The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been implemented for 142 days since February 26, 2021.
 
     So far, about 4 771 400 doses of vaccines have been administered under the Vaccination Programme. Details are as follows:
 

* The numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
 
     In the 24 hours ending at 8pm today (July 17), about 63 300 persons have received vaccination and about 31 200 new vaccination bookings have been made online. Details are as follows:
 

* The numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
 
     In the 24 hours ending at 0.00am today, there were nine cases of ambulance transfer to hospital from CVCs. They were sent to hospital after experiencing common side effects after vaccination and were in stable condition. Six of them were discharged, one person was admitted for observation and two persons left hospital without seeking any consultation.

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, today (July 17) made the following statement in response to the latest actions by the US Government against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and its grossly misleading and incorrect remarks regarding the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Hong Kong National Security Law).

     Endangering national security is a very serious crime. The damage is serious. It is only right for action to be taken to prevent, interdict and suppress the act. That notwithstanding, the Hong Kong National Security Law upholds the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, clearly stipulating that the HKSAR shall protect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong in accordance with the law.

     Freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication are among the rights and freedoms explicitly mentioned in Article 4 of the Hong Kong National Security Law as being protected in accordance with Hong Kong laws.

     Any law enforcement actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies are based on evidence, strictly according to the law, for the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation.

     Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law on June 30, 2020, the US Government has exploited every incident and excuse to make slandering remarks about the Hong Kong National Security Law and attack the authorities of the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR in their dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. The accusations are unfounded and have simply twisted facts without credible substantiation. The US Government's latest claim that the imposition of the so-called "sanctions" and issue of a "business advisory" were in response to the enactment and enforcement of the Hong Kong National Security Law is a lame excuse that could hardly stand up to challenge.

     The Hong Kong National Security Law has reverted the chaotic situation in Hong Kong seen in the 10 months or so from June 2019, whereby violent acts are substantially reduced, external forces are observed to have diminished, and advocacy of "Hong Kong independence" continues to subside. It provides the much needed security and stability for our economy and people's livelihood to revive and for businesses to prosper. The HKSAR Government will continue to discharge its duty to safeguard national security in Hong Kong in accordance with the law.

     â€‹As persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of local COVID-19 cases with mutant strain will be subject to compulsory testing on the third, seventh, 12th and 19th day following the announcement of the relevant confirmed cases by the Department of Health (DH), specified persons in relation to Chung Mei Building, Tai Kok Tsui Road have to undergo compulsory testing tomorrow (July 18). The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at Beech Street, Tai Kok Tsui (near Drainage Services Department Sewage Pumping Station) tomorrow to provide free testing service for residents and workers subject to compulsory testing. 
 
     Community testing centres (CTCs) provide testing services for the public, including free service for persons subject to compulsory testing. Booking and walk-in services are available. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming three weeks to facilitate the public's planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (July 17), there were around 26 000 booking places available for tomorrow at the CTCs, and around 87 per cent and 92 per cent availability for booking places for the coming seven days and 14 days respectively. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.
 
     Coupled with 18 CTCs, there will be a total of 34 CTCs/mobile specimen collection stations in various districts tomorrow to provide free services for persons subject to compulsory testing. The testing capacity should be sufficient to meet the demand. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are stated in Annex. Persons subject to compulsory testing and those with the "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reminding them to undergo testing as soon as possible may receive free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable).
 
     People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS message through their mobile phones. Persons subject to compulsory testing must properly keep the relevant records. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive COVID-19 result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the DH for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the CHP.
 
     The Government reminds the public that they can undergo COVID-19 testing through various means. For details, please refer to the following webpage: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html. If a person has symptoms, he or she should seek medical attention immediately and should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or CTCs. The Government calls on the public and organisations to refrain from collecting more sets of deep throat saliva specimen collection packs than needed or making a profit through resale, so that others in need can also obtain specimen collection packs for testing. The Government will continue to closely monitor the number of specimen collection packs distributed and collected.
 
     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases) to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (July 17) said that the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) has reinforced Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre. He also reiterated that the so-called "business advisory" issued by the US Administration to US businesses and individuals operating in Hong Kong is totally ridiculous and unfounded.

     Mr Chan said, "Although Hong Kong has experienced severe challenges of social unrest and COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years, Hong Kong's financial market has remained stable, orderly and vibrant, seeing active trading in stock market and thriving initial public offering (IPO) activities. Hong Kong's banking system also continues to operate smoothly as always. All these reflect that the market is full of confidence about Hong Kong's financial environment."

     NSL has been implemented in July last year. The financial data of the past year clearly shows that investors' confidence about Hong Kong has not been shaken by NSL and the development of the financial industry has been very prosperous. Over the past year, the amount of IPO funds raised in Hong Kong has exceeded $500 billion, representing an increase of more than 50 per cent over the previous 12 months. The average daily turnover of Hong Kong stocks has also reached $160 billion, which is nearly 70 per cent higher than the situation before the implementation of NSL. The linked exchange rate system has also worked well as always. The Hong Kong dollar market recorded a net capital inflow in 2020. Since the implementation of NSL in July to October last year, the amount of funds flowing into the Hong Kong dollar system exceeded $300 billion. At present, the total deposits in Hong Kong's banking system have increased by more than 5 per cent over last year. The total deposits are approximately $14,900 billion as at the end of May. The net asset value of funds management in Hong Kong at the end of last year has also increased by some 20 per cent over the end of 2019. 

     Moreover, comparing to the situation before the implementation of NSL, the daily average turnover of northbound trading of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect has increased over 90 per cent to nearly RMB110 billion. As for Bond Connect, the daily average turnover of northbound trading has also increased by more than 30 per cent over the past year, reaching the amount of RMB23 billion. The figures reflect that international investors still prefer using Hong Kong as a platform to invest in the Mainland's financial market.

     Mr Chan said, "We will actively discuss with the regulators in the two places about the implementation details of the cross-boundary 'Wealth Management Connect' scheme in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Southbound Bond Connect. It is hoped to launch the two schemes early, so that mutual access of the financial markets in the two places can be further widened and deepened. It can also explore a huge source of clients and room for business development for the Hong Kong financial industry as well as foster the development of the local wealth and asset management business markets, which can help to further enhance Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre and a global offshore Renminbi business hub."

     In order to tap the Mainland market and to seize the opportunities arising from Fintech and green finance development, some global financial institutions are planning to increase resources or expand their operations in Hong Kong, reflecting investors' continued confidence in Hong Kong.

     Besides, the HKSAR Government also strongly condemns the so-called "sanctions" imposed on the seven deputy directors of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In fact, the HKSAR Government has stated on many occasions that the so-called "sanctions" unilaterally imposed by foreign governments do not conform to international laws and have no legal status in Hong Kong; nor do they create any legal obligations in Hong Kong for institutions operating here.

     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, visited his alma mater Tang King Po School today (July 17) to meet with students sitting Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) this year and encouraged them not to give up.

     At the sharing session held ahead of the HKDSE results release, Mr Sit chatted with students and listened to their views on subject selection and development plans. He said that innovation and technology is high on the Government's agenda and young people taking up science and technology will have ample opportunities.

     Mr Sit extended his best wishes to the students. He added that even if their results are not as good as expected, as long as they choose their right directions according to their interests and aptitudes and try their best to realise their aspirations, they will surely find their paths to bright future.