The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting visited Cyberport today (May 4) to better understand the development of Cyberport and its future direction. 

     Members first arrived the Cyberport Entrepreneurship Centre and received a briefing on the latest development of Cyberport by the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (HKCMCL), Mr Peter Yan. Accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the HKCMCL, Dr George Lam, Members took a tour in the Cyberport Entrepreneurship Centre and observed a product demonstration.

     Members then visited an alumni company of the Cyberport Incubation Programme to learn about the latest development of robotics products and solutions.

     Members also visited the Smart-Space to understand the situation of start-ups and youth in renting the co-working space in Cyberport and met with representatives of the Cyberport companies to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

     Meanwhile, Members visited the IT Street in Cyberport to observe the robotics demonstration and tour the live streaming studio to see for themselves the latest technology and product.

     The Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting will hold a meeting next Monday (May 10) to discuss the annual work progress of Cyberport and the Cyberport expansion project.

     Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Panel, Mr Junius Ho; the Deputy Chairman of the Panel, Mr Chan Kin-por; and Panel members Mr Michael Tien, Ms Elizabeth Quat and Mr Chung Kwok-pan.

        

     The Government today (May 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" (declaration) effective from 7.30pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tsuen Wan (i.e. Block R, Allway Gardens, 2 On Yat Street, Tsuen Wan; see Annex) are 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 area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about 7am tomorrow (May 5).

     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'. As there is a confirmed case recorded in Block R, Allway Gardens today and the preliminary test result involved a mutant strain, the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, the Government decided to make a 'restriction-testing declaration' for the relevant area after the test result was found positive."

     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 12am tomorrow. Persons subject to compulsory testing will be arranged to undergo nucleic acid testing at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility and elderly persons.

     "We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the 'restricted area' as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 7am tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees."

     If staying in the "restricted area" will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.

     Persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from May 2 to 4, 2021, and are able to provide the SMS notification through a mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, are not required to take the test again. However, they are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. Also, according to the compulsory testing notice issued today, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from April 21 to May 4, 2021, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before May 6.

     If there are 2021 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) candidates in the "restricted area" who need to sit the HKDSE the following day but have not undergone testing from May 2 to 4, 2021, and are not able to provide the SMS notification through a mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, the Government advises candidates to go to the temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" as soon as possible and identify themselves as 2021 HKDSE candidates and submit relevant documents (including admission forms) for proof. The candidates will be given priority testing with a view to enabling them to obtain test results as early as possible. 

     The candidates concerned should go to the temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" with their identity document and admission form as soon as possible for priority testing. It is the candidate's responsibility to follow the testing process and go to the temporary specimen collection stations as soon as possible for the test. Otherwise, the officers will not be able to prioritise the testing of samples collected late. 

     If a candidate 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 by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority 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. For details, please read the relevant press release issued by the Education Bureau earlier: www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202104/01/P2021040100808.htm.

     The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2835 1473) which will start operation at 7.30pm today for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.

     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and "restriction-testing declaration". Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory 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 compulsory testing order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, at a media session after attending an event today (May 4):

Reporter: (On whether the epidemic situation will change the travel bubble arrangement between Hong Kong and Singapore.)

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: Under the agreed arrangement for the bilateral travel between Hong Kong and Singapore, we have additional safeguards built in. We will closely observe the trend and the situation. At the moment, I think Hong Kong is enjoying a relatively stable and low-risk situation. We have seen the number of cases, particularly those unlinked local cases, come down to a very low level. We hope this will be maintained. At the same time, we are also seeing Singapore, despite some cases, by and large staying within the range that we have agreed upon for the suspension or resumption. So, at the moment, we are keeping an eye on this development and see how things would go.

     The most recent agreement has additional built-in safeguards, including additional three-day observation on the daily number of unlinked local cases at a lower level, and the requirement to stay in the respective cities for 14 days before embarking on the travel bubble without counting the quarantine requirement for those passengers coming from a third place. All these are the measures that we have put in. Of course we will stay very alert. If circumstances go worse, we will see whether there is a need to adjust; if things are going smoothly, stably and safely, I think it is everybody's wish to have the scheme proceed as planned to be launched on May 26. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (May 4) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to their notice to the Drainage Services Department by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline on 2300 1110.