The Government published in the Gazette today (March 18) the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E).  The Regulation introduces a resolute and rigorous measure to combat the global outbreak of the COVID-19 by imposing compulsory quarantine orders on all persons arriving from all places outside China. The Regulation will commence at 0.00am tomorrow (March 19) and take effect for three months.

     Under the Regulation, all persons having stayed in overseas countries and territories specified by a general notice in the Gazette for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of nationality and travel documents used, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days.  

     Following the Government's announcement yesterday on the Red Outbound Travel Alert issued on all foreign countries and territories, and in accordance with the Regulation, the Secretary for Food and Health announced by a notice in the Gazette that the compulsory quarantine requirement would apply to arrivals from all places outside China starting from 0.00am on March 19.

     Under the Regulation, the relevant person, during the quarantine period, will be quarantined (a) in a place assigned by an authorised officer; or (b) if an authorised officer considers it prudent and appropriate in the circumstances of the case — in a place nominated by the person when the quarantine order is made against the person.  

     With reference to the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C), the Chief Secretary for Administration may, according to the Regulation, exempt certain categories of people fulfilling the following criteria from the quarantine requirement:
 

• supplying goods or services required for the normal operation of Hong Kong or the daily needs of the people in Hong Kong;
• for governmental operation;
• for the protection of the safety or health of the people of Hong Kong or the handling of public health emergency; or
• cases of exceptional circumstance that serves the public interest of Hong Kong.

     Contravening the quarantine requirement would be a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     The Regulations are made in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599). Section 8 of the Ordinance empowers the Chief Executive in Council to make public health emergency regulation for the purposes of preventing, combating or alleviating the effects of a public health emergency and protecting public health.

     The Government had earlier published in the Gazette on February 7, 2020 the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C), which mandates all persons having stayed in the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of nationality and travel documents used will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days, has remained unchanged.

     The Department of Health (DH)'s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has been closely monitoring the situation around the world.  The global situation in particular in Europe is rapidly evolving with a continuous surge in the number of affected countries and confirmed cases. Locally transmitted cases are reported in many countries.

     The DH will closely monitor the situation. Any updates will be issued through the media, the Government's "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html) and the DH's webpage (www.gov.hk/ncv). Any enquiries on health information on COVID-19 may be addressed to the DH's hotline at (852) 2125 1122 (operating daily from 8am to midnight).

     â€‹The Government has established the Food Licence Holders Subsidy Scheme and Licensed Hawkers Subsidy Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide financial subsidies to the food business sector and licensed hawkers whose businesses are hard-hit by the COVID-19 epidemic. A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (March 18) that for the first batch of successful applications, the department has been disbursing the subsidies to the licence holders of relevant food business and licensed hawkers progressively since March 11.　
      
     Applications for the Food Licence Holders Subsidy Scheme and Licensed Hawkers Subsidy Scheme have started on March 5 and will end on May 4. Since the launch of the schemes two weeks ago, a total of 24 013 and 4 751 applications have been received respectively. As of today (March 18), the total numbers of applications approved together with payment authorised under the two schemes are 7 337 and 2 536 respectively, with subsidies totaling over $1,040 million disbursed to the respective successful applicants. The department will process other applications as soon as possible so as to provide assistance to eligible food licence holders and licensed hawkers promptly.
        
     The Food Licence Holders Subsidy Scheme aims to provide financial relief to eight types of food business licence holders. A one-off subsidy of $200,000 will be provided to eligible licence holders of the premises in operation including general restaurants, marine restaurants and factory canteens; and a subsidy of $80,000 will be provided to eligible licence holders of the premises in operation including light refreshment restaurants, fresh provision shops, food factories, bakeries and siu mei and lo mei shops.
      
     The Licensed Hawkers Subsidy Scheme will offer a subsidy of $5,000 to each eligible licensee holding of a valid hawker licence, which remains valid when the application is approved. The Subsidy Scheme shall not apply to persons newly issued with a hawker licence under the "2019 Re-allocation of Vacant Fixed Hawker Pitches and Issue of New Licences" exercise.
      
     Eligible food licence holders and licensed hawkers who have yet to submit applications can download application forms of the schemes from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) or obtain from District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD. Applicants can submit their applications online, in person or by mail.
      
     The department’s target is to complete processing work within about two weeks from receiving eligible applications from applicants. After the applications are approved, the subsidies will be sent out by crossed cheques to the corresponding licensed food premises or the correspondence address of licensed hawkers registered with the department.
      
     For more details of the schemes, please view the department's website (www.fehd.gov.hk).

     Hongkong Post announced today (March 18) that, due to the reduction or cancellation of flights by airlines, airmail and/or Speedpost services to the following destinations are suspended.  A list of the newly affected destinations is appended below:
 

 
     Besides, as advised by overseas postal administrations, surface and air mail services (including Speedpost) to the following destinations are suspended or subject to delay.  A list of the newly affected destinations is appended below:
 

     Due to the substantial reduction in flight frequencies, apart from the above destinations, air mail to various European countries, Australia, Japan, Korea and the United States may be subject to considerable delays of more than one week in handing posted items to airlines subsequent to Hongkong Post’s completion of the handling procedures after posting.  Members of the public are advised to visit Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index.html for the latest update.

     Police today (March 18) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.

     Poon Wing-yan, aged 40, went missing after he was last seen in Chuk Yuen North Estate on March 12 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the next day (March 13).

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 65 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a pair of black glasses, a grey hooded jacket, black trousers, dark-coloured sports shoes and carrying a black rucksack.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or 9886 0060 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     Correctional Officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre stopped a fight between two remand persons in custody today (March 18).

     At 7.52am today, two male remand persons in custody aged 30 and 43 respectively engaged in a fight while proceeding to a dayroom. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the fight and called for reinforcement.

     One of the remand persons in custody sustained injuries to his head and chest and was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. Another remand person in custody sustained injuries to his hand and neck and did not need to be sent to public hospital after examination and treatment provided by the institution Medical Officer.  

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The two remand persons in custody were respectively remanded for the offence of possession of arm or ammunition without licence and theft.