Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Government today (February 19) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” (declaration) effective from 6.30pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Shatin (i.e. King Wo House, Wo Che Estate, Sha Tin. See Annex.) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about noon tomorrow (February 20). The operation may be extended depending on test results.

     A Government spokesman said, “Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’. As the sewage discharged from the above building was tested positive for COVID-19, it is suspected that there are asymptomatic patients in the building. Given the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, the Government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the relevant area.”

     The Government has set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 10.30pm today. Arrangements have been made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility.

     The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the ‘restricted area’ as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around noon tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”

     If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.

     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from February 6 to February 19, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before February 21, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.

     The Housing Department has set up a hotline (Tel:2697 6183) which has started operation at 6.30 pm today for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.

     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person would 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 compulsory testing order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.  read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Elderly Commission:

     The Chairman of the Elderly Commission (EC), Dr Lam Ching-choi, today (February 19) made the following statement on the situation of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) in fighting against the recent pandemic:

     Since the pandemic, our fellow staff of the RCHEs have been holding fast to their positions and doing their best to prevent outbreaks in RCHEs. However, the fifth wave of the pandemic has been rapidly escalating, which poses unprecedented challenges for the RCHEs as well as the entire community.

     I am deeply concerned about the recent discussion in the community regarding the hospitalisation and discharge arrangements for our RCHE residents. In these difficult times, while we get so exhausted from dealing with all sorts of problems and limitations, I still firmly believe that we all care about our elderly and we are working together to achieve the common goal of ensuring the ongoing well-being of our elderly.

     The Government has implemented a number of measures to support RCHEs so that elderly residents can continue to receive proper care. These measures include providing additional allowance to RCHEs undergoing on-site quarantine/isolation for purchasing personal protective equipment, offering a special anti-pandemic allowance of $2,000 per month per person for eligible staff members for five months, and issuing guidelines for on-site quarantine/isolation arrangement.

     In the past few days, I have been exploring with various sectors of the community to strengthen our support for RCHEs. Among those, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust will look into whether subsidy can be provided for RCHEs undergoing on-site quarantine/isolation to purchase air purifiers, through its “Jockey Club Facilities Enhancement Scheme for Pandemic Preparedness at Residential Care Homes” implemented earlier. In addition, I am exploring with the Government the possibility of introducing remote monitoring system in RCHEs undergoing on-site quarantine/isolation to measure and monitor the various vital signs of the elderly residents, e.g. oxygen saturation, pulse rate and body temperature, and provide warning in case of abnormality. This will not only facilitate timely identification of elderly residents requiring medical attention, but also reduce the workload on routine monitoring in these difficult times. If materialised, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service has undertaken to coordinate the distribution of the devices to RCHEs.

     Meanwhile, I learnt from the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Tony Ko, that the HA would continue to provide appropriate support for RCHEs. They will also enhance communication to ensure frail elderly persons as well as those potential severe cases arising from infection will receive timely treatment.

     Various sectors of the community are extremely grateful to the RCHEs and medical staff for sparing no effort in quelling the virus. Let’s fight the pandemic in solidarity. Together, we will win this battle. read more

     The Government today (February 19) 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 6pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Sha Tin (i.e. Pok Tat House, Pok Hong Estate, Sha Tin, excluding Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong Sha Tin Integrated Services Centre, Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong Pok Hong Children And Youth Centre, Pentecostal Holiness Church Ling Hong Assembly Limited and Pentecostal Holiness Church Ling Hong Assembly Limited Pok Hong Study Centre on G/F. See Annex) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about 1pm tomorrow (February 20). The operation may be extended depending on test results.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’. As the sewage discharged from the above building was tested positive for COVID-19, it is suspected that there are asymptomatic patients in the building. Given the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, the Government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the relevant area.”
 
     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 0.00am tomorrow. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility and elderly persons.
 
     The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the ‘restricted area’ as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 1pm tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”
 
    If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.
 
     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from February 6 to February 19, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before February 21, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
 
     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person would 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 compulsory testing order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

     A Government spokesman announced today (February 19) that due to strong wind and heavy rains, for prudence’s sake, vaccination service at the Pop-up Community Vaccination Centre (PCVC) at Wo Hing Playground in Fanlin… read more

     The Mainland epidemiological expert delegation that is assisting Hong Kong in tackling the fifth wave of the epidemic today (February 19) continued its visit for the third day. They visited Contact Tracing Office (CTO) und… read more