The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR today (December 4) jointly held a seminar on Constitution Day, with the Endeavour Education Centre as the supporting organisation, with a view to enhancing public understanding of the constitutional basis and order of the country and Hong Kong.
      
     About 650 participants from various sectors of the community attended the Seminar themed "Constitution and New Journey of the New Era" to actively explore how the Constitution of the People's Republic of China (the Constitution) takes a more vital role in the development of "one country, two systems" at the critical moment when our country embarks on a new journey and Hong Kong enters a new stage in the new era. The Seminar comprised two parts, namely a keynote speech and a panel discussion. The keynote speech was delivered by the President of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, Mr Deng Zhonghua. The panel discussion was moderated by the Chairman of the Management Committee of the Endeavour Education Centre, Mrs Rita Fan, who hosted a discussion on the vital role of the Constitution on the new journey of the new era with the Vice-chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Ms Maria Tam, and Member of the Legislative Council Dr Simon Lee.
      
     Speaking at the Seminar, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that with the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) successfully held in October, this year's Seminar themed "Constitution and New Journey of the New Era", timely highlights the spirt of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and allows us to have a profound understanding of the Constitution's importance in country governance as well as the implementation of "one country, two systems". Mr Lee said that as stated in the Policy Address, the Government will further strengthen publicity and education on the Constitution, the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Basic Law) and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Hong Kong National Security Law); the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, has been renamed the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee to underline the importance the Government attaches to the promotion of the Constitution as well as its determination to take forward relevant work.
      
     In his speech delivered at the Seminar, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Luo Huining, highlighted "three musts" are necessary to ensure the leading and safeguarding roles of the Constitution on the implementation of "one country, two systems". Firstly, all sectors in Hong Kong should maintain the authority of the Constitution consciously and ensure the "one country, two systems" in practice is not bent or distorted. Secondly, all sectors in Hong Kong should commit to safeguarding the sovereignty, safety, and development interest of the nation as the ultimate principle. Thirdly, Hong Kong must promote the mainstream values of the core of "be patriotic and love Hong Kong" and implementation of "one country, two systems". All sectors in Hong Kong should keep enhancing the strong atmosphere of learning and promoting the Constitution, the Basic Law, and the Hong Kong National Security Law and respecting and maintaining the Constitution in the society.
      
     While delivering a keynote speech, Mr Deng Zhonghua pointed out that the Constitution is the most fundamental law of the state, as well as the general guidelines of administering state affairs. It has supreme legal status and effect. To the SAR, the Constitution is a fundamental manifestation of "one country". Meanwhile, the Constitution applies to the SAR as a whole and its effect is inseparable. Any law of the SAR, including the Basic Law, must not contravene the principles and the spirit of the Constitution. He said that the report of the 20th National Congress reiterated again that "will remain committed to law-based governance in Hong Kong and Macao and maintain constitutional order in these two special administrative regions as stipulated in China's Constitution and their basic laws". The Constitution gives the legislative foundation and source of authority for the Basic Law. The Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis of the SAR. He also added that we can better understand the home country and its history through the Constitution. He suggested Hong Kong youths to take initiative to read the Constitution and pay more frequent visits to the Mainland. He believed that Hong Kong youths will benefit a lot from "reading a book, traveling ten thousand miles".
      
     During the panel discussion of the Seminar, Ms Maria Tam said that with the advantage of global connectivity, Hong Kong's role should be positioned as "embracing the motherland with heart, Chinese learning as substance, Western learning as practical use" so as to overcome competitions with the West and resist various pressures from foreign countries. She added that the Hong Kong National Security Law must be fully and accurately implemented, and with the improved electoral system to safeguard jurisdiction firmly in the hands of patriots, the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems" can be ensured.
      
     Dr Simon Lee said that Hong Kong's role has been taken into full consideration in the blueprint of the entire country and national rejuvenation since "one country, two systems" was proposed. The country's reform and opening-up and "one country, two systems" have been a twin relationship at the very beginning, and served as the main driving force to promote the development of the two systems. In addition, in response to the questions, he explained that full process of democracy meant voting intentions are the result of long-time discussions among various groups of society. Experts, scholars and different stakeholders continuously expound, prove and negotiate to introduce democratic policies and keep monitoring after legislation and implementation of policies.
      
     The Government has arranged the government website as well as some major television stations to broadcast live the Seminar. The full version of the Seminar will also be uploaded to the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm) to enable members of the public to review the Seminar. They may visit the dedicated webpage (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/constitution_day.htm) for other information about Constitution Day.

      

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted the Hong Kong Cup 2022 dragon boat races at the Sports Hub Water Sports Centre in Singapore yesterday and today (December 3 and 4), as part of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

     Featuring a close to 40-strong team of professional male and female dragon boat paddlers from Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Cup 2022 was a highlight of the Singapore Regatta Waterfest (SRW), which returned to the city-state after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
 
     The Director of the Singapore ETO, Mr Owin Fung, said, "Dragon boat racing has its roots in ancient China more than 2 000 years ago. Both Hong Kong and Singapore share the tradition of hosting dragon boat extravaganzas every year to keep alive the legacy. We hope the Hong Kong Cup provides a valuable opportunity for further sports exchange that could strengthen the bond between the two cities."

     He added, "Hong Kong has long been home for different premier international sports events. With a 28-hectare multi-purpose Kai Tak Sports Park slated to open in 2024, and Hong Kong to co-host the 15th National Games with Guangdong Province and Macao in 2025, we will see a host of international sports events in Hong Kong in coming years."

     He thanked co-organiser the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, supporting organisation the Hong Kong Tourism Board and various participating teams and volunteers for their efforts in making the event a resounding success.

     The Hong Kong men's and mixed teams had strong performance and finished second and first in the Hong Kong Cup Open and Hong Kong Cup Mixed events respectively when competing against the respective winners of the Open and Mixed races in three other local categories, namely SRW, Tertiary and International Dragon Boat Community.

     The two-day Hong Kong Cup 2022, together with the qualifying rounds in the SRW, Tertiary and International Dragon Boat Community categories, drew approximately 1 500 participants in 54 teams, competing in a total of 38 races.

     The Singapore ETO set up a Hong Kong booth at the waterfront with various activities including face and hand painting, caricature drawing and souvenir giveaways for the public to enjoy a fun-filled weekend.

     The event marked the end of a year-long celebration organised by the Singapore ETO on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of HKSAR, comprising an assortment of 13 events of different types including a miniature exhibition, a youth competition, business seminars, gala dinners, a Chinese orchestra concert, a dance performance and a film festival. For the details, please visit the ETO's website at www.hketosin.gov.hk/events/about-25a.php.

          

     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 51 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 testing positive, 47 specified places are included in the compulsory testing notice. Furthermore, since some sewage samples collected in Shau Kei Wan, Ma On Shan, Tseung Kwan O and Tin Shui Wai have tested positive, four 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. Community testing centres (CTCs)/community testing stations (CTSs)/ad-hoc 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 need to undergo compulsory testing, 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 a "throat swab" 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_20221204.pdf.

     If any persons test 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 undergo professional swab sampling at any of the ad-hoc mobile specimen collection stations, CTCs/CTSs or recognised local medical testing institutions in order to fulfil the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen. For details on obtaining stool specimen bottles, please refer to the COVID-19 thematic website: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/Stool_bottle_collection_points.pdf.

     If the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above, the Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the post-super typhoon "extreme conditions" announcement by the Government is in force at any time during the period for undergoing the compulsory testing, the period for undergoing the compulsory testing will be extended for one day. 

     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. In view of the arrival of the Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine in Hong Kong, eligible persons aged 12 or above may, following the current vaccination schedule, choose to receive the BioNTech bivalent vaccine as an alternative to the fourth dose (or the third dose for recovered persons) from now on, while the Sinovac or the BioNTech ancestral strain vaccines can still be used. Online reservations are now open. Eligible persons aged 60 or above with same-day tickets may choose the type of vaccine to be administered on site.
     
    CTCs/CTSs across the city provide free nucleic acid testing services for the public, including eligible persons of targeted groups, visitors to public hospitals and residential care homes and all elderly people aged 60 or above. Relevant persons who wish to undergo a free test just need to make an online booking or use the Testing Registration QR code in the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application for registration.　

     Booking services are available for all 86 CTC/CTSs. Members of the public can make bookings through the online booking system (booking.communitytest.gov.hk/form/index.jsp). Members of the public can also fill in their personal information in advance to obtain the Testing Registration Code QR code through the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application. They can present that QR code for scanning before testing at a service point thereafter, thus saving their time spent on registration and queueing.

     The Government will reopen the ad-hoc mobile specimen collection stations at Ka Lung Court in Tin Wan, Park Island in Ma Wan, Bellagio in Sham Tseng and Hung Fuk Estate in Hung Shui Kiu tomorrow (December 5), and set up a new regular CTS at the basketball court next to Wang Lai House of Wang Tau Hom Estate in Lok Fu (near Lung Cheung Road and Tin Ma Court) from tomorrow for convenient testing by members of the public of Lok Fu and Kowloon Tong area. The opening dates and service hours of the ad-hoc 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" or "throat swab"
1. To visit any of the ad-hoc 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/CTSs (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 "throat swab"; 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 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 a "throat swab" 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 Government spokesman 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 ad-hoc mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs/CTSs."

     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 compulsory testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory 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."

     A spokesman for the Marine Department today (December 4) said that the Director of Marine, Ms Carol Yuen, is undergoing home quarantine in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health as a family member in her household has tested positive for COVID-19. Ms Yuen will work from home during the quarantine period.

     Ms Yuen has taken COVID-19 rapid antigen tests regularly with negative test results obtained. She also tested negative after conducting a COVID-19 rapid antigen test today. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work.

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (December 4) that in regard to the arrangements by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on mourning Former President, Mr Jiang Zemin, the sale of the "Miss 13 Dots Comics" special stamps and associated philatelic products issued on December 6 (Tuesday) will be postponed to commence from December 7 (Wednesday) at all post offices and on Hongkong Post's online shopping mall ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk).

     Customers can collect their orders of "Miss 13 Dots Comics" special stamps and associated philatelic products, including serviced self-provided covers, at their designated post offices starting from December 7. All post offices will only provide hand-back date-stamping service on December 7 with the "Miss 13 Dots Comics" special postmark bearing its issue date of December 6 for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. To observe social distancing and to avoid people gathering at the post offices, collection points will be set up at all post offices on the same day for submission of the covers requesting the hand-back date-stamping service of the special postmark. Customers will be advised of the collection schedule upon acceptance of the covers.

     Information about the latest sale arrangement of "Miss 13 Dots Comics" special stamps is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) and in the "ShopThruPost" mobile app.