â€‹In view of the latest epidemic situation, Hongkong Post announced today (February 11) that the business hours of all post offices will be adjusted from tomorrow (February 12) until further notice.

     To balance the public demand for counter services of post offices and the need to reduce the risk of the epidemic further spreading in the community, all post offices will maintain their normal opening hours but will advance their closing hours to 4pm from Monday to Friday. The business hours on Saturdays will remain unchanged, except for the General Post Office and Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office which will continue to advance their closing hours to 1pm on Saturdays. The General Post Office will continue to be closed on Sundays. Mobile post office services remain unchanged.

     For enquiries, members of the public may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.

     The Trade and Industry Department (TID) will roll out an enhancement to the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) on February 14.
 
     To further support enterprises in developing more diversified markets, effective from February 14, the geographical scope of the BUD Fund will be extended with an addition of 13 economies with which Hong Kong has signed Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPAs), namely Austria, Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
 
     "The enhancement to be launched will extend the geographical scope of the BUD Fund from 22 economies (Note) to 35 economies to support enterprises in exploring more new markets," a spokesman of the TID said.
 
     The geographical scope of the BUD Fund is being extended in phases since July 2021 to cover all economies with which Hong Kong has signed Free Trade Agreements and/or IPPAs. The final phase, with the geographical scope to be further extended to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, will be implemented in the second quarter of 2022.
 
     More details of the enhancements are available on the BUD Fund website (www.bud.hkpc.org/en).
 
     For enquiries, please contact the BUD Fund Secretariat (Tel: 2788 6088).

Note: The 22 economies currently covered by the BUD Fund are the Mainland, New Zealand, the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Chile, Macao, the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), Georgia, Australia, Japan and Korea.

     In alignment with the Government's announcement on the extension of the special work arrangements for government employees, the Land Registry announced today (February 11) that the adjustment of the service hours of its offices will be extended until further notice. Details are as follows:

(1) between 9am and 1.30pm from Monday to Friday other than a public holiday for the purpose of delivering instruments for registration; and
(2) between 9am and 12.30pm from Monday to Friday other than a public holiday for other purposes.

     Customers may also deposit documents to be delivered to the Land Registry (excluding instruments to be delivered for registration) in the drop-in box located near the Information Counter on the Deck Floor, High Block of Queensway Government Offices, between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday other than a public holiday.

     Under the special work arrangements, customers may expect a longer waiting time for service. Customers are encouraged to conduct land searches through the Land Registry's online search service (www.iris.gov.hk) as far as possible, and visit the Registry's offices only if they require urgent services. For enquiries, please call the Land Registry hotline on 3105 0000.

     The Government yesterday (February 10) 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 7.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Yuen Long (i.e. Hung Lok House, Hung Fuk Estate, Yuen Long) 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 "restricted area" had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.

     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring person who had been present at the above buildings for more than two hours from January 28 to February 10, 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 February 12, 2022.

     The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise in respect of Hung Lok House "restricted area" at around 11am today (February 11) and carried out enforcement action in Hung Lok House afterwards to ascertain that all people in Hung Lok House had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation in respect of Hung Lok House ended at around 1pm today.

     In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health mobilised around 210 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government provided simple food for persons subject to compulsory testing, including canned food, instant noodles and corn soup, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing.

     The Housing Department has set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.

     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 11am 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 test result 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 1pm. Test records of about 350 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Fifteen persons were found to have not 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 reminded the households at Hung Lok House 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.  

  

     The Satellite Community Vaccination Centre (SCVC) in Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay came into operation today (February 11) to provide the BioNTech vaccination service to members of the public. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Chairman of Hysan Development, Ms Irene Lee, jointly inspected the first-day operation of the SCVC.

     "The current epidemic situation is of grave concern, with more than 1 000 confirmed cases per day, which is on the rise, and cases involving the death of elderly persons. The situation has posed an unprecedented threat to Hong Kong. Under the epidemic, we strive to reach a vaccination rate of 90 per cent as soon as possible. On one hand, this is for self-protection for those who are vaccinated and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should one get infected. On the other hand, this serves to safeguard the already overloaded public healthcare system. Every person has a role to play under the epidemic. Those who have not yet received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, especially elderly persons, must take prompt action and then receive their second and third doses on time. Those who have already received their vaccinations on time should encourage and make arrangements for elderly members in their families to get vaccinated," Mr Nip said.

     "The SCVC is expected to provide a maximum of over 1 000 vaccination doses to the public every day. I hope that members of the public can make good use of this easily accessible vaccination venue and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

     "I am grateful to Hysan Development for joining hands with the Government to promote COVID-19 vaccination by providing a venue free of charge and facilitating the setting up of this SCVC so that more people can have vaccine protection as early as possible. Looking back on the setting up of this SCVC in Leighton Centre, it took less than a month from preliminary thoughts to putting the ideas into practice. It shows that with concerted efforts, nothing is unachievable."
      
     The SCVC in Leighton Centre operates daily from 8am to 8pm and is closed between 1.30pm and 2.30pm for cleaning. Same-day tickets are not available at this vaccination centre. All eligible persons can receive their first, second or third dose of BioNTech vaccination at the SCVC.
      
     Located at the seventh floor of Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay, the SCVC is retrofitted from a car park with a dedicated lift for direct access from the ground floor of the building. The SCVC is operated by the medical group of the Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre.
      
     To enable the public's understanding of COVID-19 vaccines, a COVID-19 Vaccination Resource Centre is set up at Shop No. G10, UG/F, Leighton Centre to provide the public with information relating to COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccination venues and the latest situation of COVID-19 vaccination in Hong Kong.
      
     Currently, there are 15 CVCs serving the public. Three Children Community Vaccination Centres (CCVCs) will operate soon starting from next Wednesday (February 16). Persons aged 60 or above can collect a same-day ticket for vaccination at most of the CVCs.
 
CVCs providing the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for persons aged 5 or above
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Java Road Sports Centre in North Point
Kwun Chung Sports Centre in Jordan
Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre in Sha Tin
 
CVCs providing the Fosun/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine for persons aged 12 or above
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Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre in Sai Ying Pun
Boundary Street Sports Centre in Mong Kok
Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre
Kowloon Bay Sports Centre
Sai Wan Ho Sports Centre
Hiu Kwong Street Sports Centre in Kwun Tong
Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre
Yuen Long Sports Centre
Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre in Kwai Chung
HKU CVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in Wong Chuk Hang (no same-day tickets; until February 22)
CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin (no same-day tickets)
SCVC in Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay (no same-day tickets)

CCVCs providing the Fosun/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 with reservation
————————————————————————–
Hong Kong Children's Hospital in Kowloon Bay (starting from February 16)
Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre in Sha Tin (starting from February 16)
HKU CCVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in Wong Chuk Hang (starting from February 24)
 
     Other channels for free COVID-19 vaccination are as follows:
 
* 25 general out-patient clinics under the Hospital Authority (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/15/P2022011500269.htm);
 
* 13 Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/HA_HCVS_Location_ENG.pdf);
 
* 15 Elderly Health Centres under the Department of Health (www.elderly.gov.hk/english/contactus/elderly_health_centres.html);
 
* five Student Health Service Centres under the Department of Health which provide the Sinovac vaccination service to students of primary and secondary schools
(www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/covid19/covid19_vaccination_in_shsc.html);
 
* over 1 000 private doctors or clinics which provide the Sinovac vaccination service (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/VSS);
 
* 33 venues operated by private healthcare institutions enrolled in the BioNTech Vaccination Pilot Scheme (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/list_vssdr_covid_bnt_pilot_eng.pdf); and
 
* two Mobile Vaccination Stations (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/List_Mobile_Vaccination_Station_ENG.pdf).
 
     The minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine is 5. The minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine will be lowered to 5 from next Wednesday (February 16).
      
     Before making an appointment, members of the public should take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccination (including seasonal influenza vaccination).