Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at a media session at the Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 18): Reporter: Who would be given these bott… read more
The Labour Department (LD) today (March 18) appeals to employers of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and employment agencies (EAs) to make necessary arrangement to accommodate the compulsory home quarantine for FDHs travelling to Hong Kong.
Following the Red Outbound Travel Alert announced by the Government on March 17, 2020 on all overseas countries/territories based on public health considerations, the Department of Health (DH) has extended health quarantine arrangements on inbound travellers arriving from all countries/territories accordingly and demand them to undergo compulsory home quarantine with effect from 0.00am on March 19, 2020.
LD appeals to the assistance of FDH employers and their EAs in reminding FDHs to comply with the compulsory quarantine requirement. While FDHs are expected to stay at their employers’ residence, should an employer wish to arrange the FDH to stay out from his/her residence, the employer should make prior arrangement with his/her EA (if applicable) to accommodate the FDH concerned. The employer is reminded to comply with his/her obligations under the Standard Employment Contract, including bearing the accommodation expenses and providing food allowance to the FDH. An employer shall not compel his/her FDH to work outside of the employer’s residence. 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 DH.
For enquiry on employment rights and benefits, please contact LD at the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by “1823”) by email at fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk. read more
In response to an overseas media report today (March 18) which alleged that Mainland law enforcement officers were deployed to Hong Kong to observe the frontline operations of Hong Kong Police Force, Police clarified that a wri… read more
In response to media enquiries, a spokesman of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said today (March 18) the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the countermeasures were to reciprocate the United States (US) Government’s unwarranted restrictions on the Chinese media agencies and personnel in the US. It stated that China’s fundamental state policy of opening-up will not change. Foreign media organisations and journalists who cover stories in accordance with laws and regulations are always welcome in China, and will get continued facilitation and assistance.
Hong Kong enjoys press freedom. The HKSAR Government has been facilitating media organisations and journalists from other countries to cover news in Hong Kong. This policy is in compliance with the Basic Law and the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
Hong Kong has always adopted a pragmatic and open policy on the employment of professionals in Hong Kong, allowing those possessing special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available locally to work in Hong Kong, including journalistic work.
In handling each immigration case, the Immigration Department will consider the circumstances of the case and act in accordance with the laws and immigration policies.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs today issued a statement entitled “China Takes Countermeasures Against Restrictive Measures on Chinese Media Agencies in the US” setting out its position on the acts of the US side and the countermeasures adopted to reciprocate. read more
Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) (the Regulation), made under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Public Health Emergency) Regulation, will commence at 0.00am tomorrow (March 19).
In accordance with section 4(1) of the Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration has exempted the following categories of persons from the quarantine requirement with effect from the commencement of the Regulation:
1. crew members of aircrafts who need to commute to and from foreign places for performance of necessary duties;
2. crew members of goods vessels;
3. government officials carrying out governmental duties;
4. Public officers at or above the level of Executive Directors (or equivalent) in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission and the Insurance Authority undertaking international obligations and/or participating in international co-operation pursuant to their regulatory functions;
5. construction personnel tasked to carry out off-site duties in foreign places that are essential and cannot be replaced by other means to ensure the quality, integrity and statutory compliance of services or components to be used in government projects;
6. experts, personnel of the academic sectors or of international authorities who are engaged in research and/or provide advice in combating the COVID-19 infection to the HKSAR Government;
7. staff and personnel of public bodies and their partners for the supply of wristbands and related materials for home quarantine; and
8. personnel of public bodies and their partners, agencies, companies or organisations for the supply to Hong Kong of personal protective equipment (PPE) or materials/equipment for the production of PPEs.
The Department of Health (DH) will arrange medical surveillance for persons under the above exempted categories of persons during their stay in Hong Kong. Persons under medical surveillance are required to wear masks and check temperature daily for reporting to the DH. In addition, exempted persons are also subject to the temperature check and health declaration　procedures carried out by the DH at various boundary control points during arrival and departure clearance.
In accordance with section 4(1) of the Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration may exempt any person or categories of people from the quarantine requirement if the Chief Secretary is satisfied that the person’s or persons’ entry into Hong Kong are–