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 six specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
 
     Since there were outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection and/or influenza-like illness in six schools, and the symptoms of the diseases concerned are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence's sake, the relevant schools or their specified levels are covered in the compulsory testing notice. Persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
 
     Persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must go to any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions to undergo professional swab sampling in fulfilling the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen.
 
     If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above is hoisted or 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.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac 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, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, to get vaccinated as soon as possible for better self-protection before the fifth wave strikes in Hong Kong.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are in Annex 1.

     Subsequent to the announcement by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on the updated quarantine arrangements of local COVID-19 cases with a mutant strain, persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on the third, seventh, 12th and 19th days counting from the announcement of the relevant confirmed case by the Department of Health (DH). Relevant persons have to undergo testing on specified dates. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf). For prudence's sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     In accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier, all household members of close contacts are required to undergo compulsory testing. Any person who had lived with a person placed under quarantine pursuant to section 22 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (person under quarantine) in the same residential unit on the date of commencement of quarantine or during the 14 days before that day, and who becomes aware of the quarantine of the person under quarantine when the relevant quarantine has not yet been completed, has to undergo testing within two days of him or her becoming aware that the person under quarantine has been placed under quarantine and report to the Government the result of the test by phone (6275 6901), fax (2530 5872) or email (ct@csb.gov.hk) within three days of undergoing the test. For prudence's sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

    CTCs provide testing services for the public, including free service for persons subject to compulsory testing. Booking and walk-in services are available. 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 (September 29), there were around 28 000 booking places available for tomorrow (September 30) at the CTCs, and around 91 per cent and around 95 per cent availability for booking places for the coming seven days and 14 days respectively. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.
 
    The Government will continue to set up a mobile specimen collection station at The Zenith, 3 Wan Chai Road, tomorrow for residents and workers subject to compulsory testing for free. Outdoor mobile specimen collection stations will be closed if the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 or Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is hoisted while all mobile specimen collection stations together with all CTCs will be closed when the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal or higher or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is hoisted.
 
     Coupled with 18 CTCs, there will be a total of 28 CTCs/mobile specimen collection stations in various districts tomorrow to provide free service for persons subject to compulsory testing. The testing capacity should be sufficient to meet the demand. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are stated in Annex 2. Persons subject to compulsory testing and those with the "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the CHP reminding them to undergo testing as soon as possible may receive free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable).

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

1. To visit any of the 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 (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
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 as per relevant guidelines.
 
     If a person subject to compulsory testing obtains a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner, proving that he or she is unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons, then he or she may choose to undergo testing via the following routes by providing a deep throat saliva sample:
 
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any of the 121 post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 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 spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority or during hospital stays, 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 mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs."

     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.

     Furthermore, persons subject to testing under the compulsory testing notices should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm. If persons subject to compulsory testing plan to conduct testing at any of the CTCs, they can check the centre's appointment status in advance. The hotlines of the CTCs are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the 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 order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     Relevant officers of different government departments are empowered to perform certain functions under the relevant Regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), including requesting individuals to provide information and assistance when necessary. Any person who fails to comply with the relevant request commits an offence and would be liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000). Collection and use of any personal data for conducting COVID-19 tests must meet the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Government departments or testing service providers which handle the relevant information may provide the data to the DH or other relevant departments for anti-epidemic purposes as necessary. The workflow does not involve the provision of any personal data to organisations or persons outside Hong Kong.

     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 contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons."

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session today (September 29) on the quarterly land sale programme for October to December 2021:
 
Reporter: You said you can't comment on reports about the Government's plan on, for example, ancestral land in the New Territories. But is the Government considering more ways to get back the land in the New Territories apart from just using the Lands Resumption Ordinance? And secondly, how would you assess the impact of the ongoing Evergrande debt crisis on land sale in Hong Kong? Do you think it will affect property developers' willingness to buy land?
 
Secretary for Development: On your second question, I think the Financial Secretary has said a few days back we do not believe that the situation you just referred to would cause any systemic risk in Hong Kong. Our financial system remains intact. Therefore, I also think that it will not impact adversely in any material manner on our property market. That's our very preliminary view.
 
     On resumption of land, again I will start by giving you some figures. A few years ago, on average, we resumed about 4 hectares of land from the market every year. For the past two years, we resumed about 45 hectares of land from the market every year. Going forward, we estimate that we will resume about 100 hectares of land on average annually from the market. So, you can see that the scope and the speed with which we are resuming land from the market has increased tremendously. So, that is the factual situation and that is a tool that we would not hesitate to use if we can be sure that the underlying public purpose exists with regard to a particular project.
 
     Apart from that, with regard to rumours and speculation relating to the Policy Address, as I have said time and again today, I would not be able to comment further.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Treasury Markets Summit 2021, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Treasury Markets Association (TMA), was held today (September 29) in Hong Kong. 
      
     In his keynote address, the Chief Executive of the HKMA and the Honorary President of the TMA Council, Mr Eddie Yue, highlighted the mutually beneficial relationship between the Mainland and Hong Kong in the financial world, and shared Hong Kong's strengths and efforts in promoting Reminbi (RMB) internationalisation. He also elaborated the key areas for further enhancing the development of offshore RMB hub in Hong Kong, including liquidity, product development and financial infrastructure, and encouraged market practitioners to seize the relevant opportunities.
      
     The Summit's panels covered two important topics, namely the impact of COVID-19 on the global economic outlook and financial markets, and the implication of central bank digital currency on the financial markets. The panels were moderated respectively by Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA and Chairman of the TMA Executive Board, Mr Edmond Lau, and Chief Fintech Officer of the Fintech Facilitation Office of the HKMA, Mr Nelson Chow, and joined by distinguished guest speakers from the financial industry and relevant sectors.
      
     The Summit was attended by over 580 local and overseas participants, including representatives from regulatory authorities, treasury market practitioners, asset managers as well as senior executives and professionals from banks, other financial institutions and corporates.

    

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (September 29):
 
Question:
 
     Regarding the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following figures on the complaints about water dripping from air-conditioners received, and the law enforcement actions taken on the matter, in each of the past three years and since January this year by the 19 District Environmental Hygiene Offices (DEHO) under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) respectively:
 
(i) the number of complaints received;
 
(ii) the number of cases identified through proactive inspections;
 
(iii) the number of nuisance notices issued;
 
(iv) the number of applications for nuisance orders made to the court; and
 
(v) the number of prosecutions instituted as well as the average amount of fine imposed on the convicted persons;
 
(2) of a breakdown of the figures mentioned in (1) by type of housing (namely public rental housing, subsidised sale housing and private housing);
 
(3) of the following information relating to the handling of the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners by FEHD in each of the past three years and since January this year (set out by DEHO):
 
(i) the staffing establishment for handling water dripping from air-conditioners;
 
(ii) in respect of the completed cases, the average, longest and shortest time taken to (a) investigate and (b) reply to complainants; and
 
(iii) the average number of days between inspections conducted for the same street or same building;
 
(4) of the following information relating to the "Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Dripping Air-conditioners" in each of the past three years and since January this year:
 
(i) the number and percentage of property management agents participating in the Scheme;
 
(ii) the number and percentage of estates participating in the Scheme;
 
(iii) whether it knows, among the relevant complaints for the participating estates, the respective percentages of those cases in which the water dripping problem was (a) resolved and (b) referred to FEHD for follow-up actions; and
 
(iv) whether it has evaluated the effectiveness of the Scheme in helping to resolve the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners in the estates concerned; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(5) as the Government has advised that there are difficulties inherent in handling complaints about water dripping from air-conditioners (e.g. (i) difficulties in ascertaining the source of water dripping in dim light environment, and (ii) there may be multiple sources of water dripping because air-conditioners are installed vertically at the same location on each floor of high-rise multi-storey buildings), whether the Government will apply advanced technologies for resolving those difficulties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(6) as the Government indicated in 2015 that it would review the practice of recruiting extra contract staff in summer to support frontline staff in handling the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners, and that it would, subject to the availability of resources, consider setting up dedicated teams to focus mainly on handling more complicated complaints in various districts, of (i) the review outcome and (ii) the number of dedicated teams and staffing establishment in each of the past three years and since January this year?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Upon receipt of a complaint from the public about dripping air-conditioner or notice of such a nuisance during its routine inspection, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will conduct site inspections. In most cases, upon issuance of verbal warning or advisory letter by FEHD staff, the flat owners or occupants concerned will take necessary action to rectify the problem of water dripping from air-conditioners. If the problem persists, the FEHD will issue, in accordance with the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), a Nuisance Notice to require the relevant person to abate the nuisance within the specified period. A person who fails to comply may be prosecuted, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000, as well as a daily fine of $200 as long as the nuisance continues. If the nuisance has not yet been abated upon the conviction of the accused, the FEHD will apply to the court for a Nuisance Order to require compliance within the specified period. Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements stated in a Nuisance Order shall be guilty of an offence, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $25,000, as well as a daily fine of $450 as long as the nuisance continues.
 
     Regarding the question raised by the Hon Chan Hak-kan, my reply is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) The number of complaints received by the FEHD and cases identified through the FEHD's proactive inspections, as well as other required information about water dripping from air-conditioners from 2018 to 2021 (up to July 31, 2021), broken down by the 19 District Environmental Hygiene Offices (DEHOs) and by type of housing, are set out in Annex 1 and Annex 2 respectively. 
 
(3)(i) Health Inspectors are deployed by the FEHD to the 19 DEHOs across the territory to undertake various environmental hygiene duties, including handling complaints about water dripping from air-conditioners. In 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the staff establishment of Health Inspectors in the DEHOs totalled 328. The number increased to 337 in 2021-22. The details of the staff establishment are set out in Annex 3.
 
     As the cases of nuisance caused by dripping air-conditioners mainly occur in the summer months, the FEHD has recruited contract staff to cope with the substantial increase in workload. Dedicated teams were set up to step up the inspection, advisory and education work on buildings where the dripping problem is serious and to take law enforcement actions. The number of contract posts has increased from 40 to 45 over the past three years. The details of the related staff establishment are set out in Annex 4.
 
(ii) and (iii) Upon receipt of a complaint from the public about dripping air-conditioner, the FEHD staff will usually conduct an investigation within six working days and give an interim reply to the complainant within 10 days. Excluding cases with investigation to be re-opened before the next summer due to the approach of cool weather, the average time taken for completed cases (those received and completed in the same year) over the past three years are set out in Annex 5. Besides, staff will be deployed to conduct ad hoc inspections in various locations, especially black spots of dripping air-conditioners with heavy pedestrian flow (such as roadside bus stops, public light bus stands and pedestrian crossings), during different times of the day including the early morning and evening hours. The FEHD does not maintain the other breakdown figures mentioned in the question.
 
(4) The Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Dripping Air-conditioners (the Scheme) was initiated by the FEHD in 2005 to solicit the assistance of property management agents (PMAs) in handling complaints about dripping air-conditioners in private housing estates during the summer season. In 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (up to July 31), the respective numbers of participating PMAs were 78, 80, 82 and 84 and those of participating housing estates were 267, 269, 270 and 269. The respective percentages of cases resolved by the PMAs and cases referred to the FEHD for follow-up actions during the same period are set out in Annex 6.
 
     Under the Scheme, the staff of the participating PMAs will, in the course of performing routine management duties in the housing estates, help identify the sources of the water dripping problems and advise the occupants concerned to rectify them. If the PMAs' efforts are in vain, the FEHD will take up the cases. The FEHD provides relevant briefings and training for the staff of the participating PMAs, maintain timely communication with them and follow up on the referral cases. After evaluation, the FEHD will issue letters of appreciation at the end of every summer season to commend the PMAs which have actively participated in the Scheme for their efforts and contributions in handling the problems properly.
 
(5) Devices such as digital cameras, high definition telescopes, retractable and adjustable video borescope inspection cameras (with LED lamps) are currently used by FEHD staff to facilitate long-range observation at night time or under poor lighting environment, with a view to identifying the sources of the water dripping from air-conditioners more effectively. The FEHD reviews the methods of investigating dripping air-conditioners from time to time, and will actively consider the use of new technology to enhance the effectiveness of its investigation. 
 
(6) To increase its manpower to cope with the massive workload of investigation, the FEHD has launched a pilot scheme since the summer of 2016 to recruit contract staff for setting up dedicated teams, which are deployed to districts with more serious problems of water dripping from air-conditioners. The duty time of the dedicated teams includes public holidays and non-office hours, facilitating more flexible manpower deployment to tackle the problem by conducting proactive inspections at relatively serious black spots in the districts during different times of the day. The number of dedicated teams has gradually increased from six (30 staff members) in 2017 to nine (45 staff members) this year.

     The Public Offices (Candidacy and Taking Up Offices) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2021 (Ordinance) was gazetted and came into effect on May 21, 2021. The Ordinance amends certain legislation, including requiring District Council (DC) members to take an oath to uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and bear allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC.

     The Government will hold the third oath-taking ceremony for DC members, including those from the North District Council, the Tai Po District Council, the Sai Kung District Council and the Sha Tin District Council, at North Point Community Hall on October 4 (Monday). The oath-taking will be administered by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, being the oath administrator authorised by the Chief Executive.

     According to the Interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the PRC by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the person administering the oath has the duty to ensure that the oath is taken in a lawful manner. He or she shall determine that an oath taken in compliance with the Interpretation and the requirements under the laws of the HKSAR is valid, and that an oath which is not taken in compliance with the Interpretation and the requirements under the laws of the HKSAR is invalid. If the oath taken is determined as invalid, no arrangement shall be made for retaking the oath. The oath administrator will act in accordance with the law and consider the validity of the oaths taken by DC members according to the relevant legal provisions.

     The oath-taking is legally binding. The oath-taker must sincerely believe in and strictly abide by the relevant oath prescribed by law. An oath taker who makes a false oath, or, who, after taking the oath, engages in conduct in breach of the oath, shall bear legal responsibility in accordance with the law. If there were illegal acts, the oath administrator will refer the cases to the relevant law enforcement agencies. 

     The Government will publish the list of DC members whose oaths were determined as valid after the oath-taking ceremony. As for DC members whose oaths taken are questioned by the oath administrator as to their validity, the oath administrator will follow up in accordance with the relevant legislation.