In view of the positive sewage testing results with relatively high viral loads in the Kennedy Town area, the Central and Western District Office (C&WDO) steps up from today (May 12) its support and works together with the residents in fighting the pandemic.

     The C&WDO will co-operate with district volunteer groups to start distributing anti-epidemic supplies to the underprivileged residents in need in the Kennedy Town area, including rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, KN95 masks and anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines, with the aim to enhancing residents' awareness of epidemic prevention and supporting the residents in need with additional anti-epidemic supplies.

     Moreover, the C&WDO will also distribute RAT kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff of the relevant buildings in the Kennedy Town area starting from tomorrow, and will also appeal through the relevant building management offices and owners' corporations to the residents to undergo voluntary testing using the RAT kits promptly and maintain good personal hygiene.

     The C&WDO and relevant government departments will step up the cleansing in the vicinity of the concerned area, so as to maintain environmental hygiene and reduce the risk of virus transmission.

     The C&WDO appeals to the residents in the concerned area to observe all applicable social distancing measures and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Any individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions or with infection risks (such as individuals who have visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that were tested positive) are advised to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.

     In view of a number of cases testing positive, 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 specifies a specified place in addition to the 21 specified places earlier today (May 12). Any person who had been present at the specified place during the specified period is also required to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.

     The updated compulsory testing notice is available on the website of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health via the following link: www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/ctn_20220512.pdf.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Landslip Warning has been issued, the Home Affairs Department's Emergency Co-ordination Centre is now in operation.

     The Home Affairs Department will open temporary shelters for people in need of temporary accommodation.

     For details, please contact the centre on 2572 8427.

     The Director of the Drainage Services, Ms Alice Pang, today (May 12) inspected several flood prevention facilities to understand the department's work in coping with the rainy season and recent unstable weather.

     Ms Pang and the Deputy Director of Drainage Services, Mr Peter Chui Si-kay, first visited the drainage facilities at Shau Kei Wan Main Street East to understand the drainage condition in the vicinity. Shau Kei Wan Main Street East is located in the low-lying area of the district. During heavy rain in the past, the drains were blocked by litters, fallen leaves or other washouts carried down by surface runoff and resulted in flooding. The Drainage Services Department (DSD) had laid new drains nearby earlier to accelerate the dissipation of stormwater to relieve flood risks.

     Ms Pang then visited several locations to inspect the drainage system clearance work of flooding blackspots and the drainage performance of the newly constructed drainage facilities to ensure the flood prevention measures are functioning well.

     The DSD is now carrying out the Stage 2 drainage improvement works in Pok Fu Lam Village to intercept and divert upstream stormwater to the existing drainage system. The DSD had also completed a number of minor drainage improvement works in the vicinity of Chatham Road South to increase the capacity of the drainage system. To further lower the flood risks in Tsim Sha Tsui district, the DSD is now implementing the Drainage Improvement Works in Tsim Sha Tsui, which includes the construction of an underground storage tank beneath the Urban Council Centenary Garden and addition of drains at nearby streets.

     Ms Pang also visited the DSD's Emergency Control Centre (ECC). When a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning signal is hoisted, a special announcement on Flooding in the northern New Territories is issued, or the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher is in force, the ECC will be activated immediately to ensure flood prevention facilities are working well by monitoring the condition of the major channels, intakes, drainage tunnels and underground stormwater storage tanks via the real-time surveillance system. Additional staff and resources will also be deployed to cope with flooding cases.

     Before rainy season, the DSD will inspect the drainage facilities and carry out desilting work. Ms Pang had inspected the flood prevention facilities, including the drainage tunnels and rivers before this rainy season, to understand the pre-rainy season preparatory work. During rainy season, in addition to regular inspection and clearance of drains, the DSD also implements the "just-in-time clearance" measure and deploys staff before the onset of rainstorm to inspect about 200 locations which are susceptible to blockage by litter, fallen leaves or the like, and will immediately arrange for clearance works if necessary to guarantee the drainage system is in good condition.

     To further enhance Hong Kong's flood prevention standard, the DSD continues to adopt new technologies including the use of a river desilting robot and a remotely operated pipeline inspection robot, as well as the installation of CCTV at the major intakes of drainage tunnels to improve the efficiency and safety of the maintenance work of the drainage system.

     The DSD urged the public to keep drains clear at all times and prevent the blocking of drainage intakes. The public should immediately call the 24-hour Drainage Hotline at 2300 1110 if abnormalities with public drainage facilities are found.

          

     The Government appeals to eligible persons for receiving the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to enhance protection and to prepare for the implementation of stage three Vaccine Pass at the end of this month. As of today (May 12), about 3.38 million people had received their third COVID-19 vaccine dose, accounting for 50 per cent of the population aged 12 or above.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said, "At present, there are about one million people who are due to receive their third dose but have not yet done so. As such, the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has sent over one million SMS messages over the past two weeks to these people and reminded them to act promptly.

     "Currently, the COVID-19 vaccination rates of persons aged three or above for the first and second doses are 91.5 per cent and 85.6 per cent respectively. As the protection conferred by the vaccines will diminish over time, we should get vaccinated on time in accordance with expert advice to enhance protection. We need the proactive response from every member of the public in boosting the vaccination rate together and building a stronger protective barrier to cope with the future risks brought about by potential emergence of new mutant strains."

     The implementation of stage three Vaccine Pass will start on May 31. By that time, all applicable individuals in general (except certain special groups) will need to have received the third dose. To learn about the time intervals between COVID-19 vaccine doses, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/recommendedDoses.

     The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines.