Tag Archives: China

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Mobile specimen collection stations continue to provide COVID-19 testing service to public

     As persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of local COVID-19 cases with the N501Y 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 Department of Health (DH), the Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at Island Harbourview in Tai Kok Tsui tomorrow (June 4) to provide free testing service for residents and workers of Island Harbourview subject to compulsory testing. 
 
     The Government spokesman reminded that under the social distancing measures, the following persons must undergo regular testing using combined nasal and throat swabs, instead of deep throat saliva specimens self-collected with specimen collection packs:
 

  • staff of catering businesses operating under Type B Mode of Operation who have to undergo a nucleic acid test every 14 days (or as alternative, complete a COVID-19 vaccination course);
 
  • staff of catering businesses operating under Types C and D Mode of Operation and staff of six types of re-opened premises (namely bars or pubs; bathhouses; party rooms; clubs or nightclubs; karaoke establishments; and mahjong-tin kau premises) who have to undergo a nucleic acid test every seven days due to being unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination because of health reasons; and
 
  • working staff accompanying and receiving local group tours (including tourist guides, tour escorts, staff seeing off the groups, drivers of chartered tour coaches and crew of chartered ferries) who have to undergo a nucleic acid test every seven days/within seven days prior to receiving the relevant group tours due to being unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination because of health reasons.
 
     Currently, there are a total of 21 CTCs providing testing service 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 was enhanced to show the booking status of the CTCs for the coming two weeks to facilitate public’s planning and selection of suitable testing centre and time slot for testing. The CTCs will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. The number of tests available for appointments at CTCs has been increased to over 46 000 per day, and additional manpower has been deployed to serve the public. As of 6pm today (June 3), there are around 34 000 booking places available for tomorrow at the CTCs, and around 86 per cent and 91 per cent 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.
 
     Coupled with the 21 CTCs, there will be a total of 37 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. Persons subject to testing (including staff of catering businesses and scheduled premises), and those with “LeaveHomeSafe” COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the Centre for Health Protection (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).
 
     People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS message through their mobile phones. Persons subject to compulsory testing must properly keep the relevant records. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive COVID-19 result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the DH for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the CHP.
 
     The Government reminds the public that they can undergo COVID-19 testing through various means. For details, please refer to the following webpage: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html. If a person has symptoms, he or she should seek medical attention immediately and should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or CTCs. The Government calls on the public and organisations to refrain from collecting more sets of packs than needed or making a profit through resale, so that others in need can also obtain specimen collection packs for testing. The Government will continue to closely monitor the number of specimen collection packs distributed and collected.
 
     The spokesman 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

Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices at tutorial centre

     Hong Kong Customs today (June 3) arrested a male director, a female tutor and a female salesperson of a tutorial centre suspected of having made false claims on the tutorial services they provided, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that staff members of a tutorial centre in Kowloon City used promotion materials with false claims in the course of sale of tutorials and claimed that a tutor has acquired a bachelor’s degree from a local university and obtained specified outstanding results in public examinations.

     After investigation, it was revealed that the tutor did not hold the said bachelor’s degree and her public examination results did not conform with the claims. Customs officers conducted an operation today and arrested one man and two women, aged between 29 and 38.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Consumers should also procure services at reputable traders and inquire about the service details before making a transactional decision.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     â€‹Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

Police appeal to the public not to take part in, advertise or publicise any unauthorised assemblies

     An organiser filed a notification to hold a public meeting on Hong Kong Island tomorrow (June 4). Considering public safety, public order, people’s rights and freedom, and the serious health risks brought by the ongoing pandemic to the society, Police have reasonable grounds to believe that the holding of the event will pose considerable threats to the public health and lives and issued a notice of prohibition to the organiser. On May 29, the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions upheld Police’s decision after hearing.
      
     It must be reiterated that participating in an unauthorised assembly risks committing offences under the Public Order Ordinance, and on conviction, shall be liable to a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Besides, participating in public gatherings may also breach the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) regarding prohibited group gatherings.
      
     In addition, the Court’s recent rulings on two cases of unauthorised assembly (public meeting and procession on August 18 and August 31, 2019) show that participating in an unauthorised assembly, whether involving violence or not, breaks the law. People involved in the case were eventually sentenced to different imprisonment terms. The Court also sentenced the defendants to prison for four to 10 months in a case of “knowingly participating in an unauthorised assembly” on June 4, 2020.
      
     Police appeal to members of the public to refrain from participating in, advertising or publicising any unauthorised assemblies and prohibited gatherings. It should be stressed that any group gatherings taking place during the ongoing pandemic can also increase the risk of spreading the virus. Police will deploy adequate manpower in relevant locations on the day and take resolute action to enforce the law, including making arrests. read more

Police appeal to the public not to take part in, advertise or publicise any unauthorised assemblies

     An organiser filed a notification to hold a public meeting on Hong Kong Island tomorrow (June 4). Considering public safety, public order, people’s rights and freedom, and the serious health risks brought by the ongoing pandemic to the society, Police have reasonable grounds to believe that the holding of the event will pose considerable threats to the public health and lives and issued a notice of prohibition to the organiser. On May 29, the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions upheld Police’s decision after hearing.
      
     It must be reiterated that participating in an unauthorised assembly risks committing offences under the Public Order Ordinance, and on conviction, shall be liable to a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Besides, participating in public gatherings may also breach the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) regarding prohibited group gatherings.
      
     In addition, the Court’s recent rulings on two cases of unauthorised assembly (public meeting and procession on August 18 and August 31, 2019) show that participating in an unauthorised assembly, whether involving violence or not, breaks the law. People involved in the case were eventually sentenced to different imprisonment terms. The Court also sentenced the defendants to prison for four to 10 months in a case of “knowingly participating in an unauthorised assembly” on June 4, 2020.
      
     Police appeal to members of the public to refrain from participating in, advertising or publicising any unauthorised assemblies and prohibited gatherings. It should be stressed that any group gatherings taking place during the ongoing pandemic can also increase the risk of spreading the virus. Police will deploy adequate manpower in relevant locations on the day and take resolute action to enforce the law, including making arrests. read more