Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Home Affairs Department will open 18 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 24) for people in need of the service.
 
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
 
     In light of the implementation of mandatory use of the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application when entering government premises, all persons are required to use the app to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter temporary night heat shelters, except for exempted persons (including persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above, persons with disabilities that render use of the app difficult and persons without smartphones). All exempted persons are required to complete a prescribed form to register their personal particulars, contact phone number and the date and time of entry. The staff will verify the information provided.
 
     For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
 
     The night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Chi Shin Activity Centre
G/F, Tseung Kwan O South Ancillary Facilities Block, 5 Chi Shin Street, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Wu Shan Road Community Hall
101 Wu Shan Road, Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community.
 
     People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas of the designated community centres and community halls. For the addresses of these designated community centres and community halls, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more

     The Government announced today (July 24) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have been collecting sewage samples for virus testing in all dist… read more

     The Government said today (July 24) that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate preventive measures following the decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) to regard the multi-country/place monkeypox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). 

     Since the beginning of 2022 to July 20, more than 14 500 suspected and confirmed cases have been reported across 72 countries/places from all six WHO regions, a clear rise from the about 3 040 cases reported from 47 countries/places at the beginning of May this year. Most of these cases involved men who have sex with men.

     To date Hong Kong has not recorded any suspected or confirmed monkeypox human infection case. To prepare for any outbreak and to step up preventive and control measures, the Government has amended the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) and the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) to include monkeypox as a statutorily notifiable disease. It has also published the Preparedness and Response Plan for Monkeypox in early June and stepped up publicity and public education on monkeypox.

     “The Government will consider the recommendations of the WHO and step up disease monitoring, prevention and health promotion efforts. We are also actively liaising with the respective manufacturer of smallpox vaccine approved by overseas drug regulatory authority for use in the prevention of monkeypox, enquiring on and discussing the details of supplying the vaccines to Hong Kong as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will inform all doctors, public and private hospitals of the WHO’s latest decision and advice,” said the Government spokesman.

     “We urge the public to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of contracting monkeypox. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience symptoms of monkeypox, including fever, severe headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph node, mouth lesion and rash. Following the latest advice from the WHO, persons suspected to have contracted monkeypox should avoid undertaking any travel,” the spokesman added. 

     To reduce the risk of infection, members of the public who need to travel to places affected by monkeypox should:

(a) avoid physical contact with sick persons or animals;

(b) wear protective clothing and equipment including gloves and surgical masks when taking care of sick persons or handling animals, and wash hands after these procedures;

(c) thoroughly cook all animal products before eating; and

(d) seek medical advice promptly in case of any suspicious symptoms.

     The Government will continue to assess the risk in view of the latest scientific evidence and situation and implement corresponding measures. read more

     The Government announced today (July 24) the implementation of an upgraded electronic health declaration system on a trial basis starting from 0.00am on July 28 (Hong Kong Time), requiring inbound persons to complete the online electronic health declaration of the Department of Health (DH) and obtain a QR code before boarding their flights to Hong Kong. The launch of the upgraded electronic health declaration system will facilitate the Government’s progressive enhancements to the electronic checking and processing of arrival quarantine procedures, thereby streamlining the process and reducing the time required for inbound persons to stay at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

Prevailing arrival quarantine arrangement

     In accordance with the prevailing arrival quarantine requirements, all inbound persons must complete health declarations and undergo the “test-and-hold” procedures at the HKIA. The Government has launched the electronic health declaration procedure since June 2020, allowing inbound persons to submit health declaration through the Health & Quarantine Information Declaration of the DH (www.chp.gov.hk/hdf/) in order to obtain a QR code for boarding a flight to Hong Kong. Since the launch of the relevant procedure, most inbound persons have completed the electronic health declaration procedure before boarding. The number of inbound persons taking time to complete the health declaration form upon arrival in Hong Kong has reduced significantly. However, there remains some persons who do not complete their health declaration until after their arrival in Hong Kong, and that may hinder other inbound persons who already hold a valid health declaration during peak hours.

Trial run of upgraded electronic health declaration system

     To prepare for the enhancements to the flow of arrival quarantine procedures, the Government will implement the upgraded health declaration system on a trial basis and require all inbound persons to complete the electronic health declaration and obtain a QR code before boarding their flight. Starting from 0.00am on July 28 (Hong Kong Time), all persons boarding flights to Hong Kong are required to complete the Health & Quarantine Information Declaration of the DH in advance and present the health declaration QR code generated after completion of the declaration (which can be a downloadable version of the QR code, a screen shot or a printout) at check-in for verification by the airline. The health declaration QR code will be valid for 96 hours, i.e. inbound persons can submit the declaration form as early as three days before their scheduled arrival time in Hong Kong (for instance, a person arriving in Hong Kong on Thursday may submit declaration form starting from Monday).

     With the upgraded electronic health declaration system, inbound persons will be required to provide through the online system, on top of the health and quarantine declaration, information required for inbound quarantine such as proof of completion of vaccination and reservation reference numbers of designated quarantine hotels (DQHs). During the trial run, inbound persons still need to present the relevant documents when boarding the flight as per existing requirement. Those who cannot produce the electronic health declaration QR code will still be allowed to board the flight during the trial period. Upon completion of the trial and enhancement of the systems, inbound persons must obtain the electronic health declaration QR code before they can board a flight to Hong Kong.

     The Government is planning to upgrade the electronic health declaration system and the functions of the QR code in August upon successful trial of the upgraded electronic health declaration system, so that the pre-boarding documentation verification process can be gradually digitalised and conducted via the system, including the verification of proof of vaccination and DQH reservations. The verified information will then be integrated into the electronic health declaration QR code to enable inbound persons to use it for going through the procedures prior to boarding and upon arrival at the HKIA, such as inbound quarantine, “test-and-hold”, and closed-loop transportation to DQHs.

     A Government spokesman said, “Completing the health declaration prior to boarding allows smoother arrival quarantine procedures for inbound persons at the HKIA. It will also facilitate the gradual introduction of electronic processing of arrival quarantine procedures, thereby reducing the need for manual processing and hence the waiting time and bottlenecks.

     “Requiring inbound persons to make electronic health declaration, submit information online and obtain a QR code before boarding is also a step in the Government’s ongoing efforts to streamline and enhance the flow of arrival quarantine procedures at the airport. Following the implementation of the upgraded functions of the electronic health declaration system, inbound persons who have verified the required information through the declaration system will be allowed to make use of the ‘express channel’ at the airport to go through the arrival quarantine procedures and be arranged for point-to-point transportation to DQHs by using the health declaration QR code, thus significantly cutting down the time they need to spend at the airport.”

     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to specify the presentation of health declaration code as a boarding condition. Detailed boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements can be found at the COVID-19 thematic website.

     The Government will balance the risks and needs, and adopt precise measures based on scientific evidences and data, with a view to achieving the greatest effect with the lowest cost, thereby minimising the impact on the normal activities of the society.  The Government will also continue to enhance the quarantine and testing measures for inbound persons, so as to implement the stringent measures to guard against importation of cases in a more precise manner while enhancing the quarantine arrangement for persons arriving in Hong Kong from overseas places, thereby facilitating the movement of people necessary for social and economic recovery. read more

     A Government spokesman announced today (July 24) that the supply of fresh food from the Mainland yesterday (July 23) was sufficient and stable.

     According to the latest information, the quantity of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong yesterday (as of midnight) by land and water transportation was over 2 500 tonnes, comparable to the average daily supply from the Mainland on a normal day. The volume of vegetables sold through the wholesale markets of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Vegetable Marketing Organization was about 840 tonnes. The average wholesale prices of choi sum and pak choi stood at $7.30 and $6.50 per catty respectively yesterday, comparable to their average daily wholesale prices last year. The supply of eggs to the wholesale market remained steady, with the average daily supply standing at about 3.2 million for the past week, comparable to the average daily supply on a normal day last year.

     The total supply of chilled meat from the Mainland yesterday was about 40 tonnes. The supply of live pigs was plentiful.

     The supply of chilled poultry from the Mainland was over 140 000 head yesterday, and over 11 000 live chickens were slaughtered locally. The supply was abundant.

     Regarding the rice supply, in compliance with the requirement by the Government, stockholders of rice have to maintain the reserve stock of rice at a level sufficient for consumption by the local population for 15 days. The trade generally stocks double the required amount, which is sufficient for one month’s consumption by Hong Kong citizens. In recent years, the import and consumption of rice in Hong Kong has stood at a steady level of around 320 000 to 330 000 tonnes per year. The import quantity (including reserve stock) as of end-June 2022 was 30 400 tonnes. Suppliers also maintain a reserve for food that can be stored, such as frozen meat, for around three months’ stock generally.

     The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities and major food suppliers to ensure a stable food supply.

     The AFCD updates and publishes the fresh food supply information daily. Members of the public may visit the AFCD website for updates on daily supplies and wholesale prices of fresh food (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_fresh/agr_fresh.html). read more