The Government announced today (May 1) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the … read more
​In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Sai Kung, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (May 1) that the Sai Kung District Office (SKDO) has distributed a total of about 61 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the district.
The SKDO today distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Lakeside Garden, Tui Min Hoi Chuen and Tsui Lam Estate for voluntary testing through the Hong Kong Housing Society, the property management companies and the owners’ corporation.
The HAD made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early.
Members of the public may refer to the demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) via www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk to learn how to use the rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.
Persons testing positive through a RAT should take a photo of the test result and declare the result within 24 hours via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If members of the public encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP under the DH will contact the relevant person later to complete the report procedure. There is no need to declare negative test results.
The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.
The Innovation and Technology Bureau (ITB) participated in a “restriction-testing declaration” (RTD) operation again, and completed the operation in the specified “restricted area” in Tung On House, Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau today (May 1). As part of the Government’s anti-epidemic team, the ITB and its departments not only assume the responsibility of fighting against the virus with the aid of technology, but also mobilise manpower to serve the public in the frontline, and participate in “restriction-testing declaration” operations with a view to stabilising the epidemic.
The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, yesterday (April 30) joined the RTD operation with some 140 colleagues from the ITB, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Efficiency Office. Arrangements were made for residents to undergo testing in an orderly manner so as to identify infected persons promptly for follow up actions to cut the virus transmission chains in the community.
Staff members from various grades participated in the operation, including the Administrative Officer Grade, Executive Officer Grade, Analyst/Programmer Grade, Trade Officer Grade, Management Services Officer Grade, Official Languages Officer Grade, Computer Operator Grade, Data Processor Grade and officers from the Clerical and Secretarial Grades. Working with full commitment, they went door-to-door to arrange residents to undergo testing in batches, and distributed food packs, rapid antigen test kits, as well as anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central People’s Government to support the residents to fight against the epidemic while staying at home.
Mr Sit said, “Fighting the virus is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s most pressing mission at present. We join other bureaux and departments to mobilise all available manpower and resources for anti-epidemic work. We have also engaged our stakeholders to fight the epidemic, including local universities, start-ups, research institutes and the industry. With the aid of technology, efficiency in various aspects of anti-epidemic work can be enhanced.
“Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong, the ITB and its departments have been putting technology to work to support our anti-epidemic work. We have implemented various schemes to promote the application of local technologies in preventing and controlling the epidemic. These schemes help unleash research and development (R&D) potential and promote commercialisation and application of R&D results in Hong Kong. A special call for the Public Sector Trial Scheme has approved 63 projects with total funding of over $102 million to provide funding support for trials of R&D outcomes that can help combat the epidemic in the community. The Distance Business Programme supports enterprises to continue their business and provide services during the epidemic through the adoption of information technology solutions, promoting the use of technology across different industries. More than 25 000 approved applications have proceeded to the implementation stage, involving a total funding of around $1.7 billion. Among them, about 22 000 applications have completed the projects. The Innovation and Technology Commission has also consolidated a list of more than 300 anti-epidemic products and services developed by local tech companies based on the recommendations from our innovation and technology partner organisations, with categories such as diagnosis/detection of COVID-19 virus, and disinfection and air purification, to encourage government departments to fight the virus with the aid of technology.
“With the strong backing and unwavering support from the Central Government and the concerted efforts of the entire community, the epidemic in Hong Kong has been stabilised. We will remain confident and determined, and continue to press ahead with the development of suitable technology solutions to fully meet the latest anti-epidemic needs. By bringing the epidemic under control, Hong Kong will gradually return to normality, and the flow of people can be restored as soon as possible.”
The Government yesterday (April 30) 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 Ap Lei Chau (i.e. Tung On House, Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau, excluding social service unit and car park thereat) 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. All persons in the “restricted area” who have tested positive in the past three months, 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, were not required to undergo testing in this compulsory testing exercise.
Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from April 24 to 30, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before May 2, 2022.
The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 11am today (May 1) 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 noon today.
The Government provided food packs for persons subject to compulsory testing to facilitate their meal arrangements. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government and rapid antigen test kits were also distributed to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus. The Innovation and Technology Bureau and its departments also set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
The operation was co-ordinated and conducted by the Innovation and Technology Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Efficiency Office.
　
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 11am 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 testing result and wore a wristband 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 noon. Test records of 145 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Two 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 reminds the 103 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 liable to a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person will 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 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
​A Government spokesman announced today (May 1) that the supply of fresh food from the Mainland yesterday (April 30) was sufficient and stable.
According to the latest information, the quantity of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong yesterday (as of midnight) by land and water transportation was about 2 400 tonnes, comparable to the average daily supply from the Mainland on a normal day. The volume of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong sold through the wholesale markets of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Vegetable Marketing Organization was over 752 tonnes. The average wholesale prices of choi sum and pak choi stood at $7.10 and $4.80 per catty respectively yesterday, largely comparable to the levels of a normal day. The supply of eggs to the wholesale market remained steady, with the average daily supply standing at about 3.5 million for the past week, comparable to the average daily supply on a normal day last year.
The total supply of chilled meat from the Mainland yesterday was over 41 tonnes. The supply of live pigs was plentiful.
The supply of chilled poultry from the Mainland was about 150 000 head yesterday, and about 11 000 live chickens were slaughtered locally. The supply was abundant.
Regarding the rice supply, in compliance with the requirement by the Government, stockholders of rice have to maintain the reserve stock of rice at a level sufficient for consumption by the local population for 15 days. The trade generally stocks double the required amount, which is sufficient for one month’s consumption by Hong Kong citizens. In recent years, the import and consumption of rice in Hong Kong has stood at a steady level of around 320 000 to 330 000 tonnes per year. The import quantity (including reserve stock) as of end-March 2022 was 27 300 tonnes. Suppliers also maintain a reserve for food that can be stored, such as frozen meat, for around three months’ stock generally.
The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities and major food suppliers to ensure a stable food supply.
The AFCD updates and publishes the fresh food supply information daily. Members of the public may visit the AFCD website for updates on daily supplies and wholesale prices of fresh food (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_fresh/agr_fresh.html). read more