The Government announced today (December 20) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have been collecting sewage samples for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in some 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 commence distributing about 40 000 sets of the COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the following areas for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identify infected persons:
                                   

• Wong Tai Sin District – Bay View Garden, Wealth Garden, Fortune Garden, Hing Yip Building, Choi Hung Villa, Man Tak House, Ngau Chi Wan Village, Lung Chi Path and Kam Chi Path (14-16, 21-23, 22-24 and 29-31)
• Tuen Mun District – Richland Garden and Melody Garden
• Yau Tsim Mong District – Florient Rise, Hoi Ming Court, Peony House North Block, Peony House East Block, Peony House West Block, 3-25A Ka Shin Street and 4-26A Pok Man Street

 
     Members of the public may refer to (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/rat/eng/rat.html) 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 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 is 103.1 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Police today (December 20) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan.

     Chan Chun-chuen Peter, aged 59, went missing after he was last seen on Broadway yesterday (December 19) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.72 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a grey jacket, light-coloured trousers, black shoes, black glasses, a white mask and carrying a black backpack.

     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.

  

     In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display has been cancelled.

     While there have been adjustments to the anti-epidemic measures recently, allowing the staging of more large-scale activities in society, this year's Lunar New Year Fireworks Display could not be organised in time, as it normally takes two to three months to arrange.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 20) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the State of Sonora, the State of Yucatán and the State of Nuevo León in Mexico, and a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Mexico for import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry meat was imported into Hong Kong from Mexico in the first nine months of this year. Moreover, Hong Kong imported about 1 260 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 292.13 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first nine months of this year. 

     â€‹"The CFS has contacted the Mexican and Japanese authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH 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.