The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been implemented for the 77th day since February 26, 2021.
 
     So far, about 1 856 600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the public (please see Annex 1). Among them, about 1 123 400 persons have received their first dose, with about 493 500 persons receiving the Sinovac vaccine and about 629 900 persons receiving the BioNTech vaccine. About 733 200 persons have received their second dose, with about 355 200 persons receiving the Sinovac vaccine and about 378 000 persons receiving the BioNTech vaccine.
 
     In the last 24 hours ending at 8pm today (May 13), about 25 700 persons have received vaccination and about 10 400 new vaccination bookings have been made online, detailed as follows:
 
(i) About 3 600 persons received their first dose of the Sinovac vaccine, including about 1 600 persons vaccinated at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and about 2 000 persons at private doctors and clinics participating in the programme;
 
(ii) about 3 800 persons received their second dose of the Sinovac vaccine, including about 1 700 persons vaccinated at CVCs and about 2 100 persons at private doctors and clinics;
 
(iii) about 7 600 persons received their first dose of the BioNTech vaccine at CVCs, and about 10 700 persons received their second dose of the BioNTech vaccine;
 
(iv) the overall percentage of people who have received the Sinovac vaccine at CVCs is about 96 per cent; while the overall percentage of people who have received the BioNTech vaccine at CVCs is about 96 per cent; and
 
(v) about 2 700 persons have made online bookings for receiving their first and second doses of the Sinovac vaccine, while about 7 600 persons have made online bookings for receiving their first and second doses of the BioNTech vaccine.
 
     In the last 24 hours ending at 0.00am today, there were six cases of ambulance transfers to hospitals. Among them, three persons were discharged, two persons were discharged against medical advice and one person was admitted and was in critical condition (please see Annex 2).
 
     As background information, in the last 24 hours ending at 0.00am today, there were 49 cases of stroke or myocardial infarction that required admission to the Intensive Care Unit, Acute Stroke Unit and Cardiac Care Unit of public hospitals. The state of new cases admitted to the wards concerned is provided as a cross reference to enhance fuller public understanding of cases of the kind recorded on vaccine recipients.

     The Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and published in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 25 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.

​     In view of a confirmed case announced today (May 13), one residential building is included in the compulsory testing notice. Also, in relation to the previous local cases involving N501Y mutant strain, any person who had been present at six specified premises during the specified period had to undergo additional testing. Furthermore, since there were outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection and/or influenza-like illness in 18 schools, and the symptoms of the concerned diseases are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence's sake, the 18 schools are also covered in the compulsory testing notice. 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 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). Booking status of centres for the coming week will be shown for public's 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 19 000 booking places available for tomorrow (May 14) at the 21 CTCs, and around 65 per cent and 77 per cent booking places for the coming 7 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:
•Outside 37-39 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po (May 14)
•Man Tung Road Park entrance (near the roundabout), Tung Chung (May 14 to 16)
•Open space outside Ying Yat House and Luk Yat House, Yat Tung Estate, Tung Chung (May 14 to 16)
•Open space outside Fu Tung Plaza, Fu Tung Estate, Tung Chung (May 14 to 16)
•Public Open Space of Tung Chung Crescent and Town Square at Citygate, Tung Chung (May 14 to 16)
 
     The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at carpark of Quarry Bay Community Hall will be extended to May 23 (Sunday), and that of the stations at Edinburgh Place in Central, On Hing Playground in Yuen Long, Tin Shui Sports Centre in Tin Shui Wai, plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall, Tai Po Community Centre and Tung Chung North Park will be extended to May 30 (Sunday).
 
     The Government is planning for additional mobile specimen collection stations to meet the testing demand from foreign domestic helpers in the coming weekends, as set out in Annex 2. Service details of these additional stations will be further announced.

     Coupled with the 21 CTCs, there will be a total of 42 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 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 community testing centres 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 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."

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital made the following announcement today (May 13):
 
     Four paediatric patients (two males and two females, aged from 5 months to 1 year) in a paediatric ward had presented with respiratory symptoms since May 4. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the four paediatric patients and their test results were positive for Rhinovirus/Enterovirus. One male patient has been discharged and the other three are being treated under isolation with stable condition. One male patient has been transferred to Hong Kong Children's Hospital for further treatment.
 
     The following enhanced infection control measures have been adopted according to the established guidelines:
 
1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Enhanced medical surveillance of the paediatric patients in the ward concerned; and
3. Applied stringent droplet and contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and paediatric patients.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor other paediatric patients in the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     Two persons were sentenced by the magistrates' courts today (May 13) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C).
 
     The first case involved a woman aged 46, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that she must conduct quarantine at a hotel for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she left the place of quarantine on April 1, 2021, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and was stopped by an immigration officer at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. The woman was then conveyed to the Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centre (the Quarantine Centre) on the same day for serving the remaining quarantine period. However, she escaped from the Quarantine Centre on April 11 and 13, 2021. She was charged with three counts of contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) and one count of contravening sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for a total of six weeks.
 
     The second case involved a man aged 29, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine on October 29, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. He was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Shatin Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for six days.
     
     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 sentences send 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 137 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 Development Bureau announced today (May 13) that private land within three land parcels that have been zoned for high-density housing development in the relevant statutory outline zoning plans (OZPs) would be resumed under the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Cap. 124) (LRO) for subsidised housing. 
      
     The respective locations and zonings of the three land parcels are as follows:

     1. A land parcel with an area of 3 500 square metres zoned as "Residential (Group A)" (R(A)) at San Wan Road near Wong Kong Shan in Fanling;
     2. A land parcel with an area of 7 000 sq m zoned as R(A) at Shap Pat Heung Road near Lung Tin Tsuen in Yuen Long; and
     3. A land parcel with an area of 5 300 sq m zoned as "Comprehensive Development Area" (CDA) near the junction of Yuen Lung Street and Yau Tin East Road in Yuen Long.

     The plans of these land parcels are at Annex 1. The 12 300 sq m of private land, together with adjoining government land of about 3 500 sq m, are expected to produce around 1 600 flats based on the existing development parameters specified for the land use zonings.

     "The Government would strive to complete the land resumption process as soon as possible. The Lands Department has commenced pre-clearance surveys at all three land parcels today," a spokesperson for the Development Bureau said. 

     These three parcels were identified earlier, alongside with seven other land parcels, for the review on private land zoned for high-density housing development (the Review) which was one of the measures announced by the Chief Executive in the 2019 Policy Address to intensify Government‑led planning and land resumption efforts. These 10 land parcels have been zoned as CDA or R(A) with a domestic plot ratio ranging from 5 to 7.5, but where the sites are yet to be developed by the lot owners as intended under the concerned land use zonings.

     For the three land parcels to be resumed, they have been zoned for high-density housing development since late 1980s/early 1990s. There is no active lease modification and land exchange application for these land parcels. Since these three land parcels are assessed to be suitable for high-density subsidised housing development taking account of such considerations as the overall planning of the area concerned; community facilities and infrastructure available in the area; the location, size, development parameters and existing uses of the land parcels, etc, the Government will invoke the LRO for resumption of the private land therein, to achieve the public purpose of utilising the land for subsidised housing. Following the statutory resumption process, the Government will seek authorisation of the Chief Executive in Council after taking into account any objections received from affected stakeholders.

     "While these sites have been zoned years ago for a higher density development with a view to encouraging optimal site utilisation by private initiatives, the announcement today indicates the Government's readiness to take the lead in developing these sites through resumption for a public purpose if the potential has not been realised in a timely manner," the spokesperson said.

     "With immediate effect, the Lands Department will not accept any new application for lease modification and land exchange concerning these three land parcels," the spokesperson added. 

     For the remaining seven land parcels identified for the Review, two of them are considered not suitable for high-density subsidised housing development (locations and plans at Annex 2). One of them (item 1 of Annex 2) is located in an industrial area with an active operation on site and in its neighbouring area, and the planning intention has been to redevelop the site primarily for commercial use. Since the local circumstances have not changed, there would be a land use compatibility issue if the site is used for housing. The other land parcel (item 2 of Annex 2) suffers from severe geological constraints which have significant cost-effectiveness implications if the land were to be used for subsidised housing development.

     As for the other five land parcels covered by the Review, they would not be resumed for subsidised housing development at this stage. Three of these land parcels have lease modification or land exchange applications being actively pursued by the lot owners to realise the development potential envisaged under the current zonings, and the Lands Department will continue to process these applications according to the established arrangement. The remaining two land parcels are subject to further review on their cost-effectiveness for subsidised housing development, taking into account the massive clearances to be required vis-à-vis the relatively low estimated flat yields currently envisaged.
      
     The specific locations and details of these five land parcels would not be disclosed taking account of the commercial sensitivity involved and the need to prevent jeopardising the Government's further review of the potential for subsidised housing in the light of changing circumstances. 
      
     Land supply tops the policy agenda of the current-term Government. The Government has intensified its efforts to expedite development projects, including invoking the LRO and other applicable ordinances to resume the private land involved for development of subsidised housing and related facilities. Both the extent and pace of land resumption has been significantly increased in recent years. Within a two-year time frame in 2019-20 and 2020-21, the Government resumed around 90 hectares (ha) of land (including around 80 ha of land for New Development Areas (NDA) and subsidised housing development), which is much more than the 20 ha resumed over the immediate past five years. Looking ahead, about 700 ha of land (including more than 600 ha of land for NDA and subsidised housing development) are expected to be resumed from 2021-22, of which around 500 ha of land (including around 400 ha for NDA and subsidised housing development) are expected to be resumed in the next five years (i.e. from 2021-22 to 2025-26).