and a resident representative.
      
     In addition, the TPDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Sun Hing Garden, Ming Nga Court, Yee Nga Court, Tai Po Mei Village, Cheung Shue Tan and residential premises around Nam Shing Street and Wai Yi Street for voluntary testing through the property management companies, the owners’ corporations and the Village Representatives.

     The HAD made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early.

     Members of the public may refer to the demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) via www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk to learn how to use the rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.

     Persons testing positive through an RAT should take a photo of the test result and declare the result within 24 hours via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If members of the public encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP under the DH will contact the relevant person later to complete the report procedure. There is no need to declare negative test results.

     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. read more

     The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 65 specified places during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
         
     In view of a number of cases testing positive, 56 specified places are included in the compulsory testing notice. Furthermore, since some sewage samples collected in Sai Wan Ho, Tai Po, Lam Tin, Tseung Kwan O and Sha Tin have tested positive, nine specified premises are included in the compulsory testing notice. The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. Mobile specimen collection stations have been set up by the Government in different districts to facilitate testing to be conducted in compliance with the compulsory testing notice. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     Persons who have tested positive in the past three months (including positive cases tested either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests (RATs) that have been self-declared to the DH) do not need to undergo compulsory testing. For those who are subject to compulsory testing (save for those who have declared their positive RAT results as mentioned above), they must undergo nucleic acid tests in accordance with relevant compulsory testing notices and cannot use RATs to fulfil the requirement of such notices. In other words, a negative RAT result cannot be deemed as fulfilling the compulsory testing requirement. Furthermore, unless a person subject to compulsory testing has obtained a medical certificate proving that he or she is unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons, the person cannot provide a deep throat saliva sample to fulfil the compulsory testing requirement.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the Centre for Health Protection (CHP)’s website via the following link: www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/ctn_20220926.pdf.

     If any persons test positive under compulsory testing, such positive cases will be handled in the same manner as in those identified through other nucleic acid tests or self-declared through RATs. Their isolation arrangements (as well as the quarantine arrangements of their household members) are no different from other positive cases.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must undergo professional swab sampling at any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions in order to fulfil the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen. For details on obtaining stool specimen bottles, please refer to the COVID-19 thematic website: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/Stool_bottle_collection_points.pdf.

     If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above, the Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the post-super typhoon “extreme conditions” announcement by the Government is in force at any time during the period for undergoing the compulsory testing, the period for undergoing the compulsory testing will be extended for one day.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection. The Government appeals to persons who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated without delay. The Government is working towards the goal of boosting the vaccination rates of children, teenagers and the elderly so that they can be protected by the vaccines as early as possible. Furthermore, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the CHP of the DH has earlier updated the consensus interim recommendations that a three-dose series of Comirnaty vaccine (each dose is one-tenth of that for an adult) may be administered to children aged 6 months to under 5 years; and a three-dose series of CoronaVac vaccine (each dose of the same dosage as that for an adult) for children aged 6 months to less than 3 years. Moreover, persons aged 50 and above may receive the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine after at least three months from the third dose. Members of the public who are eligible should get the fourth dose as early as possible for better protection.

     CTCs and mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable) across the city provide free nucleic acid testing services for the public, including eligible persons of targeted groups, visitors to public hospitals and residential care homes and all elderly people aged 60 or above, as well as self-paid testing service for general community or private uses.
      
     Booking services are available for CTCs and some large-scale mobile specimen collection stations. Members of the public can make bookings for testing by selecting suitable testing centre and time slot on the booking system (booking.communitytest.gov.hk/form/index.jsp). The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (September 26), there was around 94 per cent availability for booking places for the coming two weeks.
 
     The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection stations at Hing Man Estate in Chai Wan, Shek Pai Wan Estate in Southern District, Tak Keung Court in Lok Fu and Cheung Shan Estate in Tsuen Wan tomorrow (September 27), and the service period of the mobile specimen collection station at Shek Yam East Estate in Kwai Chung will be extended to September 28 (Wednesday). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in the Annex.
 
     Ticketing machines have been installed at a number of service points for on-site ticket arrangement. Members of the public who have obtained a ticket can visit the CTC website (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to check the real-time queueing ticket status. Moreover, members of the public can now fill in their personal information in advance to obtain the Testing Registration Code QR code through the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application. They can present that QR code for scanning before testing at a service point thereafter, thus saving their time spent on registration and queueing.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

(a) For tests which require using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs
1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the CTCs (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en);
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf), and the relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs; or
4. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the stool sample collected as per relevant guidelines.

(b) For persons holding a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner proving that they are unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from post offices, vending machines set up at MTR stations or designated general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
2. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results.

     A Government spokesman cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.

     “If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs.”

     Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. The fixed penalty for discharging the liability is $10,000. The person may also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Any person in breach of the compulsory testing order would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The spokesman said, “The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.” read more