Tag Archives: China

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (March 5) said that, to help fight against the epidemic, the Environment Bureau (ENB) co-ordinated the sewage surveillance programme and in response to the Government’s overall manpower requirement, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has mobilised about 30 per cent of staff members, involving over 800 people, to co-ordinate and conduct “restriction-testing declaration” (RTD) operations. The department also provides expert advice on environmental investigation of virus transmission. All members of the ENB and EPD are united and fully committed to anti-epidemic efforts.
 
     Mr Wong yesterday (March 4) inspected the RTD operations conducted by the EPD in the “restricted area” in Tak Shan House and Tak Kei House of Tak Long Estate in Kowloon City, and showed support for the staff members. He said, “These two buildings have a large number of residents, with a total of over 3 600 persons. Counting only the manpower from the EPD, we have mobilised around 100 staff members and commenced the operation at 1pm. Yet our staff members arrived to conduct site inspection one day before the operation and supervised the setting up on the day of the operation. As the operation commenced, they arranged for thousands of residents to register and undergo testing as soon as possible. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government, rapid antigen test kits and food packs were distributed to the persons subject to compulsory testing to assist them in combating the virus. Upon completion of the RTD operations, colleagues have to arrange those persons tested preliminary positive to isolation facilities, and distribute extra food packs and daily necessities to assist those required to stay at home for quarantine. The entire operation, including transmission of preliminary positive cases to isolation facilities, usually takes over 30 hours.
 
     “I would like to express my gratitude to our staff members, who work on the frontline and show their unwavering efforts in conducting the RTD operations in addition to their daily works, fully demonstrating team spirit. I would also thank those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With their co-operation as well as the efforts of various Government’s departments and the testing contractors, the RTD operations can be run smoothly.”
 
     Since the end of January, the ENB and EPD co-ordinated and conducted about 30 RTD operations in around five weeks (constituting more than one-third of all the RTD operations carried out in territory in the same period). The operations covered different buildings, including private housing, flats under Home Ownership Scheme and public housing estates. More than 2 000 person-time of staff members were mobilised to conduct testing for over 46 000 person-time, and over 2 700 preliminarily positive cases were detected.
 
     The EPD has set up eight anti-epidemic teams since May last year to conduct compulsory testing work in various districts with positive sewage testing results. In view of the rapid development of the fifth wave of the epidemic, the EPD swiftly expanded the anti-epidemic teams from eight teams to 40 teams in January this year and the number of participating personnel has been gradually increasing. Colleagues from the Administrative Officer grade, the Environmental Protection Officer grade and the Environmental Protection Inspector grade as well as other grades and civilian staff joined the task force to assist in executing anti-epidemic duties on the frontline.
 
     “In addition, the EPD colleagues also draw on their professional knowledge to launch the sewage surveillance plan of Hong Kong in 2020. The 400-member sewage testing team formed by the EPD, the Drainage Services Department and the University of Hong Kong, etc, has been working to apply scientific knowledge to help fight the epidemic. Meanwhile, the EPD’s environmental science experts provide professional advice on virus transmission in the environment and utilise their skills in the fight against the epidemic,” Mr Wong said.
 
     With the staunch support of the Central Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is making all-out efforts to fight the epidemic. The ENB and EPD will continue to fully support anti-epidemic work, including the Compulsory Universal Testing to be conducted later.

        

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (March 5) said that a workman of the FEHD received a positive result when undergoing a COVID-19 rapid antigen test.

     The staff member works in the FEHD’s Airport Food Inspection Office (AFIO) located at Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal, 3 Chun Wan Road, and last performed duties on March 4. The staff member has been wearing masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work.

     The FEHD will conduct thorough cleaning and disinfection work at relevant places in accordance with the Centre for Health Protection’s advice, and will arrange for staff concerned to undergo COVID-19 testing. The FEHD’s AFIO at the abovementioned location will be temporarily closed this afternoon. Service is expected to gradually resume tonight after the completion of cleaning and disinfection work. Importers seeking consignment clearances may proceed to the AFIO on 4/F at South Office Block, Super Terminal 1, HACTL, Hong Kong International Airport and in Terminal 2, Asia Airfreight Terminal.

     The FEHD has been strictly implementing disease prevention measures during the epidemic. Staff members are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if they develop symptoms of COVID-19. read more

     The Government yesterday (March 4) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” with effect from 4pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Sha Tin (i.e. Luk Chuen House, Lek Yuen Estate, Sha Tin, excluding units 101-125 on G/F and Lands Department Squatter Control (New Territories East 1) Office) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.
 
     In addition, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from February 19 to March 4, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before March 6, 2022.
 
     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 10.30am today (March 5) and carried out enforcement action in the “restricted area” afterwards to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 12.30pm today.
 
    The Government delivered food pack to persons subject to compulsory testing to facilitate their meal arrangements. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines supplied by the Central People’s Government and rapid test kits were also provided to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus. The Housing Department set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
 
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 10.30am today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative test result as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 12.30pm. Test records of about 70 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. No person was found to have not undergone compulsory testing. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminded the households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

     The Labour Department (LD) today (March 5) announced that, as an office staff received a positive result when undergoing a COVID-19 rapid antigen test, the service counter of the Employment Agencies Administration will be suspended&… read more

     The Government yesterday (March 4) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 1pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Kowloon City (i.e. Tak Shan House, Tak Long Estate, Kowloon City) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.
 
     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from February 19 to March 4, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before March 6, 2022. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at about noon today (March 5) and carried out enforcement action in the “restricted area” afterwards to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 1.30pm today.
    
     Staff from the Environment Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the Home Affairs Department (including the Kowloon City District Office), the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Department of Health took part in this exercise to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.
 
     The Government provided food packs for persons subject to compulsory testing to facilitate their meal arrangements. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government and rapid antigen test kits were also distributed to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.

     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at about noon today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative testing result or wore a wristband as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 1.30pm. Test records of around 370 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Sixty-one persons were found not having undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing orders were issued. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminds the 50 households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more