In view of the drastic developments of the fifth wave of the epidemic, the Government has launched the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide immediate financial relief to the businesses and individuals affected by the tightened social distancing measures. Amongst those, in order to support the frontline property management (PM) workers performing duties relating to environmental hygiene or security to strengthen their capacity on personal and environmental hygiene, and to give recognition to their anti-epidemic efforts during this critical period, the Government has established the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in Property Management Sector (ASPM) under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund. The Home Affairs Department has commissioned the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) to implement the ASPM, which will issue the application forms to the PM sector today (February 28).
      
     The objective of the ASPM is to provide each frontline PM worker performing duties relating to environmental hygiene or security in private residential, composite (i.e. commercial cum residential), industrial and commercial (including shopping malls) building blocks a monthly allowance of $2,000 for five months (February to June 2022).
 
     Frontline PM workers employed by PM companies (PMCs), deed of mutual covenant (DMC) managers or owners' corporations/organisations (OCs/OOs) must submit applications through their PMCs, DMC managers or OCs/OOs. PM workers engaged directly by the premises situated within eligible building blocks should also apply through the PMCs, DMC managers or OCs/OOs of the building blocks concerned. The quota of each eligible building block is a headcount of 100. 
 
     Taking into account the views of the PM sector, the scope of the eligible frontline PM workers under the ASPM has also been expanded to include frontline PM workers serving in eligible building blocks which do not have OCs or any form of residents' organisations, or do not engage PMCs (commonly known as "three-nil" buildings), in order to benefit more PM workers. Those PM workers serving "three-nil" buildings can make applications on an individual basis and are required to submit the Declaration of Confirmation of Service Provision by "three-nil" Building User.
 
     The ASPM is expected to benefit more than 180 000 frontline PM workers serving in around 41 500 eligible building blocks.
 
     The application form and the introduction of the ASPM have been uploaded to the dedicated website of the PMSA (aspm.pmsa.org.hk/).

     With the support from private medical organisations, starting from tomorrow (March 1), the Children Community Vaccination Centre (CCVC) at Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre currently run by the Hospital Authority (HA) will be operated by the CUHK Medical Centre. The CCVC will continue to administer the BioNTech vaccine to children aged 5 to 11.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said, "The Government is in full throttle to let more healthcare personnel of private medical organisations to participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme so as to allow the HA to free up more frontline staff to provide care to COVID-19 confirmed patients.

     "As the BioNTech vaccine for children requires a special dilution procedure, two of the three CCVCs set up in mid-February were operated by the HA. After March 1, the operation of the CCVC at Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre will be taken up by the CUHK Medical Centre. I am very grateful to the healthcare personnel from private medical organisations for their support to the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and their concerted efforts to promote the vaccination drive."

      Since the launch of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme on February 26, 2021, almost six million persons have received their first vaccine dose as at 8pm today (February 28).

     Mr Nip appeals to eligible members of the public to take prompt action and get their first, second and third dose of vaccine administered accordingly. "The current epidemic situation is of grave concern. We should never try our luck. We need active participation from every member of the public to boost the vaccination rate in concert so as to build a protective barrier in the community. Apart from protecting oneself, getting vaccinated can reduce the speed of the spread of the virus. It also serves as an indirect protection to our healthcare system," he added.

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

     Construction of the community isolation facility (CIF) in Tsing Yi, supported by the Central Government, commenced last week and the facility has been largely completed in recent days. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr John Lee, today (February 28) convened an inter-departmental meeting, followed by a video conference with the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) and the contractor, to press ahead at full steam for the commissioning of the aforesaid CIF and ensure that the ancillary facilities can accommodate emergency needs.

     During the inter-departmental meeting, Mr Lee was briefed on the construction progress of the Tsing Yi community isolation facility and the preparatory works on daily management of the facility by the Development Bureau and the Security Bureau respectively. The Food and Health Bureau also reported on the preparatory work and support for medical personnel who will provide services at the facilities.

     Mr Lee pointed out that in view of the severe epidemic situation, there is a serious shortage of CIFs. He instructed all relevant bureaux and departments to make every effort to prepare for the speedy setting up of the Tsing Yi CIF so that it can be commissioned as soon as possible after the contractor hands over the facility, to receive infected persons with no or mild symptoms and other persons who need to be isolated.
 
     Mr Lee subsequently had a video conference with Deputy Directors of the LOCPG Mr Chen Dong and Mr Yin Zonghua as well as the contractor, China State Construction International Holdings Limited, to make final preparations for handing over of the Tsing Yi CIF. He expressed gratitude to the LOCPG for its all-out co-ordination and China State Construction International Holdings Limited for its great efforts in constructing the project so that the facility can be completed for handover in just around a week, delivering around 3 900 additional beds for emergency community isolation, and contributing immensely to stabilising Hong Kong's epidemic situation.

    

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (February 28) said that the following three offices will be temporarily closed until further notice due to the occurrences of rapid antigen test (RAT) positive cases for COVID-19 among their staff members:
 

 
     A thorough cleaning and disinfection has been arranged at the premises concerned. For enquiries, members of the public may call the following service units during office hours:
 

1. Ma On Shan (South) Integrated Family Service Centre (Tel: 3579 8654);
2. Tseung Kwan O (East) Integrated Family Service Centre (Tel: 2701 7704); and
3. Sai Kung Integrated Family Service Centre (Tel: 2791 0692).

 
     During the pandemic, the SWD has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of people entering the office and providing masks and other personal protective equipment for staff. Staff members are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.

     The Government yesterday (February 27) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 4.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Kwai Chung (i.e. Shek Sau House, Shek Lei (I) Estate, Kwai Chung) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the area had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.
      
     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from February 14 to February 27, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before March 1, 2022.
      
     The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 2pm today (February 28) and carried out enforcement action in the "restricted area" afterwards to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 7.30pm today.
      
     The Government provided simple food for persons subject to compulsory testing, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of some persons subject to compulsory testing. Rapid Antigen Test Kits were also provided to each person subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.
      
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone's co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 2pm today, the Government took enforcement action in the "restricted area" immediately to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative testing result or wore a wristband as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 7.30pm. Test records of 383 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Two persons were found not having undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing orders were issued to them. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
      
     The Government reminds 111 households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.

　　The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.

　　The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the "restriction-testing declaration" by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.