Tag Archives: China

     Following the Security Bureau’s announcement today (March 17) that in view of the health risks arising from the persistent and rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases globally, the Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) has been issued on all overseas countries/territories based on public health considerations, the Department of Health (DH) will extend health quarantine arrangements on inbound travellers arriving from all countries/territories accordingly and demand them to undergo compulsory home quarantine.
      
     Starting from 0.00am on March 19, the DH’s Port Health Division officers will issue quarantine orders under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) for compulsory home quarantine to people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to all overseas countries/territories in the past 14 days, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents.
 
     Meanwhile, the quarantine measures announced earlier for people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do in Korea, Iran, and Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy in the past 14 days to stay in a quarantine centre for quarantine remain unchanged. According to the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) , the measures of issuing quarantine orders to all people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents, and to demand them to stay at home or other accommodation for a 14-day compulsory quarantine also remain unchanged.
 
     The risk in all overseas countries/territories is high currently. As the surveillance method is different, it is not possible to assess the risk based on the number of confirmed cases reported. The Centre for Health Protection of the DH will update the list of places with active community transmissions of COVID-19 under the reporting criteria for suspected cases to include all overseas countries/territories. 
               
     In view of proliferation of the disease and continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are again strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong. For the situation of various countries/areas, please refer to the information uploaded onto the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk). read more

     A spokesman for the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (March 17) that the Government has set up the “Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Property Management Sector” (ASPM) under the “Anti-epidemic Fund” to provide subsidies to eligible property management companies (PMCs) and owners’ organisations (OOs). The ASPM aims to strengthen the capacity of frontline workers in regards to personal protection and environmental hygiene, and to alleviate the additional burden on the residents arising from heightening cleansing efforts. 
 
     The application period for the ASPM has started on February 24, and applications have been able to be submitted online from March 13 onwards. As at today, around 400 applications have been received. The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA), which has been commissioned to implement the ASPM, has approved the first batch of 13 applications, and the relevant PMCs and OOs will receive notifications for disbursement of subsidies shortly. In general, the PMSA will notify the applicants of the results and disburse the subsidies in about three weeks after receiving the application forms and all necessary documents. The application deadline is April 15. 
      
     Furthermore, the HAD and the PMSA have arranged a series of briefing sessions on the ASPM for the property management sector and OOs. For details on the ASPM and the briefing sessions, please contact the PMSA at 3696 1156 or 3696 1166, or visit the website of the PMSA (www.pmsahk.org.hk/en/index.html). read more

     In view of the health risks arising from the persistent and rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases globally, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (March 17) has decided to issue the Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) on all overseas countries/territories based on public health considerations.
 
     As the pandemic situation around the world is evolving rapidly, members of the public are strongly urged to adjust their travel plans and avoid any non-essential travel outside Hong Kong. Countries across the globe have implemented different quarantine measures which would affect the travel arrangements of members of the public.
      
     For those who are already outside Hong Kong, they should:
 

• pay attention to announcements by local authorities;
• put on a surgical mask all the time;
• avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities and crowded places;
• avoid close contact with persons with a fever or respiratory symptoms;
• wear a surgical mask and inform the hotel staff or tour escort and seek medical advice at once if experiencing a fever or cough; and
• 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.

 
     If it is unavoidable to travel, the public should pay close attention to the latest situation of COVID-19 and the corresponding travel health advice issued by the Department of Health (DH). If assistance is needed, they may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department (ImmD) at (852) 1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in the respective countries/territories (cs.mfa.gov.cn/zggmcg/ljmdd/, Chinese only). After returning to Hong Kong, consult a doctor promptly if experiencing a fever or other symptoms, take the initiative to inform the doctor of any recent travel history and any exposure to animals, and wear a surgical mask to help prevent the spread of the disease until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong.
 
     The Food and Health Bureau 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), the DH’s webpage (www.gov.hk/ncv) and the Security Bureau’s OTA webpage (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota). 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).
      
     In addition, Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service (www.gov.hk/roti) to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the DH and AHU of the ImmD to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means including SMS on mobile phones, on a timely basis when necessary. read more

     To assist the transport trades in coping with the operating pressure in the current economic environment, the Government today (March 17) announced the details of the one-off subsidy to the transport trades under the Anti-epidemic Fund.

     A sum of $1.4 billion is earmarked under the Fund to provide a one-off non-accountable subsidy, which is expected to benefit the registered owners of some 130,000 commercial vehicles. Details are as follows –

(i) provide a one-off subsidy of HK$20,000 for each licensed non-franchised public bus; and
(ii) provide a one-off subsidy of HK$10,000 for each licensed school private light bus, hire car and goods vehicle.

Arrangement for non-franchised public buses, school private light buses and hire cars

     The Transport Department (TD) has started issuing letters to inform all eligible registered owners of non-franchised public buses, school private light buses and hire cars of the detailed arrangements for the subsidy. Eligible registered owners are required to send the completed registration form with a copy of the required document to the TD by post on or before May 31, 2020. After the TD has completed the verification of the submission, the subsidy will be disbursed through autopay in about one month.

Arrangement for goods vehicles

     The TD will issue letters to inform all eligible registered owners of goods vehicles of the detailed arrangements for registration through an electronic platform for the subsidy from mid-April.

     For details on the application arrangements and eligibility, please visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) or email to oneoffsubsidy@td.gov.hk for enquiry.

     The fuel subsidy arrangement for taxis and public light buses will be announced in due course. read more

     Hong Kong Customs today (March 17) seized about 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1 million and a duty potential of about $700,000 at Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming truck declared as carrying assorted goods at Shenzhen Bay Control Point at noon today. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside 47 cartons mix-loaded with other goods on the truck.

     The 62-year-old male driver was arrested and the truck was detained. An investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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