Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 17) that Jordan Valley Swimming Pool in Kwun Tong District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a dead bird in the pool.
It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow (May 18).
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session at Central Government Offices, Tamar, after the Fight Crime Committee meeting this afternoon (May 17):
Reporter: Good afternoon, two questions from RTHK English News. First, rumours saying the Government is going to take over Apple Daily sooner or later. Would you make any clarification on this? And to what extent do you agree that the bureau's recent move will affect press freedom? The second question is why the asset of media tycoon Jimmy Lai was frozen only a few days ago but not once he was arrested in the beginning of the year? Is it because of the new evidence the force has gathered or obtained? And how will this affect Hong Kong as a financial hub? Thank you.
Secretary for Security: Can you repeat your first question because you have asked quite a few?
Reporter: Rumours saying the Government is going to take over Apple Daily sooner or later, so would you make any clarification regarding this? To what extent do you agree that this bureau's recent move will affect press freedom? Thank you.
Secretary for Security: I shall not be discussing rumours here. But one thing I will emphasise, any activities that endanger national security will not be tolerated. Such activities, or such person, or such organisation, will receive the full force of the law. Endangering national security is a very serious crime. The Government's position is very clear. We will make use of all legal measures to prevent, interdict, and suppress such endangering national security activities. The action that is taken is against criminal activity. Whatever pursuit is being practiced, that pursuit must be taken in accordance with the law. Any activities that contravene the law, then the individuals or the related organisation will have to face the full force of the law. It is illegal activities that we are dealing with, it is not press work. In regard to timing for my issuing of the notices, I will issue it when I have reasonable suspicion that the powers should be exercised. That is the reason why I exercised my power to issue the freezing notices on Friday (May 14).
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
The Government will exercise the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publish in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 28 specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
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 28 schools, and the symptoms of the concerned diseases are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence's sake, the 28 schools are covered in the compulsory testing notice today (May 17). Under existing practice, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) will provide these kindergartens and schools with stool specimen bottles or deep throat saliva specimen collection packs direct.
Details of the compulsory testing notice are at 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 3rd, 7th, 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 at 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 (at 6275 6901), fax (at 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 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 centres for the coming 21 days to facilitate public's planning and selection of suitable testing centre and 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 are around 20 000 booking places available for tomorrow (May 18) at the CTCs, and around 65 per cent and 77 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.
The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at the following locations tomorrow for persons subject to compulsory testing for free testing:
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 48 open to FDHs for free 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 2. Persons subject to compulsory testing, and those with "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the Centre for Health Protection 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).
​On May 15 and 16, more than 69 500 foreign domestic helpers have submitted specimens at CTCs and mobile specimen collection stations or returned their deep throat saliva specimens. The operation of CTCs and mobile specimen collection stations was smooth over the weekend. More than 116 000 bookings at CTCs have been made for FDHs, and more than 460 000 quota are still available from tomorrow to May 30 for all members of the public.
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 notification 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.
The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. 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."
Police today (May 17) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sham Shui Po.
Wong Tsz-tung, aged 59, went missing after he left a caring home on Pek Ho Street yesterday (May 16) morning. Staff of the caring home made a report to Police on the same day.
He is about 1.6 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black checkered shirt, camouflage shorts and black slippers.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8038 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 17) investigating two outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), and appeals to members of the public and staff of institutions to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.
Details of the outbreaks are listed in the table below:
| Type of school (District) | Number of people affected and details of medical attention | Earliest onset date | Symptoms |
| Case 1: Kindergarten (Kowloon Tong) | 11 boys and nine girls (aged 3 to 6); 11 of them sought medical attention; all are in stable condition and none required hospitalisation | May 1 | Cough, runny nose, fever and sore throat |
| Case 2: Kindergarten (Fanling) | 12 boys and eight girls (aged 2 to 5); 15 of them sought medical attention; all are in stable condition and none required hospitalisation | May 13 | Cough, runny nose, fever and sore throat |
Officers of the CHP have advised the kindergartens to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory infections. The kindergartens have been put under medical surveillance. In addition, since the symptoms of URTI are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence's sake, the above kindergarten of case 1 and the kindergarten of case 2 are covered in the compulsory testing notice (CTN) on May 3 and May 17 respectively, to exclude the possibility of COVID-19 infection. The kindergartens were required to suspend teaching activities for at least five days for cleaning and executing the CTN.
The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses and note the following:
• Receive a seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the nose and mouth with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.
Members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, should wear a face mask and consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection.