Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (August 10) that, starting from tomorrow (August 11), the COVID-19 testing service for taxi/public light bus (PLB) drivers will be extended to employees of the ferry operators, the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) and Hong Kong Tramways Limited (HKT).

     Employees of the ferry operators can visit the designated distribution points directly during the designated time periods for collection of swab self-sampling kits without prior telephone booking, and should return the specimens to the collection points as soon as possible after completion of self-sampling. The contractor of the testing service will then send the specimens to laboratories for testing. Taxi/PLB drivers who did not undergo the testing in the past two phases (i.e. between July 17 and August 8) can also participate in this testing by collecting the swab self-sampling kits at the designated points.

     Employees of ferry operators holding valid staff identity cards or letters issued by the ferry operators, as well as taxi/PLB drivers holding valid taxi/PLB driver identity cards, can bring together their valid Hong Kong identity cards, and visit the swab self-sampling kit distribution points during the designated time periods for registration and collection of the kit on site. Addresses, opening dates and hours of the swab self-sampling kit distribution points and specimen bottle collection points for the respective trades are in the Annex.

     Meanwhile, the contractor will provide swab self-sampling kits to the MTRCL and HKT, while those companies will arrange with their operating staff for distribution and collection of swab self-sampling kits and the contractor for collection of their employees’ specimens for testing.

     The test is voluntary and free of charge. The contractor will not retain the personal data of the participants. If a participant’s test result is positive, the contractor will notify the TD on the specimen serial number. For a specimen serial number that belongs to a taxi/PLB driver or an employee of a ferry operator, the TD will relay the details of the participant concerned to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for its follow-up. For a specimen serial number that belongs to an employee of the MTRCL or HKT, the TD will notify the company concerned to relay th employee’s information directly to the CHP.

     Each participant can conduct the test once only. Taxi/PLB drivers who had participated in the past two phases of the scheme should not join this test again.

     The TD appeals to the employees of the ferry operators, the MTRCL and HKT as well as taxi and PLB drivers to actively participate in the testing to ensure public health and minimise risks of the spread of the virus in the community. For details of the testing service, please refer to the website of the TD (www.td.gov.hk). read more

     A woman was fined $8,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (August 10) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
           
     The courts heard that in May last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Sau Ming Road in Kwun Tong. During the inspection, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.
           
     According to the OLA’s records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The woman responsible for operating the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
           
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and can lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
           
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses”. read more

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (August 10) for people in need of the service.

     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.

     For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Districts:
———————

Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:
————————–

Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin –
Hin Keng Neighbourhood Community Centre
5 Hin Wo Lane, Sha Tin

Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan –
Shek Wai Kok Community Hall
Shek Wai Kok Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:
 
     In view of the current public health situation and to align with the Government’s latest anti-epidemic measures, the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) announced today (August 10) that the LLB meetings originally scheduled for August 18 and 25 have been cancelled. Further arrangements will be made for the affected open hearing cases. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 10) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.
 
     From August 2 to 8, two community-acquired LD cases were reported:
 
1. A male patient, aged 81 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Block 16, Fortune Villa, Tuen Mun; and
 
2. A male patient, aged 89 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Wong Chuk Shan New Village, Sai Kung.
  
     “Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposures and clusters, if any,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     As of August 8 this year, 69 LD cases had been reported. In 2019 and 2018, there were 105 cases each year.
 
     “Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunities are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection including poor maintenance of water systems leading to stagnant water; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels,” the spokesman said.
 
     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus which support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
 
     Immunocompromised persons should:
  
• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers’ instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

    The public should observe the health advice below:
 
• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors’ professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:
     1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
     2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
     3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
     4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
     5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     The public may visit the CHP’s LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP’s risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD. read more