Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), any person who had been present at the Immigration Headquarters for more than two hours on April 19 has to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test, the Immigration Department announces today (April 24) that its offices at the Immigration Headquarters will suspend service today.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), any person who had been present at the Immigration Headquarters on April 19 has to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test, the Immigration Department announces today (April 24) that its offices at the Immigration Headquarters will suspend service today.

     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 25 specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
 
      Currently, in all districts in Hong Kong, if one or more new confirmed cases are found in the residential buildings (including buildings for both commercial and residential uses), or there are sewage samples tested positive, or there are other factors which implied possible infection risks, the buildings will be included in the compulsory testing notice. For testing targeting at workplaces, if one or more confirmed cases are found in a workplace, it will be included in the compulsory testing notice.

     In view of the confirmed cases announced and preliminary positive case recorded on April 23, two premises fulfilling the above criteria and five specified premises where the confirmed cases had been present at are also included in the compulsory testing notice. Among them, four specified premise are related to a local preliminary positive case with unknown sources of infection involving N501Y mutation strain.
 
     On the other hand, in view of a local case with unknown sources of infection involving N501Y mutation strain, we need to require any person who had been present at ten specified premises during the specified period to undergo a second test.
 
     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "For prudence's sake, the relevant persons who had been to the places patronised by the local case with unknown sources of infection involving N501Y mutation strain may be required to undergo more than two tests to completely destroy any possible transmission chain."
 
     In addition, since there were outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in eight schools, and the symptoms of URTI are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence's sake, the eight schools are also covered in the compulsory testing notice.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are at Annex 1.
 
     The spokesman reminded the public that 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.
     
     The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at the following locations on April 24. Please see Annex 2 for details of the service scope:
 
•  Outside Central Pier No.5, Central
•  Pier 3 Car Park, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui
•  Shatin Tsung Tsin School, Lek Yuen Estate
•  Volleyball Court, G/F, Hin Ming Court, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
•  Cheung Chau Sports Centre
 
     The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Wong Tai Sin Square and Plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall will be extended to May 3 (Monday).
 
     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. Apart from mobile specimen collection stations, persons subject to compulsory testing can also choose to attend any of the community testing centres in all districts to receive testing free of charge. Persons 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 Department of Health (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 Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 23) said that it is following up on a preliminary positive case of COVID-19 with the preliminary test result involving N501Y mutant strain. As N501Y mutant strain is with high transmissibility, the CHP decided to carry out prudent measures on infection control and prevention to arrange compulsory quarantine for asymptomatic residents of all units on all floors of the building concerned, so as to stop the potential risk of spread of N501Y mutant strain.

     As the preliminary positive case resided at Kennedy Terrace, 8 Kennedy Road in Mid-levels, the CHP will transfer asymptomatic residents of all units on all floors of the building to quarantine centres; symptomatic residents will be sent to the hospital for treatment. They will undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days.
 
     Meanwhile, as the preliminary positive case had also stayed on the sixth floor of Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun, the CHP will also contact people who stayed from April 4 to 7 on the same floor with the preliminary positive case in Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun and issue quarantine orders to them to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days; and issue a compulsory testing notice to require people who have stayed in that hotel (including lodgers, full-time, part-time and relief staff and visitors) from March 27 to April 23 to undergo testing by April 25. 

     The CHP spokesman urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk, to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.

     The Security Bureau (SB) issued a statement again today (April 23), strongly condemning individual organisations for making false statements against the content and legislative purpose of the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2020 (the Bill), distorting facts, deliberately misleading members of the public and creating fear. The SB must strongly condemn the continuous and intentional smearing and set the record straight.

     The spokesman for the SB said, "Recently, some organisations have deliberately distorted the provision in the Bill which empowers the Secretary for Security to make regulations in relation to the provision of passenger information by carriers as a restriction on Hong Kong residents' right to enter or leave Hong Kong. They have been attempting to spread rumours in emotional and hostile rhetoric, misleading members of the public with ill intentions and creating conflicts in society. The SB expressed severe condemnation and emphasised that anyone must bear the responsibility of their words and conduct. Members of the public should also stay vigilant for misleading and smearing information.

     The Bill is introduced with a view to more effectively addressing the problems arising from non-refoulement claims that have persisted for years. In fact, there are currently over 13 000 claimants remaining in Hong Kong, with about 99 per cent of claims being unsubstantiated among those determined. The Government incurred huge public expenditures every year, with an average of around 1 billion per year in recent years. Some of the claimants have taken up unlawful employment and are even suspected offenders of robbery, drug trafficking and wounding, etc. The society and the Legislative Council (LegCo) have raised concerns about the threat to public security posed by such claimants. It is the most resentful that the relevant organisations have turned a blind eye to such serious problems faced by the society, and ignored the detailed explanatory work by the Government in the past, launching malicious attacks on the Government's efforts in tackling the challenging problems persisted for years with their smearing and shameless tactics all along."

     With regard to the provision to empower the Secretary for Security to make regulations in relation to the provision of passenger information by carriers, we have time and again explained that the practice is introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Government must fulfill the international obligation under the "Convention on International Civil Aviation" and implement the Advance Passenger Information (API) system, thereby enhancing international civil aviation safety and facilitating the immigration authorities around the world to implement more effective control. It is an enabling provision which requires subsidiary legislation to set out the operational details of the system with provisions stipulated in more specific terms, after the Bill is passed by the LegCo and takes effect. The making of relevant regulations will also require the scrutiny and passage by the LegCo. The Government has explained clearly this matter during the meetings with the Bills Committee on proper record.

     The spokesman reiterated that, "The freedom to travel and the right to enter or leave Hong Kong of Hong Kong residents are guaranteed under Article 31 of the Basic Law. The SB must rebuke the false claims made by individual organisations that the Bill will deprive Hong Kong residents' right to enter or leave Hong Kong, which is complete nonsense and served to smear the legislative work of the Government deliberately.