Police conducted a large-scale anti-illegal bookmaking operation codenamed "CROWBEAK cum WINDSHIELD" during the EURO 2020 in June and July, resulting in the arrest of 824 persons and seizure of betting records valued over $3.6 billion and over $23 million cash.

     In this operation, Police conducted a total of 137 raids, leading to the arrest of 824 persons, including 475 males and 349 females, aged between 14 and 87, for the offences of "engaging in bookmaking", "betting with a bookmaker", "operating illegal gambling establishments", “dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence" (commonly known as "money laundering"), etc.

     Police also seized over $3.6 billion of betting records, over $23 million of suspected crime proceeds in cash, 57 sets of computers and four vehicles suspected to represent crime proceeds. Furthermore, an aggregate bank balance of over $21 million believed to be proceeds of crime was withheld from various bank accounts. Both the number of arrests and the amount of seizures are record high in similar operations in the past decade.

     In addition, Police also carried out the following preventive measures and education campaigns before and during the EURO 2020 period:
     – anti-illegal gambling publicity on Police Facebook, Instagram and Weibo channels;
     – distribution of posters and banners with anti-illegal gambling messages at entertainment premises, restaurants and strategic locations; and
     – working closely with the Home Affairs Bureau and the Ping Wo Fund to promote anti-illegal gambling messages through various channels.

     Police appeal to the public:
     1. Under the Gambling Ordinance Cap. 148, anyone who bets with a bookmaker commits an offence and is liable on first conviction to a fine of $10,000 and to imprisonment for three months;
     2. Anyone who engages in bookmaking commits an offence and is liable to conviction to a fine of $5,000,000 and to imprisonment for seven years. A person would still be liable to the offence even if the gambling website is hosted overseas yet he/she engaged in its operation.

     The general public are reminded not to engage in illegal gambling and money laundering of any sort.

     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 one specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.

     In relation to a previous non-locally confirmed case with L452R mutant strain, any person who had been present at one specified premises during the specified period has to undergo additional testing. For prudence's sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     Furthermore, the address of a specified premises included in the compulsory testing notice announced yesterday (August 1), Euler Hermes Hong Kong Services Limited, should be Suites 312-314, 3/F, Cityplaza 4, 12 Taikoo Wan Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.
 
     In addition, as airport staff have chances of contact with inbound travellers and hence higher infection risks, they are required to undergo regular testing. The latest testing arrangement is included in the compulsory testing notice today (August 2). The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     If the tropical cyclone signal No. 3 or above is hoisted, or a red/black rainstorm warning signal or "extreme conditions after super typhoons" announced by the Government is/are 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.

     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.

     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 three 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 27 000 booking places available for tomorrow (August 3) at the CTCs, and around 88 per cent and 92 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.

     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 29 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."

     The Government announced today (August 2) that starting today, all government employees will be subject to the vaccination in lieu of regular testing (VRT) arrangement so as to ensure that government bureaux and departments (B/Ds) have strong defense against the COVID-19 virus and its mutant strains.
 
     Regardless of their duties, work nature and work place, all government employees covering civil servants and full-time or part-time government employees appointed on non-civil service terms who have not received the first dose of a vaccine are required to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 (PCR tests) using combined nasal and throat swabs (CNTS) at Community Testing Centres (CTCs) on a bi-weekly basis.
 
     "All government employees have an obligation to get vaccinated. It is also their responsibility of contributing to a healthy working environment and not posing themselves as a risk to co-workers and the public," a spokesman for the Civil Service Bureau said.
 
     "Under the new arrangement, government employees can still choose whether to get vaccinated or not. If they choose not to receive vaccination, they are required to undergo bi-weekly PCR tests at CTCs. The claim that government employees are forced to receive vaccination is misleading and unfounded."
 
     The VRT arrangement has been implemented for frontline government employees since May 31. The first phase covered frontline government employees who are regularly involved in enforcement, inspection and investigation duties and have frequent and close contact with members of the public, or are involved in high risk duties. It was expanded to cover all frontline government employees from July 19.
 
     The Government has stated on various occasions earlier that it would consider requesting government employees who have not received vaccination on non-medical reasons to undertake regular testing at their own expense. "Ample time has been provided for government employees to receive vaccination and the arrangement of vaccination leave has also been introduced a few months ago. According to the latest information on applications for vaccination leave provided by B/Ds, as at today, 70 per cent of civil servants have received their first dose of a vaccine," the spokesman said.
 
     "If individual government employees choose not to receive vaccination out of personal choice but not medical reasons, it is unreasonable for the Government to expend public money on their PCR tests for a long period of time. It is neither justifiable nor in line with the principle of effective use of resources. Moreover, it is not fair to those who have been vaccinated to have to shoulder the work of those who choose not to do so when the latter leave the office during the office hours to undergo PCR tests."
 
     For government employees who are unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination due to medical conditions supported by a valid medical certificate, they are still required to undergo bi-weekly CNTS PCR tests. Relevant B/Ds will allow these employees as far as possible to undergo regular PCR tests provided that departmental operations are not affected. B/Ds will continue to fund their tests on a reimbursement basis.
 
     With effect from September 1, save for those who are unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination because of medical conditions supported by a medical certificate, all government employees who have not received their first dose of a vaccine should take the regular PCR tests at CTCs outside working hours and pay for these tests at their own expense.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     To further enhance staff and patient safety, and prevent nosocomial transmission of COVID-19, the Hospital Authority (HA) will extend the regular testing arrangement to cover all staff members, full time and part time, beginning from today (August 2).
 
     The HA has earlier arranged frontline staff with direct patient contacts to perform a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.
 
     "The HA will set up a month-long transition period, during which all staff members who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination will receive the rapid antigen test kits for self-arranged testing every week. With effect from September 1, all staff members will have to undergo a biweekly polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 (PCR tests), except for those vaccinated or those who can present medical certificates. The PCR tests will need to be taken outside working hours and at staff members' own expenses," the HA spokesperson said.
 
     "The extension of the regular testing arrangement can help reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. The transition period can also ensure a smooth implementation of the testing arrangement. The HA expresses gratitude to staff members for their ongoing co-operation on the testing arrangement and also appeals to their early vaccination to protect themselves, their families and patients."
 
    At present, the vaccination rate has reached 67 per cent for HA staff overall. Among different staff groups, the vaccination rate has reached nearly 90 per cent for doctors, 65 per cent both for nursing and allied health staff, and over 70 per cent for care-related supporting staff.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 2) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From July 25 to 31, three community-acquired LD cases were reported:
 

1. A female patient, aged 23, who lives in Tseng Lan Shue Tsuen, Sai Kung;
2. A male patient, aged 57 with underlying illnesses, who lives in 17 Yuk Yat Street, To Kwa Wan; and
3. A female patient, aged 75 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Block 3, Cherry Mansions, Site 2, Whampoa Garden, Hung Hom.

     "Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     â€‹As of July 31, 30 LD cases had been reported this year. In 2020 and 2019, there were 104 and 105 cases respectively.

     "Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection including poor maintenance of water systems leading to stagnant water; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels," the spokesman said.

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus which support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Immunocompromised persons should: 
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

     The public should observe the health advice below: 
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     â€‹The public may visit the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.