The Government said today (January 28) that in order to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department, in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong, had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had recently detected positive results in Tuen Mun, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the district.
 
     Upon review of records of compulsory testing notices issued for different areas in Tuen Mun, it is noted that some residents have not completed testing by the specified dates. As such, the Government appeals to the residents and those working in Tuen Mun to complete the required testing as soon as possible so as to identify the hidden cases and stop the spread of the virus in the district.

     Police today (January 28) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.
      
     Tse King-wa, aged 25, went missing after he left his residence at Tsz Hong Estate on January 26. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
      
     He is about 1.8 metres tall, 136 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short straight black hair. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and black sports shoes.
      
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Government has announced that tightened social distancing measures will be extended until February 17. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (January 28) that most of the leisure and cultural venues/facilities will continue to be temporarily closed. Except for the Online Interactive Sports Training Programmes and online cultural programmes, all recreational, sports and cultural programmes to be held in the above period will also be cancelled.
          
Leisure and sports venues

     Outdoor leisure venues/facilities will continue to be temporarily closed, including tennis courts, bowling greens, sports grounds, Ngau Chi Wan Park Archery Range, Shek O Obstacle Golf Course, Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre, hard-surface/sand/grass pitches, gateball courts, table tennis tables, skateparks, roller skating rinks, roller hockey grounds, skateboard grounds, outdoor fitness equipment, model car play areas, model boat pools, cycling facilities (except for cycle paths), outdoor children's play facilities (including tricycling areas, outdoor children's playgrounds and road safety towns), pebble walking trails, chess tables, amphitheatres, public swimming pools, water sports centres, barbecue sites, holiday camps and Pui O Campsite. Lifeguard services at the gazetted beaches that were originally open during the winter period, namely Deep Water Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Silverstrand Beach and Golden Beach, will continue to be suspended.
     
     All indoor sports facilities including sports centres, squash centres and badminton centres will also continue to be closed.

     Passive/amenity areas at the LCSD's parks (such as lawns and benches in parks) and outdoor jogging tracks at parks will continue to remain open.

     Application for use of amphitheatres and non-fee charging leisure venues for non-designated use/sales activities, application from schools or organisations on road safety towns, as well as the standby arrangement for non-fee charging land recreation and sports facilities will continue to be suspended until further notice.

     For refund arrangements in relation to venue closures, the hirer may submit a completed refund application form together with the original booking permit to the LCSD booking office at a District Leisure Services Office or to relevant leisure venues by post. The application form can be downloaded from www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/aboutlcsd/forms/refund.html. Due to the closure of fee-charging facilities in relation to the situation of COVID-19, the number of refund cases will increase tremendously. The LCSD has adopted measures to handle these refund cases as soon as possible but a prolonged processing time for refunds is expected. Members of the public are advised to note the longer time required for refunds. The department apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Cultural venues
      
     All public libraries and their students' study rooms will continue to be temporarily closed. All book drop services of the Hong Kong Public Libraries and those located at MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong Stations as well as the self-service library stations at Island East Sports Centre Sitting-out Area, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Tsuen Nam Road, Tai Wai, will maintain services. Public libraries will continue to provide online services such as e-Books and e-Databases. Please visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/index.html for details.
     
     All performance venues, music centres of the Music Office and museums will continue to be temporarily closed. All onsite programmes and activities will be suspended while online programmes will be continued. During the period, all applications for Museum Passes and the Hong Kong Film Archive Resource Centre's Audiovisual Materials Viewing Cards will be suspended. Admission arrangements for holders of Museum Passes will be announced in due course.

     The URBTIX outlets and ticket dispensing machines at the LCSD performance venues will continue to be closed. URBTIX will maintain Internet and mobile app ticketing and hotline services.

     Refund arrangements in relation to the closure of cultural facilities will be announced in due course.

     During the venue closure period, members of the public can visit the LCSD's Edutainment Channel (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/edutainment-channel.html), a one-stop online platform offering informative and educational materials on aspects of culture and leisure, to participate in the online programmes of the "vis-a-vis +01" series and access its videos in various fields including culture, arts and sports.

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, spoke to over 1,300 government secondary school principals and teachers on the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law, as well as the importance of safeguarding national security and the improved electoral system, at the Teacher Symposium of the Association of Principals of Government Secondary Schools held online today (January 28).

     Ms Cheng started by introducing the legal hierarchy to illustrate that the Constitution is the fundamental law of the state with the highest legal effect. She highlighted that the relevant provision on the establishment of Special Administrative Regions was written into the Constitution in 1982, and the National People's Congress (NPC) made the Decision on the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and adopted the Basic Law in accordance with the Constitution on April 4, 1990. The Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis of the HKSAR to enable the implementation of "one country, two systems". She stressed that the root of "one country" should be upheld so that the "two systems" continue to flourish.

     Ms Cheng then explained that the National Security Law (NSL) was enacted by the NPC, which exercised its power conferred by the Constitution, to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for any act endangering national security. She also took the opportunity to explain the granting of bail and the designation of judges under the NSL to dispel misconceptions in the community. She reiterated that the HKSAR has the constitutional responsibility to complete, as early as possible, legislation for safeguarding national security as stipulated in the Basic Law.

     In addition to stating that political security is the top priority in national security, Ms Cheng said the NPC's Decision to improve the electoral system of the HKSAR, taking into account the actual situation of Hong Kong, has a solid legal basis and provides a robust systemic safeguard for "patriots administering Hong Kong". The Legislative Council General Election that concluded smoothly last December fully demonstrated broad representation, political tolerance, balanced participation and fair competition, thereby promoting the realisation of good governance in Hong Kong.

     On the democratic development, Ms Cheng reiterated that a new era for democracy has been opened only with the support of the Central Government since Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Articles 45 and 68 of the Basic Law clearly stated the ultimate aim of universal suffrage to be achieved in the light of the actual situation in the HKSAR and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. She also quoted a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations General Assembly resolutions that said there is no single model of democracy and it is for each state to mould its own democratic vision according to its circumstances.

     Ms Cheng said she hoped that, through the symposium, the education sector would have a better understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law, the NSL and the improved electoral system, enabling it to impart correct knowledge to students and thereby nurture them into a law-abiding generation with a sense of national identity.

    

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (January 28) that the FEHD will continue to step up its inspections and conduct joint operations with the Police, so as to take stringent enforcement actions against operators, staff and customers of catering businesses and certain scheduled premises in defiance of anti-epidemic regulations during Lunar New Year holidays. The spokesman again reminded parties concerned to remain vigilant and strictly comply with the requirements and directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) (the Regulation). The FEHD will continue to conduct enforcement operations proactively, and urges premises operators not to defy the law.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "In view of the epidemic developments in Hong Kong, the Government has announced the extension of the current set of social distancing measures, with a view to reduce public traffic, social functions and crowd gatherings, and curb the spread of the virus in the community."

     The spokesman reminded members of the public, operators of catering premises and scheduled premises to strictly comply with the various anti-epidemic regulations and restrictions in order to help contain the epidemic.

     If a person responsible for carrying on a catering business contravenes the Regulation, he or she is liable to be prosecuted and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. Persons who are present at any premises of a catering business must comply with directions applicable to them. Non-compliance with the relevant directions would be an offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $10,000. The liability may be discharged by paying a fixed penalty of $5,000. In addition, for customers in breach of the requirement on the maximum number of persons per table within catering premises, they are liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000 for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G). For customers not wearing a mask when they are eating or drinking not at a table therein or they are not eating or drinking, they are liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000 for contravening the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I).

     In addition, the FEHD will also conduct joint operations with several government departments during the coming weekend and Lunar New Year holidays at popular places in different districts where foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) commonly gather, to carry out publicity and educational work, appealing to FDHs to raise awareness of epidemic prevention and comply with the various anti-epidemic regulations and restrictions.

     During the operation, apart from arranging for cleaning contractors to strengthen the street cleaning services at relevant spots, the FEHD will also step up patrols to combat unlicensed hawking activities. Promotional leaflets in multiple languages will also be distributed by the FEHD to appeal to FDHs to maintain environmental hygiene and refrain from conducting unlicensed hawking activities. FDHs will also be reminded by other government departments to comply with the regulations on mask wearing and the prohibition of group gatherings in public places.

     To minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the spokesman strongly appealed to all sectors of the community to stay vigilant and comply with the relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease in a concerted and persistent manner around the Lunar New Year and during the long holidays. The FEHD will continue to strengthen its publicity efforts and enforcement actions. All sectors are reminded to exercise self-discipline and co-operate to fight the virus together.