To enhance the understanding of the local social welfare sector about the main contents of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Department of Social Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Social Welfare Department and the Hong Kong Social Welfare Sector Joint Action Against COVID-19 jointly organised training workshops on the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC for the local social welfare sector from November 20 to 29. A summary and sharing session was held today (December 3) in hybrid mode in both physical and online formats.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, and the Director of Social Welfare, Miss Charmaine Lee, attended the session in person and shared their views. More than ten members from the management of social welfare organisations also spoke on their reflections on the training workshops.

     Mr Sun said in his remarks that General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasises ensuring and improving people's well-being in the course of pursuing development. He also encourages everyone to work hard together to meet the people's aspirations for a better life. Mr Sun briefed participants on various social welfare initiatives in Hong Kong, such as the On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services for children with special needs, the promotion of gerontechnology to enhance the quality of life of elderly persons and the Strive and Rise Programme which draws tripartite collaboration between the Government, the business sector and the community to support the upward mobility of junior secondary school students in a targeted manner. He said the measures are to ensure people's access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing, and social assistance.

     Mr Sun hoped that Hong Kong's experience in social welfare policies can contribute to the country and protect people's fundamental interests. He encouraged participants to stay engaged with the people and their communities. More measures should be adopted to deliver real benefits to the people and win their approval and address people's pressing concerns.

     In her speech, Miss Lee mentioned that the report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasises a people-centered philosophy of development to ensure a more complete and lasting sense of fulfillment, happiness and security for the people. Despite the differences in Hong Kong and Mainland's social welfare systems, the social welfare sectors of both places shared the same mission of improving people's well-being. She encouraged social workers of the two places to enhance exchanges and learn about the successful cases from each other to improve people's well-being and quality of life.

     The commencement ceremony of the training workshops on the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC for the local social welfare sector was held on November 20. Five online lectures were delivered by Mainland officials and renowned academics. The topics included the essence of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, political capacity building of the CPC, current status of the Mainland's social work development and poverty alleviation work. The training workshops have received overwhelming response with more than 2 000 registrants from the social welfare sector.

          

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 2) seized about 850 grams of suspected cocaine, with an estimated market value of about $730,000 at Hong Kong International Airport and arrested an incoming female.

     The 32-year-old woman arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. Upon examination of her check-in luggage, the batch of suspected cocaine was found inside the false compartments of four perfume bottles and two antiperspirants. The woman was arrested and an investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     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 35 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, 30 specified places are included in the compulsory testing notice. Furthermore, since some sewage samples collected in Shau Kei Wan, Kowloon City, Ma On Shan, Tseung Kwan O and Tin Shui Wai have tested positive, five 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_20221203.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 85 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.

     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 man who went missing in Ngau Tau Kok has been located.

     Lee Chung-shing, aged 84, went missing after he left his residence in Tak Long Estate on November 19 noon. His family reported to the Police on November 29.

     The man was located in a hospital on Lok Man Road, Chai Wan yesterday (December 2). No suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, urged parents not to underestimate the effects and complications faced by young children without the protection conferred by the COVID-19 vaccine should they get infected during her attendance at "Children with jabs, parents with ease" parent-child activities today (December 3). Parents should act fast in arranging COVID-19 vaccination for their children. For the sake of their health, the young and old should receive the required dosage of vaccine as early as possible for the best protection.
 
     A series of "Children with jabs, parents with ease" parent-child education activities were held at the D·PARK in Tsuen Wan. There were COVID-19 vaccination-themed game booths designed by teachers, students and parents from a number of kindergartens for the public to learn together with their families more about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination through the games. There were also a sharing session on COVID-19 vaccination by a paediatrician and an artiste, along with a singing performance of a vaccination song "Let's get a jab".
 
     A mobile vaccination station was set up at the venue providing vaccination service of five kinds of COVID-19 vaccine (the Sinvoac vaccine, the BioNTech bivalent vaccine, the BioNTech ancestral strain vaccine, and the paediatric and toddler formulations of the BioNTech vaccine) for members of the public of different ages to receive on site.
 
     Mrs Yeung said, "According to the statistics provided by the health authorities, since the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong, 11 children aged 11 or below who tested positive for COVID-19 have passed away. Parents should face squarely children's risks. How to provide the best care and strongest protection to children at this moment? The answer is to arrange for them to get vaccinated as soon as possible as no one can tell whether the next child who contracts the virus will get seriously ill, die or suffer from the after-effects of 'post COVID-19 condition'. As the Christmas and New Year holidays are approaching, different kinds of gatherings and activities will be more frequent, which will also increase children's chances of COVID-19 infection. Parents should arrange vaccination for their children as soon as possible."
 
     Other officiating guests attending "Children with jabs, parents with ease" parent-child activities included the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, and the Director of Information Services, Mr Fletch Chan. They were also adjudicators to rate the design of the booth games. Yan Chai Hospital Choi Pat Tai Kindergarten/Child Care Centre won the championship of the most creative booth game, while the first and second runner-ups were awarded to Yan Chai Hospital Tung Pak Ying Kindergarten/Child Care Centre and Creative Kindergarten and Day Nursery.

     Meanwhile, the "Little Anti-epidemic Pioneer" parent-child colouring contest attracted around 300 kindergarten pupils to participate and complete the colouring works with their parents. The champion went to Chan Shu-nga of Choice English School & Kindergarten, the first runner-up was Bianca Cheung of Talent Kindergarten, and the second runner-up was Chan Yau-shing of Kwun Tong Baptist Church Kindergarten.
 
     Since September, the Government has rolled out a series of promotion and education activities. Apart from the online programmes co-produced with a parenting website, parent-child workshops have also been held at different kindergartens to let parents and children learn about COVID-19 vaccination while having fun from activities as guided by instructors.

     The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservations and enquiry hotlines.