In view of the Government's plan to resume public services gradually from April, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 31) that the counter services at the 18 District Leisure Services Offices (DLSOs) will resume operation starting from tomorrow (April 1).

     Organisations/applicants can also continue to submit applications for booking and refunds by post or make use of drop-in boxes located at the 18 DLSOs.
 

     The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 25 specified places during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test. 
 
     In view of a number of cases tested positive, 25 specified places are included in the compulsory testing notice. The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. Mobile specimen collection stations have been set up by the Government in different districts to facilitate testing to be conducted in compliance with the compulsory testing notice. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.  
 
     Persons who have tested positive in the past three months (including positive cases tested either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests (RATs) that have been self-declared to the DH) do not need to undergo compulsory testing. For those who are subject to compulsory testing (save for those who have declared their positive RAT results as mentioned above), they must undergo nucleic acid tests in accordance with relevant compulsory testing notices and cannot use RATs to fulfil the requirement of such notices. In other words, a negative RAT result cannot be deemed as fulfilling the compulsory testing requirement. Furthermore, unless a person subject to compulsory testing has obtained a medical certificate proving that he or she is unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons, the person cannot provide a deep throat saliva sample to fulfil the compulsory testing requirement.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the Centre for Health Protection (CHP)'s website via the following link: www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/ctn_20220331.pdf.

     If any persons are tested positive under compulsory testing, such positive cases will be handled in the same manner as in those identified through other nucleic acid tests or self-declared through RATs. Their isolation arrangements (as well as the quarantine arrangements of their household members) are no different from other positive cases.
 
     Persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must go to any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions to undergo professional swab sampling in fulfilling the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection. The Government appeals to persons who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated without delay. The Government is working towards the goal of boosting vaccination rates of children, teenagers and the elderly by the end of April so that they can be protected by the vaccines as early as possible.

     CTCs provide testing services for the public. Booking and walk-in services are available. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming two weeks to facilitate the public's planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (March 31), there was around 96 per cent availability for booking places for the coming two weeks. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.
 
     The Government will set up an additional mobile specimen collection station at the volleyball court next to Hang Lai House of Cheung Hang Estate in Tsing Yi tomorrow (April 1). Separately, ticketing machines have been installed in a number of service points for on-site ticket arrangement. Members of the public who have obtained a ticket can visit the CTC website (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to check the real-time queueing ticket status.
 
     Other than persons subject to compulsory testing, all members of the public may conduct free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in the Annex.
 
     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

(a) For tests which require using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs
1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the CTCs (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en);
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf), and the relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs; or
4. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the stool sample collected as per relevant guidelines.

(b) For persons holding a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner proving that they are unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from post offices, vending machines set up at MTR stations or designated general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
2. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.

     "If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs."

     Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.  The fixed penalty for discharging the liability is $10,000. The person may also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Any person in breach of the compulsory testing order would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The spokesman said, "The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons."

     The Government has for the first time arranged a medical team to Sun Kit House, Sun Chui Estate in Sha Tin and conducted a trial to provide door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination service to elderly persons aged 70 or above who are yet to get vaccinated and persons who are unable to leave their homes for vaccination due to illness or physical disability today (March 31).

     The Home Vaccination Service administered the Sinovac vaccine to six residents there. Among them, four are unvaccinated elderly persons aged 71 to 82, and two are unable to leave their homes for vaccination due to illness or physical disability. Meanwhile, two residents who have registered for the service are tested positive or living in a flat with member tested positive. Their cases will be followed up separately.

     The Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation yesterday (March 30) afternoon to delineate Sun Kit House, Sun Chui Estate as a "restricted area" for compulsory testing on persons subject to compulsory testing. On-site staff went door-to-door yesterday to inform residents about the testing arrangements, and at the same time invited residents with special needs to register for vaccination. Upon soft opening of the "restricted area", the Government provided home vaccination service to persons with special needs and tested negative.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, went to Sun Kit House today to inspect the door-to-door vaccination workflow and listen to the views of the residents. He went to the doors of residents with on-site staff yesterday afternoon. He noticed that many residents had already received vaccination but the on-site staff still took the opportunities to locate certain persons with special needs and successfully registered them for receiving door-to-door vaccinations.
 
     "Pushing forward the Home Vaccination Service can be regarded as a challenge. The preparatory work behind, from registration of information and delivery of the vaccine to arranging the medical team to go door-to-door and conducting home vaccination and follow-up, etc., are all closely inter-related. Despite all the difficulties, we will endeavor to promote vaccination so as to further boost the vaccination rate of the elderly persons aged 70 or above and also enable members of the public who are unable to go to vaccination venues due to impaired mobility, to receive protection from vaccines and reduce their risk of serious illness and death from infection," Mr Nip said.
 
     "Today, we are launching a home vaccination trial in a building. We will continue to conduct trials in other suitable venues and then further expand the Home Vaccination Service to persons with special needs in all buildings under 'restriction-testing declaration' operation."
 
     In addition, the Government launched an online registration platform for the Home Vaccination Service for internal testing today. The Government will first seek district organisations’ assistance in collecting information from elderly persons aged 70 or above who are yet to get vaccinated, and persons who are unable to leave their homes for vaccination due to illness or physical disability, for registration in the online platform during their community care campaigns to distribute materials and home visits.
 
     The Government appeals to members of the public, if they can bring their elderly family members to Community Vaccination Centres or Mobile Vaccination Stations for vaccination, they should arrange vaccination for the elderly immediately by making reservations or collect same-day tickets for them so as to receive the protection conferred by the vaccine as early as possible.
 
     The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines.

            

     Police today (March 31) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kowloon City.

     Yau Yin-fan, aged 92, went missing after he left a caring centre on Boundary Street yesterday (March 30) noon. Staff of the caring centre made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 70 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and is bald. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, light-coloured trousers and black slippers.

     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 West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     Fighting the virus is Hong Kong's most pressing mission. With the support from various fronts mobilised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, packaging work of anti-epidemic service bags commenced smoothly yesterday (March 30), and 1.6 million service bags have been prepared. The team of civil servants and over 17 000 volunteers today (March 31) continued to work in 133 packaging centres of anti-epidemic service bags. They spared no effort in completing the packaging of the remaining 1.9 million service bags in three days as scheduled.
      
     The Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan, said, "The progress of anti-epidemic service bags packaging is very satisfactory. The task was implemented smoothly yesterday. Packaging centres have outperformed by completing 45.5 per cent of the service bags. We are confident that all 3.5 million service bags will be ready early, even by today, to convey the Mainland and HKSAR Government's support to Hong Kong people.
      
     "We are thankful to the civil servants and volunteers from all sectors including Legislative Council members, the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link, the Anti-Coronavirus Link of 18 districts, over 350 local organisations and non-government organisations, clansman organisations, charity groups, volunteer and uniformed groups, religious groups and ethnic minorities service organisations. Their commitment fully demonstrates the spirit of concerted co-operation between the Government and the community in fighting the epidemic. We believe that as long as we are united in one heart to fight the epidemic, Hong Kong will definitely win this battle."
      
     The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, visited the Lohas Park Community Hall in Sai Kung while the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, made consecutive visits to the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre in Central and Western District, the Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road) and the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin today. They participated in the packaging work and boosted morale of the civil servants and volunteers.
      
     Mr Jack Chan visited the Fa Yuen Street Sports Centre in Yau Tsim Mong District, the Fung Ming Hall, Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple and the Fung Tak Estate Community Centre in Wong Tai Sin, the Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School in Tsuen Wan, the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin and the Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School Hung Hom Bay in Kowloon City to join the packaging work and show support to the civil servants and volunteers.
      
     Upon completion of packaging, the 3.5 million anti-epidemic service bags will be delivered to all households in 18 districts in Hong Kong at the same time from April 2. The distribution is expected to be completed within seven days mainly through the following channels:
 
i. Distributing to public housing tenants through the Housing Department and the Hong Kong Housing Society;
ii. Distributing to private housing residents through owners' corporations, other owners' organisations and property management companies;
iii. Distributing door to door to "three-nil" buildings residents and grass-roots families through volunteers and civil servants; and
iv. Distributing to residents in rural and remote areas through Heung Yee Kuk and rural committees. 
 
     In addition, as a measure to fill the service gap, several distribution points will be set up in 18 districts for those who cannot receive anti-epidemic service bags through the above channels to pick up the service bags.