In response to media reports on the kinds of animals covered by the Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (Cap 374) which came into effect on November 7, 2021, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (March 12) issued the following statement.

     The Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap 374) provides that the driver of a vehicle shall stop if an accident involving that vehicle occurs whereby damage is caused to animals not in the vehicle. Drivers are also required to provide particulars, including name and address, to any police officer or any person having reasonable grounds for requiring the information. Otherwise, the driver must report the accident to the Police as soon as possible and in any case no later than 24 hours after the accident.

     The abovementioned Ordinance was amended last year with cats and dogs whether stray or owned, included into the definition of "animal" into the original one covering any horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig or goat. It does not cover only owned cats and dogs as reported in some media stories today.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (March 12) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members identified as close contacts and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases:
      
     The following are the statistics of patients who tested positive via admission screening or by testing in public hospitals with patients or staff members identified as close contacts.
 

  
     The following are the statistics of nosocomial infection cases in public hospitals.
 

 
     Thorough cleaning and disinfection operations have been performed in the affected areas by hospitals. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor the health condition of patients and staff members, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     The Government announced today (March 12) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.

Rapid test

     As regards positive sewage testing results with relatively high viral loads in the following areas, the respective District Offices will distribute over 100 000 sets of the COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to a total of about 100 000 residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the following areas starting from tomorrow (March 13) for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identify infected persons:
 

• Southern District – Chi Fu Fa Yuen, Pokfulam Gardens and residential premises near Main Street, Ap Lei Chau (See Annex)
• Tuen Mun District – Po Tin Estate and Tin King Estate
• Kwai Tsing District – Kwai Chung Estate
• Eastern District – Tsui Wan Estate, Hang Tsui Court and Tsui Lok Estate

     Members of the public may refer to (www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk) for enquiries relating to the use of the RAT kits.

     When using an RAT kit, please pay attention to and follow the instructions from the manufacturer to perform the test and read the result properly. It is advisable to record the displayed result by taking a photo immediately after reading. Users should wash their hands before and after performing the tests, and avoid placing non-essential items within the specimen collection area. After completing the test, wrap and seal all components of the test kit carefully and dispose properly. If the household environment is contaminated during the specimen collecting process, disinfection should be conducted with 1 in 49 diluted bleach solution or 70 per cent alcohol.

     People who obtained a positive result through an RAT for the first time can report via the online platform "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test" (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp/). If individuals encounter difficulties using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 1836 119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The Centre for Health Protection will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure.

     Police today (March 12) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Yau Ma Tei.

     Lip Mo-king, aged 78, went missing after she left her residence on Pitt Street yesterday afternoon (March 11). Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.6 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of fat build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. She was last seen wearing a red jacket, gray trousers and pink shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8038 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
 

  

     The Government has all along been providing convenient testing services to members of the public through various channels, including a free testing service, and encouraging them to make good use of various means such as community testing centres (CTCs) and mobile specimen collection stations located in various districts for testing, with a view to achieving "early identification, early isolation and early treatment", and cutting transmission chains in the community as early as possible.
 
     Apart from continuing to provide service for persons subject to compulsory testing, the Government will maintain free testing service at CTCs/mobile specimen collection stations for persons undergoing voluntary testing to reduce the risk of virus transmission in the community.
 
     CTCs provide booking and walk-in services. 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 12), there was around 87 per cent availability for booking places for the coming 14 days. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.

     Starting tomorrow (March 13), the Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection station at the Hard-surfaced Soccer Pitch of Kwai Chung Sports Ground. 

     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.
 
     To enable the working population to undergo testing on their rest days or before/after work, the CTCs are open daily from 8am to 1.30pm and from 2.30pm to 8pm, even on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in the Annex.
       
     The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.