Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force:
 
     The Labour Department reminds employers that as the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force, they should assess the risk of heat stroke to their employees and adopt effective preventive measures such as providing cool drinking water, setting up temporary sunshade, providing mechanical aids to reduce physical exertion of employees and providing for employees as far as practicable covered space with good ventilation for rest and meals. Employees should drink water regularly and be mindful of their physical condition. If early heat stroke symptoms such as headache and thirst appear, they should rest in a cool or shady place and drink water immediately. They should also inform their supervisors to take appropriate action.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

     To prevent heat stroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

     If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

     Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

     If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

     A Government spokesman said today (August 30) that over 430 000 citizens have registered for the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) through online booking since yesterday (August 29). So far, eight complaints involving suspected fraudulent use of others' personal data for booking were received. The Government took resolute follow-up action and has already referred three of these cases to the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force for investigation. The concerned bookings have been cancelled.

     The spokesman called on public not to defy the law and stressed that fraudulent use of others' personal data without consent is an unlawful act. All suspected cases will be referred to the Police for follow-up. Should members of the public suspect that they have been impersonated for booking, they may call the 24-hour hotline 3142 2368 for assistance. Arrangement will also be made for them to receive the testing.

     The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer has adhered to three underlying principles in the course of developing the online booking system for the UCTP, i.e. to facilitate the public, to ensure safe and orderly workflow and to protect privacy of individuals. The online booking system will not collect excessive personal data or examine the personal data of citizens. The booking process is simple and easy for use by the public. The system does not accept repeated booking. Each Hong Kong identity card or birth certificate number can only make booking for one time slot at a time. Anti-bot technology is deployed to avoid abuse. The system has already passed the information security risk assessment and audit as well as the third-party privacy impact assessment before launch. Members of the public need to present original copy of his/her own Hong Kong identity card or birth certificate upon registration at the community testing centres to prove his/her identity.

     Under the UCTP, cancelled booking will not be counted and there is absolutely no question of manipulating the figures.

     As at 6pm today (August 30), over 420 000 people have successfully registered for the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP), to be launched on September 1, since the online booking system commenced operation yesterday (August 29).

     Eighty community testing centres have been fully booked on September 1, the first day of the UCTP, accounting for more than half of all the 141 community testing centres. A list of these community centres is at annex. 

     For the period between September 1 and 7, five community testing centres have been fully booked. These are Sau Mau Ping Community Hall, Yau Tong Community Hall, Sheung Tak Community Hall, Sha Kok Community Hall and Ma On Shan Sports Centre. As places are still available at other community testing centres, members of the public may consider signing up at other centres if their first choice is fully booked.

     The UCTP aims at identifying asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. The Government has not set any target on the number of participants in the programme and will provide voluntary virus testing for all citizens to cut the transmission chain in the community. 

     The Government will closely monitor the booking situation and the operation of the programme to consider whether to extend the programme for not more than seven days. 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (August 30) concerning a pregnant woman tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19:

     A 31-year-old woman at 39 weeks of gestation attended the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) of TMH yesterday (August 29) morning. She reported to have fever for several days and felt unwell. She did not have fever at the A&E triage station. After initial assessment, she was transferred to a Medicine and Geriatric (M&G) ward for further management. During her stay, she had also been transferred to the antenatal ward for examination and received the COVID-19 test in a surveillance ward. The preliminary test result available that night revealed that she was positive to COVID-19. The patient was then transferred to an isolation ward. Both the pregnant woman and the fetus are now in stable condition.

     TMH has reported the incident to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and the Infection Control Unit has reviewed the patient journey carefully. It was confirmed that the index patient has put on surgical mask during her stay. There were 10 female patients being identified as close contact including another pregnant lady who had stayed in the same cubicle. They have to undergo 14 days quarantine. TMH will closely monitor their conditions. No close contact was identified in the antenatal ward as the index patient underwent an examination in a single consultation room.

     All staff members, who have contacted with the index patient, were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment. As a precautionary measure, 15 staff members from the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including two doctors, eight nurses and five patient care assistants, will be put under medical surveillance for 28 days. Since the index patient is already at 39 weeks of gestation, TMH is closely monitoring her condition and has prepared the delivery arrangement and neonatal care according to established guidelines. 

     TMH is very concerned about this incident. If a pregnant woman is near full term and has reported fever for a few days, it would be more appropriate to admit her into an isolation ward for further management. However, this case was arranged to be admitted to a general M&G ward and the transferal between departments for examinations was considered suboptimal since it would have increased the risk of infection to other patients. TMH is reviewing the handling of this case which includes the admission arrangement and interdepartmental communication. TMH has approached those patients being affected and apologised for the inconvenience that has been caused.

     Thorough cleansing and disinfection have been arranged in wards and consultation room concerned. TMH will continue to communicate with the CHP for updates.