The Government yesterday (June 4) 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 8pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tin Shui Wai (i.e. Shing Yu House, Block P, Tin Shing Court, 3 Tin Ching Street, Tin Shui Wai) 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 area had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained. 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 May 15 to June 4, 2021, 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 June 6. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today (June 5) 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 10.15am today.

     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) (including the Yuen Long District Office), the Hong Kong Police Force, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health, and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised around 240 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government provided simple food for persons subject to compulsory testing, including canned food, cup noodles, corn kernels, etc, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of some persons subject to compulsory testing. One box of masks was also provided to each person subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.

     The HAD also 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 7am 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 or 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 10.15am. Test records of more than 330 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Nobody was found to have not undergone compulsory testing. 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 hopes that the around 20 households who have not answered the door will contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after they read 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 $5,000. 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 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

  

     The Patents Registry of the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) has granted the first standard patent under the original grant patent (OGP) system this week, within 14 months after the date of filing of the application by the applicant.

     Launched in December 2019, the OGP system creates a direct route for innovators to seek standard patent protection in Hong Kong with a maximum term of 20 years, providing an alternative to the existing "re-registration" route.

     "It's an exciting moment to see the granting of the first-ever standard patent by original grant. It is a milestone in the development of Hong Kong's patent system, which is a key component of the intellectual property (IP) protection infrastructure and one of the important elements for the development of innovation and technology. The fact that a standard patent can be obtained directly in Hong Kong without going through first the registration process outside Hong Kong provides a convenient, direct and expeditious route for patent applicants and helps attract and facilitate more such applications. It also demonstrates the efficiency and efficacy of  Hong Kong's very own patent system," the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said today (June 5).
 
     "The 'Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035' affirms the Central People's Government's support for the future development of Hong Kong in a wide spectrum of areas, including raising for the first time the support for Hong Kong to develop into a regional IP trading centre and an international innovation and technology hub. We are equipping ourselves to leverage these new opportunities.
 
     "The launch and continued development of the OGP system is one of the strategic measures that the Hong Kong Government is pursuing to ensure that the local patent system advances with the times and meets the needs of Hong Kong's innovation and technology and the creative industries, and in turn, our long-term economic development," Mr Yau said.
 
     The invention of the first standard patent by original grant relates to the use of artificial intelligence to manage inventory in an e-commerce system. As of May 31, 2021, the Patents Registry had received a total of 426 OGP applications, of which 33 per cent (142 applications) were submitted by Hong Kong residents or enterprises and 67 per cent (284 applications) were from non-local applicants.
 
    Further information about the OGP system, including its detailed filing requirements, procedures and official fees, is available at the IPD's website (www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/intellectual_property/patents/New_Patent_System.htm).

     The Government yesterday (June 4) 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 8pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tin Shui Wai (i.e. Shing Yu House, Block P, Tin Shing Court, 3 Tin Ching Street, Tin Shui Wai) 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 had issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the building for more than two hours from May 15 to June 4, 2021, to undergo compulsory testing on or before June 6 even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today (June 5) 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 7am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Tin Shui Wai who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.
      
     If a candidate of public examinations needs to leave the "restricted area" for the exam centre before the declaration is revoked, he/she can make a request to the prescribed officers in the "restricted area", regardless of whether the test result has been obtained or not. The prescribed officer may allow the candidate to leave the "restricted area" after verifying that the candidate has undergone testing as required and recording the relevant information of the candidate. Candidates who receive a negative test result on their way to the exam centres will be allowed to sit the exam as scheduled. For the safety of all candidates, only those candidates who have obtained negative results in the nucleic acid test will be allowed to enter the examination hall. 
      
     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 2am today. As at 2am today, around 850 residents had undergone testing. No confirmed cases were found. 
      
     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit around 320 households. Around 20 households did not answer the door. Those include some households with confirmed cases or those undergoing quarantine. Some units are possibly vacant as well. The Government does not have detailed information in this respect and will take measures to follow up.
      
     The Government also understands that some residents already underwent testing at the mobile specimen collection stations set up in the district or by other means. Therefore, persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from June 2 to 4, 2021, and are able to provide the SMS notification through mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, are not required to take the test again.
      
     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $5,000. 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 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims Limited has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (June 5), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said. 
 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permit 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.

     The central lawn, football pitches and basketball courts at the Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, which had been closed in accordance with the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245) s17(4), were reopened at 1am today (June 5).
      
     Police will keep monitoring the situation and resolutely intervene or stop any suspected illegal activities, as well as taking law enforcement action.