In response to the latest development of the COVID-19 infection, the Government today (March 19) announced that the flexibility arrangement to extend the validity period of the contracts of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) will be extended with immediate effect. The Labour Department (LD) also appeals to employers of FDHs and employment agencies (EAs) to make necessary arrangements to accommodate the compulsory home quarantine for FDHs travelling to Hong Kong, which is effective today. 
      
     "The Government will extend the flexibility arrangement announced on February 4, 2020 (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202002/04/P2020020400547.htm) to enable employers to extend the validity period of the contracts with their outgoing FDHs. The flexibility arrangement aims to assist those employers whose contracts with their existing FDHs are due to expire soon, but are in the situation where the newly hired FDHs cannot fly in to commence the new contract. The flexibility arrangement can help the affected families by allowing them to continue retaining their current FDHs temporarily while waiting for the new FDHs to report for duty. This will also help the FDHs waiting to report for duty to retain their contracts with their employers," a Government spokesman said.
      
     According to Clause 15(a) of the Standard Employment Contract (SEC), an employer may vary Clause 2 of the SEC to extend the period of employment by not more than one month by mutual agreement between the employer and the FDH, and with approval from the Director of Immigration. Prior consent from the Commissioner for Labour is required for extending the period of an FDH contract beyond a month. Under the flexibility arrangement announced on February 4, 2020, the Commissioner for Labour has given in-principle consent for all FDH contracts that will expire on or before March 31, 2020, to be extended up till May 31, 2020, provided that such variation is mutually agreed by both the employer and the FDH.
      
     In response to the latest development of the COVID-19 infection, the Commissioner for Labour has now given further in-principle consent for all FDH contracts that will expire on or before June 30, 2020, to vary the period stated in Clause 2 of the SEC by extending the period of employment up to July 31, 2020, on the basis that such variation is mutually agreed by both the employer and the FDH. Employers and FDHs in need may apply directly to the Director of Immigration for extension of the period of employment and stay of the FDHs on or before June 30, 2020. Upon receiving the applications, the Immigration Department (ImmD) will process them in accordance with its established procedures and policies.  
      
     "If the contract with the current FDH has already been extended under the flexibility arrangement announced on February 4, 2020, the employer may still submit an application to ImmD to further extend the period of employment and stay of the FDHs up to July 31, 2020, if both the employer and the FDH mutually agree to the variation," the Government spokesman said.
      
     Applications for extension of stay of FDHs may be submitted during office hours or by post to the Foreign Domestic Helpers Section at Immigration Tower in Wan Chai. The required documents for submitting the applications are as follows:
 

• Visa/Extension of Stay Application Form for Domestic Helper from Abroad (ID 988A) completed and signed by the FDH;
• the current SEC (ID 407) kept by the employer and the FDH with an amendment clause on extending the period of employment duly signed by both parties at the end of page 4;
• a supporting letter signed by the employer stating the reason(s) for extending the period of employment;
• the FDH's travel document (please send a copy if applying by post); and
• a visa fee of $230.

 
     The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the above flexibility arrangement as necessary. 
      
     Meanwhile, following the Department of Health (DH)'s demand that inbound travellers arriving from all countries/territories should undergo compulsory home quarantine with effect from 0.00am on March 19, 2020, the LD appeals to the assistance of FDH employers and their EAs in reminding FDHs to comply with the compulsory quarantine requirement. Employers or their EAs are also advised to educate FDHs under compulsory home quarantine to stay at home at all times and follow the health advice of the DH. While FDHs are expected to stay at their employers' residence, should an employer wish to arrange his/her FDH to stay out from his/her residence for compulsory home quarantine, the employer should make prior arrangement with his/her EA (if applicable) to accommodate the FDH concerned. The employer is also reminded to comply with his/her obligations under the SEC, including bearing the accommodation expenses of the FDH and providing a food allowance to the FDH. An employer shall not compel his/her FDH to work outside of the employer's residence. 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited on phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the email should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited three families in Sham Shui Po today (March 19) to understand the impacts of the epidemic on their daily life and send them face masks and anti-epidemic disinfectant packs. 

     In view of the tight global supply of face masks as a result of the epidemic outbreak, the Government has earlier announced that all face masks donated by various sectors to the government be sent to non-government organisations for their distribution to the elderly and underprivileged groups. The aim is to share resources with the community with a view to fighting the virus together. 

     Mr Nip today delivered the donated face masks to the Society for Community Organisation for sending to the elderly, underprivileged families and new arrivals in need.

     Mr Nip also paid visits to a singleton elderly and two new-arrival families, handing them masks, alcohol-based handrub and sanitary packs. He also explained to them the health tips to fight the disease. 

     Mr Nip said that mutual support from various sectors in the community is crucial in fighting the epidemic. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will keep up its anti-epidemic effort under the three major principles, i.e. speedy response, full preparedness as well as openness and transparency. He also appealed to the community to stay united regardless of backgrounds and races, and to always maintain personal hygiene, minimise social contacts and avoid non-essential travel in a joint effort to win this "anti-epidemic battle".  

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) today (March 19) announced the cancellation of the HA Board Meeting, which was scheduled for March 26, in light of the latest situation of the COVID-19 epidemic.

     "Social distancing is an important public health measure to prevent further spread of the epidemic. Upon careful consideration of the latest situation, the HA has decided to cancel this meeting," the HA spokesperson said.

     The spokesperson added that HA Board Meeting has been open to members of the public since 1998 to demonstrate the continuous effort of the Authority to enhance its transparency and public accountability. When circumstances permit, the HA will resume the open meeting arrangement as soon as practicable.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 8pm yesterday (March 18), the CHP is investigating 25 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the number of cases to 193 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 192 confirmed cases and one probable case).
      
     The cases are detailed below:
 

      
    For information on flights that patients of the confirmed cases have taken, please refer to the following website: (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/flights_trains_en.pdf). Passengers who travelled in the same cabin of the same flights with patients of the confirmed cases are urged to call the CHP hotline.
   
     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. For the progress on the contact tracing of the cases, please see the annex.
           
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "In view of proliferation of the disease and continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
     
     "Meanwhile, according to our epidemiological investigations, clusters are observed in the local community involving large meal gatherings and other gatherings. Members of the public are urged to go out less and reduce social activities such as meal gatherings or other gatherings, and maintain an appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible."
     
     The spokesman said, "The CHP strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
      
     "As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly, and regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps); cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use; after using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs."
      
     The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Health Commission of Guangdong Province, relevant health authorities and the Hospital Authority.
      
     The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for public enquiries. A new hotline (2125 1111) is newly added yesterday. The hotlines operate from 8am to midnight daily. As at 4pm yesterday, a total of 38 327 calls were received.
      
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on the COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates.
      
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
 
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.