The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) today (May 18) welcomed the Government's announcement on submission to the Legislative Council of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021 on June 2 to introduce a new pathway for non-locally trained Hong Kong doctors to return to Hong Kong and serve the community.

     The HA spokesperson said, "The HA will continue to give priority to recruiting all suitable medical graduates from local universities. The returning non-locally trained Hong Kong doctors will help increase the doctors' manpower in Hong Kong to cope with the ageing population and increasing service demand."

     To uphold professional quality, the Government will set up a Special Registration Committee (SRC) to assess the medical qualifications awarded by non-local medical schools and determine the list of recognised medical qualifications meeting the requirements. An HA representative will be a member of the SRC.

     Under the new proposal, local students can complete their studies with accredited non-local medical courses and return to serve in Hong Kong. Public hospitals will continue to collaborate with the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine to enable non-locally trained doctors to continue with their specialist training while working in Hong Kong, and provide supervision and assess their job performance.

     "The Hospital Authority has always been very concerned about the manpower situation of doctors in public hospitals and has implemented various human resources measures, including the recruitment of full-time and part-time healthcare staff, increasing promotion opportunities and strengthening training for doctors, and continuing the Special Retired and Rehire Scheme, in order to increase and retain doctors' manpower, meet service demand and alleviate the workload of front-line doctors."

     As at the end of April this year, a total of 33 non-locally trained doctors were practising in the HA for limited registration under the Limited Registration Scheme. The new proposal is believed to help attract non-locally trained doctors to join the local public healthcare system.

     The spokesperson added that amid the ageing population and rising demand for healthcare services, the HA has proceeded with the two 10-year hospital development programmes to provide more hardware facilities for public healthcare. However, the demand for doctors in public hospitals will also increase correspondingly. The Government's proposed plan can increase and stabilise the supply of medical talents for Hong Kong.

     A Pakistani illegal worker, holding a recognisance form, was jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts on May 18.
 
     Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators received a referral from the Hong Kong Police Force to further investigate an illegal employment case in February. Enforcement officers arrested one male Pakistani worker, aged 48, who was removing contruction waste at a residential flat under renovation in Fo Tan. Upon identity checking, the male produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.

     The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on May 18 with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
      
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
       
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of the exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. 

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited the office of Deloitte today (May 18). He was there with the Southern Region Managing Partner of Deloitte China, Mr Edward Au, and the Senior Advisor of Deloitte China, Dr Eliza Chan, to view the administering of a COVID-19 vaccine for staff members of the enterprise as arranged by the Government's outreach vaccination service and to give encouragement for them.
 
     At the invitation of Deloitte, the outreach vaccination service team administered the BioNTech vaccine to over 170 staff members today.
 
     "While the COVID-19 virus is raging across the globe, employees of global professional services enterprises have frequent overseas trips for work and meetings. As such, it is very important for the employees to get vaccinated so as to safeguard their health and maintain normal operation of the enterprises," Mr Nip said.
 
     "In addition to the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs), the Government is actively extending the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to various sectors and industries by way of outreach vaccination service. By making use of the resources of those organisations, we hope to provide a more convenient way for their employees to get vaccinated. The outreach vaccination service was launched today and we are in discussion with companies from sectors such as construction, consulting and public utilities to arrange outreach vaccination for their employees.
 
     "The outreach vaccination service is provided by partnering medical organisations operating the CVCs, and the vaccination process is similar to that in the CVCs. Moreover, both kinds of vaccines are available for the outreach service and the delivery of the vaccines will be executed in accordance with the established mechanism and procedures."
 
     Mr Nip called on related enterprises and organisations from various sectors and trades to encourage their employees to get vaccinated. In addition to the CVCs, should the related enterprises and organisations have a sufficient number of employees who would like to receive vaccination and a suitable venue with sufficient space, they can make use of the outreach vaccination service so that their employees can get vaccinated in a more convenient way. They can also encourage all those who are yet to get vaccinated to receive the outreach service as far as possible. Enterprises and organisations can call the hotline for the outreach vaccination service at 3904 1490 from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm, for arrangements.
 
     Mr Nip also expressed his gratitude to the medical team of the CVC at Tseung Kwan O Sports Centre for administering the BioNTech vaccine for Deloitte employees today.
 
     The Vaccination Programme has been expanded to cover all persons aged 16 or above. The minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine is 16, and that for receiving the Sinovac vaccine is 18. Persons in the above age group can make reservations on the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) for receiving vaccines at 29 CVCs and 21 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority. They can also make appointments for vaccination with private doctors or clinics participating in the programme.

      

     A 22-year-old woman was fined $5,000 by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (May 18) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C).

     The woman was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that she must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she was found to have taken off her wristband on May 7, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer upon a police visit. She was charged with contravening sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was fined $5,000 by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. 

     Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the regulations. As of today, a total of 138 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (May 18) for people in need of the service.
      
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
      
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
      
     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
      
Hong Kong Districts:
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Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
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Islands –
Tung Chung North Park (Zone B) Activity Room
29 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung 

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O 

Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin 

Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan 

Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai