â€‹The Government today (May 16) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" (declaration) effective from 5.30pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tseung Kwan O (i.e. Sau Lam House, Tsui Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O, excluding social service units thereat and shops on G/F, see Annex.) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at around 8am tomorrow (May 17). The operation may be extended depending on test results. 

     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'. Having reviewed a basket of factors, including the viral load in sewage, the information of relevant positive cases, and other circumstantial factors, and conducted a risk assessment, the Government decided to make a 'restriction-testing declaration' for the relevant area." 

     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 11.30pm today. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will make arrangement to facilitate specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. All persons in the "restricted area" who have tested positive in the past 14 days, including positive cases identified either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests that have been self-declared to the DH, are not required to undergo testing in this compulsory testing exercise. 

     The Government spokesman said, "We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the 'restricted area' as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 8am tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees." 

     If staying in the "restricted area" will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes. 

     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any persons other than those specified above who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from May 10 to May 16, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before May 18, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing. 

     The Government will provide food packs and necessity packs for persons subject to compulsory testing, so as to facilitate the meal arrangements and daily needs of some persons subject to compulsory testing. In addition, the Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2835 1473) which starts operation at 5.30pm today for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons. 

     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and "restriction-testing declaration". Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. 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 compulsory testing order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 16) that the second phase of the Driving on Lantau Island Scheme (DLS) will commence from July 1 in view of the keen demand. The daily quotas from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays) will be increased from 25 to 50, including 10 for electric private cars, to promote green transport. 
      
     To tie in with the implementation of the second phase of the DLS, as well as to further enhance the transparency and fairness in the allocation of DLS quotas, the TD will launch a ballot system on June 1 for members of the public to submit applications for quotas one month in advance via the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/licences_and_permits/lantau_closed_road_permit/driving_on_lantau_island/index.html#3).
      
     In addition, to enable people with disabilities' access to South Lantau, the TD will introduce a trial of five daily quotas to hire cars serving wheelchair users on a first-come, first-served basis.
      
     The TD will closely monitor the situation upon the implementation of the measures. The TD has produced a driving guide and videos to remind motorists participating in the DLS of matters that require special attention when driving on closed roads on South Lantau, as well as to introduce the quota application and balloting procedures.
      
     Details of the second phase of the DLS and the quotas for hire cars are available on the TD's website.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: 
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (May 16) that a tender of 20-year Government Bonds (Bonds) under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme will be held on May 25 (Wednesday), for settlement on May 26 (Thursday).
      
     A total of HK$0.5 billion 20-year Bonds will be tendered. The Bonds will mature on May 26, 2042 and will carry interest at the rate of 3.30 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.
      
     Under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme, tender is open only to Recognized Dealers which are appointed as Primary Dealers. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the current published list, which can be obtained from the Government Bond Programme's website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.

     Tender results will be published on the HKMA's website, the Government Bond Programme's website, the Refinitiv screen (HKGBINDEX), and Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) not later than 3pm on the tender day.

HKSAR Government Institutional Bond Issuance Programme tender information
—————————————————————————————–
     Tender information of 20-year Government Bonds under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme:
 

 
     Price/Yield Table of the Government Bonds at tender for reference* only:
 

 
*Disclaimer: The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here.

     The Government announced today (May 16) the subscription and allocation results of the inaugural retail green bond issued under the Government Green Bond Programme. 
 
     According to the subscription information submitted by placing banks and Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC), as at the close of the subscription period at 2pm on May 6, 2022, 488 353 valid applications were received for a total of HK$32,567,420,000 in principal amount of bonds.
 
     A breakdown of valid applications is as follows –
 

 
     The final issuance amount of the inaugural retail green bond is HK$20 billion. Allocation is conducted in accordance with the mechanism set out in the Issue Circular dated April 26, 2022. The valid applications received have been allocated different amounts of bonds up to a maximum of five lots. There are a total of 150 826 applications for four or fewer lots. They will be allocated the full amounts applied for. The remaining 337 527 applications (i.e. those applying for more than four lots) will be allocated four lots each and then entered into a ballot. Of these applications, 194 302 will be allocated one additional lot.
 
     The retail green bond will be issued on May 18, 2022, and listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on May 19, 2022. Notifications on individual allocation results, applicable subscription moneys and amounts of any refund of application moneys will be made by the placing banks and HKSCC in accordance with the schedule set out in the Issue Circular.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "The inaugural retail green bond of the Government is well received by the public. This is the largest retail green bond issuance across the globe thus far. The introduction of the retail green bond has provided the public with a green investment choice with a steady return and further promoted the development of the local retail bond market. It has also broadened the variety of green and sustainable financial products in Hong Kong, reinforcing our position as a premier green finance hub both regionally and internationally."

     The Government announced today (May 16) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have been collecting sewage samples for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in some areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.
 
Rapid test
 
     As regards positive sewage testing results with relatively high viral loads in the following areas, the Housing Department and the respective District Offices will commence distributing about 160 000 sets of the COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the following areas for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identify infected persons:
 

• Tai Po District – Dai Nam Building, Tai Wo Centre, Serenity Park I and II, Wing Fat Building, 9A-9B Ting Kok Road, Ting Kok Building, Merit Place, Beautiful Garden, Kai Cheong Mansion, Sheung On Building, Full Scene Garden, Fullview Court, Fuller Gardens, La Fontaine, Yu On Mansion, Greenery Plaza, Evergreen Court, Reve Plaza, Shun King Building, Mei Sun Building, Mei Lee Building, Yuet Fat Mansion, Sing Kung Building, Winnye Tower, Wing Fai Garden, Wing Ming Garden, Fuller Gardens (Phase 2) Cinnamon Court, and On Lok Building
• Kwai Tsing District – Yau Ming Building, Bank Building, Victory Garden, Cheong Shen Mansion, Cheong Wing Mansion, Kwai Dao Building, Kwai Wah Building, Kwai Loong Building, On Shing Building, Yi Wo Building, Kam Heng Building, Kong Sheng Mansion, Kwai Chung Fa Yuen, Hover Court, Yi Fung Court, Greenknoll Court and Cho Yiu Chuen
• Sha Tin District – Granville Garden, Mei Chung Court, Mei Shing Court, Mei Pak Court, Heung Fan Liu – Pak Tin Village Section 5 and Heung Fan Liu New Village, Parkview Garden, and Mei Lam Estate

 
     Members of the public may refer to (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/rat/eng/rat.html) for enquiries relating to the use of the RAT kits.
 
     When using an RAT kit, please pay attention to and follow the instructions from the manufacturer to perform the test and read the result properly. It is advisable to record the displayed result by taking a photo immediately after reading. Users should wash their hands before and after performing the tests, and avoid placing non-essential items within the specimen collection area. After completing the test, wrap and seal all components of the test kit carefully and dispose of them properly. If the household environment is contaminated during the specimen collecting process, disinfection should be conducted with 1 in 49 diluted bleach solution or 70 per cent alcohol.
 
     People who obtained a positive result through an RAT for the first time can report via the online platform "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test" (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If individuals encounter difficulties using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure.