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     â€‹The Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and gazetted a compulsory testing notice and specifications, which require any person who had been present at seven specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test, and continue to empower a registered medical practitioner to require any person whom he or she clinically suspects has contracted COVID-19 to undergo a test during a period of 14 days from May 29 to June 11, 2021.

Compulsory testing notice
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     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau reminded the public that persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notices and hence are not required to undergo compulsory testing. Completion of the vaccination course in general means having received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine 14 days ago.

​    Since there were outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection and/or influenza-like illness in seven schools, and the symptoms of the diseases concerned are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence’s sake, four schools and the specified level of three schools are covered in the compulsory testing notice today (May 28). Under existing practice, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) will provide schools subject to compulsory testing with stool specimen bottles and deep throat saliva specimen collection packs direct.
 
     Details of the compulsory testing notice are in Annex 1.

     In addition, subsequent to the announcement by the CHP on the updated quarantine arrangements of local COVID-19 cases with the N501Y mutant strain, persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases and had been released from the quarantine centres will be subject to compulsory testing on the third, seventh, 12th and 19th day counting from the announcement of the relevant confirmed case by the Department of Health (DH). Relevant persons have to undergo testing on specified dates. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).
 
     Moreover, all foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) working in Hong Kong have to undergo compulsory testing for the second time during the period from May 15 to May 30. Details are here.
 
     In accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier, all household members of close contacts are required to undergo compulsory testing. Any person who had lived with a person placed under quarantine pursuant to section 22 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (person under quarantine) in the same residential unit on the date of commencement of quarantine or during the 14 days before that day, and who becomes aware of the quarantine of the person under quarantine when the relevant quarantine has not yet been completed, has to undergo testing within two days of him or her becoming aware that the person under quarantine has been placed under quarantine and report to the Government the result of the test by phone (6275 6901), fax (2530 5872) or email (ct@csb.gov.hk) within three days of undergoing the test.
 
     Currently, there are a total of 21 community testing centres (CTCs) providing testing services 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 centres for the coming 21 days to facilitate the public’s planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres 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, there were around 29 000 booking places available for tomorrow (May 29) at the CTCs, and around 82 per cent and 89 per cent availability for 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.
 
     The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at the following locations tomorrow for all members of the public for free testing:
• Public parking space outside Kak Tin Village, Tai Wai
• Football Court next to Sun Fong House of Sun Chui Estate, Tai Wai
 
     The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Wong Tai Sin Square, Lai Kok Community Hall in Cheung Sha Wan, Beech Street in Tai Kok Tsui, Hankow Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kin Sang Community Hall in Tuen Mun will be extended to June 13 (Sunday).
 
Coupled with the 21 CTCs, there will be a total of 49 CTCs/mobile specimen collection stations in various districts tomorrow to provide free service for persons subject to compulsory testing (including FDHs). 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 2. Persons subject to compulsory testing and those with the “LeaveHomeSafe” COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the 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).

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the community testing centres (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/);
3. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any of the 121 post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 designated general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
4. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority;
5. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf); or
6.To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the sample collected as per relevant guidelines.

     The spokesman cautioned that testing received at Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority or during hospital stays, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.

     “If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the community testing centres.”

      Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test. Furthermore, persons subject to testing under the compulsory testing notices should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible. Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm. If persons subject to compulsory testing plan to conduct testing at any of the community testing centres, they can check the centre’s appointment status in advance. The hotlines of the community testing centres are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info/.
 
Relevant specifications for compulsory testing for persons clinically suspected to have contracted COVID-19
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     According to expert advice, compulsory testing for symptomatic patients can effectively slow down the transmission of the virus by early identification, early isolation and early treatment. To keep the epidemic situation under control, the Government considers it necessary to continue to solicit help from medical practitioners in identifying possibly infected persons as soon as possible.

     During the period of 14 days from May 29 to June 11, 2021, registered medical practitioners may, by a written direction, require a person whom the medical practitioner attends to in the course of professional practice and clinically suspects to have contracted COVID-19 to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test. Persons who receive the written direction (persons who are subject to testing under written directions) should undergo a test within two days after the issue date of the written direction (the testing deadline).
 
     Persons who are subject to testing under written directions may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

(1) To use the specimen bottle provided by the registered medical practitioner who issued the written direction to collect a deep throat saliva specimen and submit the specimen bottle to designated specimen collection points by the testing deadline (see the specimen collection points and time at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html). Having reported the case to the DH, the registered medical practitioner who issued the written direction will be notified of the test result; or
(2) To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories recognised by the DH (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf) by the testing deadline and submit the test result to the medical practitioner who issued the written direction or his clinic staff by electronic mail, fax, or by hardcopy within four days after the testing deadline.

     For example, if the written direction is issued on Monday, the person subject to testing under the written direction should undergo a test via one of the above options on or before Wednesday, the testing deadline. If the test result of the specimen is preliminary positive, 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 Centre for Health Protection of the DH.
    
     “Persons who are subject to testing under written directions are suspected to be infected and should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the community testing centres for testing. To reduce transmission risk, relevant persons who underwent testing are advised to stay at home and avoid going out when waiting for test results.”
 
     Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. 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 order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     Relevant officers of different government departments are empowered to perform certain functions under the relevant Regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), including requesting individuals to provide information and assistance when necessary. Any person who fails to comply with the relevant request commits an offence and would be liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000). Collection and use of any personal data for conducting COVID-19 tests must meet the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Government departments or testing service providers which handle the relevant information may provide the data to the DH or other relevant departments for anti-epidemic purposes as necessary. The workflow does not involve the provision of any personal data to organisations or persons outside Hong Kong.

     The spokesman said, “The Government 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

     In response to the criminal intimidation against a judge, the Department of Justice issued the following statement today (May 28):      In exercising judicial power, a judge is required to handl… read more

     The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been implemented for the 92nd day since February 26, 2021.        So far, about 2 286 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the pu… read more

     â€‹Regarding the recent remarks by some members of the community that the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021 would compromise the professional autonomy of the medical profession, the Government sees the need to refute such remarks as they are inaccurate.
      
     Article 142 of the Basic Law stipulates that “the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall, on the basis of maintaining the previous systems concerning the professions, formulate provisions on its own for assessing the qualifications for practice in the various professions”, and “the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall continue to recognize the professions and the professional organizations recognized prior to the establishment of the Region, and these organizations may, on their own, assess and confer professional qualifications.”.  Under the framework of the Basic Law, the power of the Government to determine the qualifications for practice in the medical profession through the enactment or amendment of laws is not in conflict with the authority of the relevant professional organisation (i.e. the Medical Council of Hong Kong (Medical Council)) in assessing and conferring professional qualifications on their own.
      
     Regarding the Bill on admission of non-locally trained Hong Kong doctors, it maintains Medical Council’s status as the professional organisation to assess and confer professional medical qualifications and to regulate the doctors, and the existing medical registration regime, including such pathways as Licensing Examination and limited registration.  The Bill only introduces special registration as a new pathway, which expands the scope of qualified persons who may apply for registration as doctors.  In future, doctors with special registration, like other registered doctors, need to register under the Medical Council, and will be subject to the disciplinary regulation of the Medical Council and the regulatory control of the Medical Registration Ordinance.  Once complaints involving professional misconduct are found substantiated, the Medical Council has the power to exercise disciplinary actions on the doctors concerned.  The Bill will not compromise the statutory status of the Medical Council nor its role in the registration and disciplinary regulation of medical practitioners in Hong Kong.
      
     As regards the establishment of a Special Registration Committee (SRC) to determine a list of recognised medical qualifications awarded by non-local medical schools, the Government respects the statutory role of the Medical Council.  After careful deliberations, the Government considers it appropriate to establish the SRC under the Medical Council.  According to the Bill, among the 10 members of the SRC, six of them (i.e. more than half) are prominent figures of the medical profession.  This fully demonstrates the importance that the Government attaches to the medical profession.  As for the remaining four members, three of them must be members of the Medical Council.  In other words, there will be four representatives from the Medical Council (including the Chairman of the Medical Council and three Medical Council members) serving on the SRC, reflecting a significant level of representation.  Like other committees under the Medical Council, the SRC will report its work to the Medical Council.  The power of the Medical Council will not be affected by the establishment of the SRC thereunder.
      
     As to the claim by some individuals that the Secretary for Food and Health (SFH) being able to issue directives to the SRC will seriously undermine professional autonomy, we have to emphasise that under the Bill, the SRC is responsible for determining the list of recognised medical qualifications awarded by non-local medical schools, and the SFH will only issue directives to the SRC about SRC’s performance of its functions when public interest so requires.  SFH’s directives will not change the power of the SRC. For instance, if the SRC fails to draw up a list of recognised medical qualifications within a reasonable period of time, the SFH may issue a directive to the SRC requiring the latter to complete the list within a specified timeframe.
      
     The Government would like to reiterate that it is an indisputable fact that Hong Kong is in shortage of doctors, for now and in the foreseeable future. We hope that members of the Legislative Council and the community can support the Bill so that more non-locally trained Hong Kong doctors can return as soon as possible to serve citizens in the public healthcare system. read more

     “Tsar of All Russia. Holiness and Splendour of Power”, one of the major exhibitions to be presented by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) this year, will be open to the public from tomorrow (May 29).
     
     Speaking at the opening ceremony today (May 28), the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, said, “We are delighted to showcase this amazing exhibition at the HKHM, with a fine selection of exquisite court treasures from the Moscow Kremlin Museums. The exhibition not only provides a rare opportunity for visitors in Hong Kong to appreciate the imperial grandeur of Russia, but also enables the public to interact with other cultures when international travel restrictions are in place.”
     
     The exhibition will showcase 170 sets of imperial artefacts from the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, including staffs, holy relics, harnesses, weapons, articles from foreign diplomats, ornaments worn by queens and toys of princes. By illustrating the life of the Russian court, namely the monarch coronation ceremony, ceremonial departure, military power, diplomacy and court life from the 16th to 18th centuries, the exhibition demonstrates how the political, religious and cultural environment of that era created the glorious monarchy of the Tsar of All Russia.
 
     Highlight exhibits include a “Jericho cap” ceremonial helmet which accompanied Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich on his campaigns; a diamond and emerald pectoral cross of Tsar Peter the Great, which was regarded as a symbol of imperial power; a sabre and a scabbard decorated with jewels; a resplendent jug in the shape of a female bust and the “St Alexius the Man of God” measured icon crafted by court painters.
 
     Other officiating guests today included the Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Rinchen Rakshaev; the Head of the Arms and Armour Sector and Curator of Arms, Armour and Artillery of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, Dr Sergei Orlenko; The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Mr Cheung Leong; the Chairman of the History Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Ms Anita Fung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Ms Fione Lo.
     
     The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Moscow Kremlin Museums and jointly organised by the HKHM and the Moscow Kremlin Museums. Solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, it is one of the exhibitions in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Series. ​The exhibition will run from tomorrow until August 29 at the HKHM (1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin).
     
     According to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), visitors are required to scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” QR code or register their name, contact number and date and time of entry before being allowed to enter museums for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. Appeals are made to visitors to download the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile app in advance and scan the QR code with the app before entering. Visitors who opt for registering their personal information at the scene are reminded to arrive earlier to avoid delaying their visits as a longer time is required for such registration.
 
     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, visitors to the museum will need to use hand sanitiser and will be subject to temperature checks before admission. They also need to wear their own masks. Children under 12 will only be allowed to enter the museum and exhibition facilities when accompanied by an adult. For details of the exhibition and admission arrangements, please visit
www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid268.html, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.