The 2021 Legislative Council General Election (LCGE) will be held this Sunday (December 19). To enable eligible geographical constituency (GC) and functional constituency (FC) electors who are now in the Mainland to return to Hong Kong to vote on the polling day and be exempted from the quarantine requirements after fulfilling certain criteria, three polling stations will be set up at Heung Yuen Wai, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line boundary control points (BCPs).
 
     After the close of the polls, the three polling stations will be turned into counting stations for the counting of GC votes. If the number of registered electors of certain GCs allocated to vote at the polling stations at Heung Yuen Wai and Lo Wu control points are less than 500, the concerned ballot boxes will be transported to the counting station at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point, where ballot papers will be mixed with those of the respective GCs cast therein before counting to protect the secrecy of votes.
 
     The ballot boxes of all FCs will be delivered to the central counting station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for counting.
 
     To tie in with relevant anti-epidemic measures, except for electors who have been assigned to the BCP polling stations, candidates or their agents and electoral staff, entry to or exit from the BCP polling stations will be prohibited and public observation of the counting process will not be arranged.
 
     A spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) said today (December 16) that to increase transparency, the counting of votes at the three polling stations will be broadcast live on RTHK TV 32 of Radio Television Hong Kong and the website of the Information Services Department (webcast.info.gov.hk).
 
     Moreover, the Electronic Poll Register (EPR) system will be used for issuing ballot papers at most ordinary polling stations with wired network coverage in this LCGE. However, instead of using the EPR system, the printed copy of the final register will be used for issuing ballot papers at ordinary polling stations where the wired network coverage is unsatisfactory, or where the polling stations are located in remote areas and there are difficulties in installation and technical support. Please refer to the annex for the list of relevant polling stations.
 
        For enquiries, please call the REO's hotline on 2891 1001 or visit the election website (www.elections.gov.hk) for more information on the election.

     â€‹The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (December 16) said that it is investigating a preliminary positive imported case of COVID-19 involving a mutant strain.

     The case involves a 36-year-old male patient who is a local cargo crew member living at Cheung Hing Building, 44-48 Pitt Street, Yau Ma Tei. He tested negative in Hong Kong on December 9 and left Hong Kong on December 11 for the United States and returned to Hong Kong on December 13 by flight CX2071 from the US. His specimen collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested negative for COVID-19.

     The patient underwent medical surveillance and regular compulsory testing in accordance with the relevant requirements for exempted persons. According to the patient, except from buying food in the community for a short duration of time yesterday (December 15) and going to a mobile specimen collection station to collect a sample for testing, he stayed at home during the rest of the time.

     His sample collected yesterday tested preliminary positive for COVID-19. He developed symptoms on the same day with a Ct value about 25 to 29, and carried the N501Y mutant strain but was negative for the L452R and E484K strains. The patient received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) on March 22 and April 15 in Hong Kong.

     According to information from the World Health Organization, the Omicron variant possesses multiple spike protein gene mutations. Testing by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch revealed that the spike protein gene of the patient's sample involves T478K mutation. In view of the testing property of the Omicron variant, both N501Y and T478K are two of the targets to detect the Omicron variant, hence the CHP suspects at this stage that the patient carries the Omicron variant, but a whole genome sequencing still needs to be conducted to confirm whether the patient carries the Omicron variant.

     As the patient carries a mutant strain with higher transmissibility and risk of infection, the Government will make a "restriction-testing declaration" tonight for the building where the patient resided in Hong Kong (Cheung Hing Building, Yau Ma Tei). The places where he had visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will also be included in a compulsory testing notice. Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date. Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the case will continue.

     The spokesman for the CHP said, "The Government has remained vigilant and has been closely monitoring the latest scientific data on mutant strains as well as the epidemic situation of various places. The most stringent anti-epidemic measures will be implemented to prevent the mutant strain from entering the local community."

     â€‹At the moment, the adverse impact on the epidemic situation caused by the newly emerged mutant strains is not fully known yet, but vaccination is still essential to prevent severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 infection. The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (Steering Group) announced today (December 16) the progress made and the way forward to advance Hong Kong's position as a leader in green and sustainable finance (GSF) and help the financial ecosystem's transition towards carbon neutrality.
      
Centre for Green and Sustainable Finance (GSF Centre)

     The two working groups established under the GSF Centre reviewed the capacity and data constraints faced by the financial services sector. The working groups recommended the following measures in respect of capacity building and GSF data: 

     Capacity building:

• develop a common GSF qualification framework;
• support practitioners and young people to take up GSF training; and
• provide young people with practical industry experience.

     GSF data:

• enhance access to and availability of GSF data and data analytics tools; and
• fill the key data gaps identified by market participants. 

     â€‹To take forward the working groups' recommendations, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will begin work to develop a new module on Green and Sustainable Finance under the Enhanced Competency Framework for Banking Practitioners. The GSF Centre will also launch information portals on GSF data and resources. More details will be announced in due course. 
      
Taxonomies, climate-related disclosures and sustainability reporting

     Following the publication of the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT) report by the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (Note 1), the Steering Group will, with the aim of aligning with the CGT, explore developing a green classification framework for adoption in the local market which facilitates easy navigation among the CGT, China and the EU's taxonomies. The work will be guided by the principles of interoperability, comparability and inclusiveness, taking into account other definitions of green, transitional activities, and local considerations. The Steering Group will work with industry practitioners, experts and stakeholders to operationalise the CGT.
 
     In addition, the Steering Group is making progress towards mandating climate-related disclosures aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework by 2025 across relevant sectors. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited continue to collaborate with stakeholders with a view to evaluating and potentially adopting the IFRS Foundation's (Note 2) Sustainability Disclosure Standards which would be built on the TCFD framework.
 
Carbon market opportunities

     The Steering Group has completed a preliminary assessment of carbon market opportunities for Hong Kong. In view of Hong Kong's status as a champion of international standards, a facilitator to channel global capital into the Mainland and an international financial and risk management centre, the Steering Group will further explore how Hong Kong may develop into a regional carbon trading centre, including the development of a global high-quality voluntary carbon market. As part of this effort, it will work with relevant authorities on carbon market opportunities as part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cooperation.
 
     Co-Chair of the Steering Group and the Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "COP26 has once again reminded us of the challenges that mankind faces in addressing climate change. The financial sector plays a critical role here, in securing the capital needed for the transition. With our work on capacity building, data and taxonomy in particular, the Steering Group seeks to ensure that financial institutions and market practitioners have the relevant skills and information, as well as an internationally recognised framework, to manage climate risk and capture the resulting opportunities."
 
     Co-Chair of the Steering Group and the Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Mr Ashley Alder, said, "Carbon trading will be a key tool to mobilise finance for the transition to a low carbon economy. With Hong Kong's world-class regulatory standards and its instrumental role in bridging international capital flows with Mainland markets, it is well placed to make a significant contribution to the global effort to develop and scale carbon markets."
 
Note 1: The CGT is a report resulting from an in-depth comparison exercise that puts forward areas of commonality between China and the EU's taxonomies.

Note 2: The IFRS Foundation is a not-for-profit, public interest organisation established to develop globally accepted accounting standards – the International Financial Reporting Standards – and promote and facilitate their adoption.

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About the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group

Established in May 2020, the Steering Group is co-chaired by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission. Members include the Environment Bureau, Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Insurance Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. The Steering Group aims to coordinate the management of climate and environmental risks to the financial sector, accelerate the growth of green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong and support the Government's climate strategies.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 16) that in view of notifications from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea, the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Korea, United Kingdom (UK), Sweden and Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     The relevant areas are as follows:

Korea
1.  Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do Province
2.  Asan-city, Chungcheongnam-do Province

UK
England
3. North Herefordshire of Herefordshire County  
4. Babergh District of Suffolk County
5. Richmondshire District of North Yorkshire County
6. East Yorkshire of East Riding of Yorkshire County
Wales
7. Brecon and Radnorshire and Blaenau Gwent
Northern Ireland
8. Aughnacloy Townland of Tyrone County
9. Broughshane Townland of Antrim County
Scotland
10. Dumfries and Galloway
 
Sweden
Skåne County
11. Skurup Municipality
12. Trelleborg Municipality
13. Ystad Municipality
14. Svedala Municipality
 
Poland
15. Piotrkowski District, Å�ódzkie Region

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 10 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 280 000 poultry eggs from Korea; about 70 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, about 2 970 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 250 000 poultry eggs from the UK; about 680 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Sweden; and about 4 070 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 24.82 million poultry eggs from Poland in the first nine months of this year.
 
     "The CFS has contacted the Korean, British, Swedish and Polish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said. 

      The Government today (December 16) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" (declaration) effective from 7pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Yau Ma Tei (i.e. Cheung Hing Building, 44-48 Pitt Street, Yau Ma Tei. See Annex) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about 7am tomorrow (December 17).
      
     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'. As a preliminary positive case arriving from overseas who has lived in the abovementioned building upon arrival in Hong Kong was detected today, and the preliminary test result involved a mutant strain, the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, so the Government decided to make a 'restriction-testing declaration' for the relevant area after the test result was found to be positive."
      
     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 12am tomorrow. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility and elderly persons.
      
     The Government spokesman said, "We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the 'restricted area' as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 7am tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees."
      
     If staying in the "restricted area" will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.
      
     Persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from December 14 to 16, 2021, and are able to provide the SMS notification through a mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, are not required to take the test again. However, they are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. Also, according to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from November 24 to December 16, 2021, 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 December 18, 2021. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons are also required to undergo testing.
      
     In addition, in accordance with the latest arrangement, persons who resided in the same building as the confirmed local case carrying variants of concern are required to undergo compulsory testing on the 3rd day, 7th day, 12th day and 19th day counting from the day subsequent to that when the relevant confirmed case last stayed in that building before being admitted to hospital for treatment or leaving Hong Kong.
      
     The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2835 1473) which will start operation at 7pm today for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.
      
     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and "restriction-testing declaration". Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person would 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 compulsory testing order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.