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     The Government yesterday (May 6) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” with effect from 3pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Kwai Chung ( i.e. Chui Kwai House, Kwai Chung Estate, Kwai Chung) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.
 
     In addition, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from April 30 to May 6, 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 8, 2022.
 
     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today (May 7) and carried out enforcement action in the “restricted area” afterwards to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 10am today.
 
    The Government delivered food pack to persons subject to compulsory testing to facilitate their meal arrangements. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines supplied by the Central People’s Government and rapid test kits were also provided to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus. The Housing Department set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
 
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative test result as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 10am. Test records of about 340 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Twelve persons were found not having undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing orders were issued to them. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminded the households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. 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. read more

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     â€‹The Government yesterday (May 6) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 3pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Kwai Chung ( i.e. Chui Kwai House, Kwai Chung Estate, Kwai Chung) were 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.

     In addition, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from April 30 to May 6, 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 8, 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 finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today (May 7) and is now carrying out enforcement actions in the “restricted area” to verify that all people in the “restricted area” have undergone compulsory testing. The Government will further announce the revocation time of the declaration.

     Starting from around 8am today, persons in the specified “restricted area” in Kwai Chung who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results as proof of having undergone testing may leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.

     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the “restricted area” yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 9pm yesterday. A total of 1 312 persons had undergone testing. Amongst them, five tested positive cases were found and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will take follow-up action. Regarding cases tested positive in the specified “restricted area”, the Government will provide health advice for persons tested positive pending admission to hospitals or isolation facilities, disinfection products and surgical masks to these persons and their household members pending follow-up arrangement.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 796 households within the “restricted area”, among which 91 households did not answer the door. The Government will take measures to follow up.

     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $10,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him/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 may be liable to a fine of level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories separately from 7am to 12.30pm today (May 7). The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been informed by two of the charities that the regional flag-selling activities scheduled to be held by them have been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.
 
     Information on the regional flag-selling activities today is as follows:
 

Region	Name of organisation	Colour of collection bag	Colour of flag
New Territories	Sai Kung District Community Centre Limited	Green	Green

 
     The contact information for the organisations that have cancelled their regional flag-selling activities is as follows:
 

Region	Name of organisation	Contact person	Contact number
Hong Kong Island	The Hong Kong Joint Council of Parents of the Mentally Handicapped	Miss Leung	2778 8131
Kowloon	Hong Kong Single Parents Association	Miss Lau	2338 1303

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
 
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) organised a briefing session on May 6 for around 320 representatives of the property management (PM) sector, to explain the enhancement measures of the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in the Property Management Sector (ASPM).

     The HAD launched the ASPM under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund. The objective of the ASPM is to provide each frontline PM worker performing duties relating to environmental hygiene or security in private residential, composite (i.e. commercial cum residential), industrial and commercial (including shopping malls) building blocks (hereinafter referred to as “eligible building blocks”) a monthly allowance of $2,000 for five months (February to June 2022).

     The HAD announced the enhancement measures of the ASPM last Friday (April 29), including: increasing the total quota of each eligible building block to not exceeding 200 (of which, 100 newly added quotas are for frontline cleansing and security staff engaged by premises within each eligible building block, as well as part-time/leave relief frontline cleansing/security workers of service contractors/subcontractors); providing a maximum of $500 administrative fee to PM companies (PMCs)/Deed of Mutual Covenant (DMC) Managers or Owners’ Corporations/Organisations (OCs/OOs) for each frontline PM worker for whom they have successfully applied; and extending the application period to May 31. In the briefing session for the PM sector, the HAD and the PMSA thoroughly explained to the participants the details of the aforementioned enhancement measures as well as the application methods.

     To facilitate PMCs/DMC Managers/OCs/OOs of eligible building blocks in applying for the allowance under the ASPM for the frontline PM workers engaged by premises located therein, the HAD and the PMSA will provide a “Verification Form” template for this type of applications early next week. Premises-occupants should verify that they have employed the concerned frontline PM workers during the subsidised period, and confirm that the allowance will be disbursed to the employed frontline PM workers, etc. The “Verification Form” must be signed by premises-occupants as well as frontline PM worker employees, and submitted to the PMC of the concerned eligible building for follow-up application to the PMSA.

     The HAD and the PMSA thank around 320 PM sector representatives for joining the briefing session. The trade welcomes the enhancement measures introduced by the HAD under the ASPM, and will co-operate actively.

     By the original application due date of the ASPM (April 30), the PMSA has received nearly 16 800 applications, which will benefit over 180 000 frontline PM workers, in which over 1 660 applications have been approved, involving over $360 million, benefiting over 4 120 buildings. The HAD thanks the PM sector for its support to the ASPM, and appeals strongly to PMCs/DMC Managers/OCs/OOs to uphold corporate social responsibility and civic responsibility, following an inclusive and fair principle, and submit applications for all frontline PM workers serving eligible building blocks (including premises therein) to the PMSA promptly, so as to give recognition to their committed efforts during the pandemic.

     For details on the ASPM, please contact the PMSA at 3696 1156 or 3696 1166, or visit the website of the PMSA (www.pmsahk.org.hk). read more