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Government gazettes compulsory testing notice

     â€‹â€‹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 three 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 three schools, and the symptoms of the diseases concerned are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence’s sake, the three schools are covered in the compulsory testing notice today (June 29). Under existing practice, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) will provide schools subject to compulsory testing with stool specimen bottles and deep throat saliva specimen collection packs direct.
 
     In general, persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notices and hence are not required to undergo compulsory testing. However, if the relevant case involves mutant strain, for prudence’s sake, persons subject to compulsory testing and have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course may also have to undergo compulsory testing.
 
     Details of the compulsory testing notice are in Annex 1.
 
     Subsequent to the announcement by the CHP on the updated quarantine arrangements of local COVID-19 cases with mutant strain, persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases and had been released from the quarantine centres will be subject to compulsory testing on the third, seventh, 12th and 19th day 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).
 
     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.
 
     Community testing centres (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, there were around 18 000 booking places available for tomorrow (June 30) at the CTCs, and around 83 per cent and 90 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.
 
     As persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of local COVID-19 cases with mutant strain will be subject to compulsory testing on the third, seventh, 12th and 19th day following the announcement of the relevant confirmed cases by the DH, specified persons in relation to Wan Hang House, Wan Tau Tong Estate, Tai Po have to undergo compulsory testing tomorrow. The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at open area outside Block A (Yat Wing House) of Yat Nga Court in Tai Po tomorrow to provide free testing service for residents and workers subject to compulsory testing.


     The CTCs at Morse Park Sports Centre in Wong Tai Sin, Tai Wo Sports Centre in Tai Po and Wai Tsuen Sports Centre in Tsuen Wan will reopen tomorrow. The service period of the mobile specimen collection station at On Hing Playground in Yuen Long will be extended to July 11 (Sunday). 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 19 CTCs, there will be a total of 38 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 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 outpatient 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);
4. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority;
5. 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); or
6. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the sample collected as per relevant guidelines.
 
     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 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.” read more

Property management company and tenants support COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (with photos)

     International Commerce Centre (ICC), together with The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, participated in the Government’s outreach vaccination service today (June 29). About 250 people, including staff members from Kai Shing Management Services Limited (Kai Shing) which is the Building Manager of ICC, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, and international financial institutions in the building, were administered with the BioNTech vaccine. 

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and Executive Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited Mr Adam Kwok, jointly viewed the administering of the vaccine this afternoon. This is the first time that a property management company has taken the lead to gather tenants of a building to participate in outreach vaccination.  

     “I am grateful to Kai Shing for taking the lead and The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, for providing the venue, which makes the outreach vaccination service possible today by gathering staff members from various companies of the building who would like to get vaccinated.  People working in the same building often have to use common facilities such as lobbies and lifts. Hence, they can gain better protection if all of them are vaccinated,” Mr Nip said.

     Mr Nip called on various sectors and industries to join the Government in promoting the “Early Vaccination for All” campaign and encourage people to get vaccinated so as to help build an immune barrier in Hong Kong as soon as possible by significantly raising the vaccination rate, thereby restoring normality to society sooner rather than later.

     Should enterprises and organisations have a sufficient number of employees who would like to get vaccinated and a suitable venue with sufficient space, they can make use of the outreach vaccination service so that their employees can be vaccinated in a more convenient way. Enterprises and groups can call the hotline for the outreach vaccination service at 3904 1490 from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm, for arrangements.  

     There has been enthusiastic support for the outreach vaccination programme since it was launched by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB). Having provided the outreach vaccination service to the Hong Kong Sports Institute, post-secondary institutions, global professional services enterprises, property developers, a financial institution, the construction industry, public utilities and a district organisation, the CSB is now proactively in discussions with enterprises and groups from various sectors on the feasibility of providing the service to them.  

     Mr Nip expressed his gratitude to the medical team and administrative support staff of the Community Vaccination Centre at Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre for providing the outreach service today.

Photo  Photo  Photo  Photo  
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Government announces quarterly land sale programme for July to September 2021

     The Government announced today (June 29) the quarterly land sale programme for the second quarter of 2021-22, i.e. July to September 2021.
 
     “In the second quarter of 2021-22, the Government will sell by tender two residential sites, one each in Kowloon Tong and Yuen Long. The total estimated flat yield is about 200 units,” the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said.
 
     In the coming quarter, the MTR Corporation Limited plans to tender the property development project of Tung Chung Traction Substation, which can provide about 1 600 units. The Urban Renewal Authority also plans to sell by tender a development project at Bailey Street/Wing Kwong Street, To Kwa Wan, which is capable of producing about 1 150 units.
 
     On private development and redevelopment projects, four projects are expected to have their lease modification processes completed in the second quarter, capable of producing about 2 450 units.
 
     “The private housing land supply in the second quarter is estimated to have a capacity to produce about 5 400 units in total, which is a relatively high quarterly figure in recent years. Together with the private residential land supply in the first quarter, the private housing land supply in the first half of 2021-22 is expected to reach about 7 050 units in total, reaching more than half of our private housing supply annual target (12 900 units),” Mr Wong said.
 
     As regards commercial land, the Government has recently put up for sale two large-scale commercial sites, viz. Caroline Road Hill site in Causeway Bay and Site 3 in New Central Harbourfront. These two sites would together provide about 250 000 square meters of commercial gross floor area in total. “While we do not intend to put up new commercial site for tender in the second quarter, the Government will continue to monitor the market situation and put up commercial sites for sale when appropriate,” Mr Wong said.
 
     The Government would continue to increase land supply through a multi-pronged approach in order to maintain a sustained and stable supply and meet the community’s needs for housing, economic and social development.
 
     The list of the sites to be tendered in July to September 2021 is attached. The actual tender timetable will be drawn up taking into account the progress of necessary preparatory work. The Lands Department will announce the detailed land sale arrangements before individual sites are put up for tender.
 
     In addition, taking into account the private development and redevelopment project not requiring lease modification recorded in March this year, the actual private housing land supply for 2020-21 has increased from 13 020 units as announced in February to about 13 200 units. read more

CFS finds antibiotic in honey sample

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 29) announced that a sample of bottled honey was detected to contain metronidazole, an antibiotic. The CFS is following up on the case.
 
     Details of the product are as follows:

Product: Winter Honey
Brand: Select
Distributor: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Net weight: 1 kilogram per bottle
Best-before date: January 10, 2023
 
     “The CFS collected the above-mentioned honey sample from a supermarket in Yuen Long for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained metronidazole at a level of 3.3 micrograms per kg. The CFS has notified the vendor concerned of the test result and instructed it to stop selling the affected batch of the product. The distributor concerned has also initiated a recall on the affected batch of the product according to the CFS’s instruction. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2606 8658 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product. The CFS is tracing the source and distribution of the food in question. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence,” a CFS spokesman said.
 
     “According to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), residues of metronidazole or its metabolites may cause significant health concerns, and competent authorities should prevent residues of metronidazole in food,” he added.
 
     According to Section 52 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, any person who sells to a purchaser any food which is not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser shall be guilty of an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months upon conviction.
 
     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. read more