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 a specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.

     For testing targeted at workplaces, if one or more confirmed cases are found in a workplace, it will be included in the compulsory testing notice.
 
     A premises fulfilling the above criteria is included in the compulsory testing notice today (April 9). 

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are as follows:

     Any person who had been present at Mannings, Shop 8-11 ï¼† 30, G/F, Tai Hang Building, 10 Tai Hang Street, Yuen Long, for more than two hours at any time during the period from March 27 to April 9, 2021 (including but not limited to full-time, part-time and relief staff and visitors), has to undergo testing by April 11, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between April 7 and April 9, 2021, they would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau 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 a mobile specimen collection station at Butterfly Bay Community Centre in Tuen Mun tomorrow (April 10) for all members of the public. From tomorrow (April 10), the mobile specimen collection station at the covered playground outside King Fu House of Shan King Estate in Tuen Mun will be relocated to the basketball court outside King Fu House of Shan King Estate and will be open for testing for residents and workers of all blocks of Shan King Estate.
 
     The service period of the mobile specimen collection station at Sha Tin Park will be extended to April 16 (Friday). The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Edinburgh Place in Central, Wong Tai Sin Square, Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan, On Hing Playground in Yuen Long, Tin Shui Sports Centre in Tin Shui Wai, Kin Sang Community Hall in Tuen Mun and Tung Chung North Park will be extended to April 18 (Sunday).
 
     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 the Annex. 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 Centre for Health Protection (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 Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, and the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipality, Mr Ai Xuefeng, co-chaired the eighth meeting of the Joint Task Force on the Development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop via video conferencing today (April 9).
 
     Both sides received a briefing on the work progress by the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited. Representatives from the Shenzhen Government also introduced the latest developments of the Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Zone (SZ I&T Zone). Both sides also received a briefing on the work progress of the establishment of "one zone, two parks" in the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone, and exchanged views on the developments and co-operation of the two innovation and technology (I&T) parks.
 
     Mr Sit said at the meeting that the "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035" passed in March this year indicates clear support for Hong Kong's development into an international I&T hub and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Loop has been included as one of the four major platforms of co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). All this highlights the importance the Central Government attaches to the Co-operation Zone. The Governments of the two cities will continue to develop the Co-operation Zone, which comprises the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (the Park) and the SZ I&T Zone, with a view to establishing "one zone, two parks". Before the completion of the first batch of buildings in the Park, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation will lease and manage certain areas of the SZ I&T Zone, allowing institutes and enterprises interested in starting their business in the GBA to establish their presence. To attract more talent and enterprises to the Co-operation Zone, both sides will continue to study the formulation of joint policy, exploring to provide facilitation and supportive measures in the aspects of research and development resources, capital and people flow, and to join hands to promote the Co-operation Zone.
 
     Other officials of the Hong Kong side attending the meeting today included the Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi; the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Ms Rebecca Pun; and representatives from the Development Bureau, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Civil Engineering and Development Department. Officials of Shenzhen Municipality included representatives of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office; the Development and Reform Commission; the Education Bureau; the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission; the Justice Bureau; the Commerce Bureau; the Planning and Natural Resources Bureau; and the People's Government of Futian District, as well as the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone Development Co Ltd.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to be carriers of Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) in medical wards, the spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital made the following update today (April 9):
      
     In accordance with prevailing guideline, the hospital has commenced contact tracing and confirmed one more 81-year-old male patient in the medical ward to be the carrier of MDRA. The patient is currently under medical surveillance and isolation treatment with stable condition.
      
     Following the activation of Emergency Response Level in public hospitals, visiting arrangement has been suspended. The following infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines:

1.Enhance cleaning and disinfection of wards concerned;
2.Apply stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3.Enhance patient and environmental screening procedures.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation in the ward concerned. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     â€‹The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (April 9) met with representatives from the financial services and insurance sectors at three briefing sessions to continue to provide explanations on the improvements to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s electoral system, exchanging views with them and taking their questions.
      
     In the meetings, Mr Hui first elaborated on the objectives and highlights in the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law as endorsed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He reiterated the necessity and urgency of the improvements, highlighting that they have defined the institutional arrangement for the implementation of "patriots administering Hong Kong".
      
     Mr Hui added that improving the electoral system can safeguard the overall interests of society and enhance the governance efficacy of the HKSAR, ensuring the continued success of "one country, two systems" for maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

     He added, "The National 14th Five-Year Plan supports and enhances Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. We will continue to work on all fronts to develop vigorously our financial markets and infrastructure, and nurture professionals with diverse talents for better integration of Hong Kong into the overall development of our country."
      
     Today's briefings were joined by almost 50 members from different professions of the financial services industry and the insurance sector. Mr Hui appealed to them to support and co-operate with the Government in their work to improve the electoral system, adding that he would continue to provide explanations to the public for the better understanding of the community at large.

     Also present at the briefings were the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms Salina Yan; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; and the Political Assistant to the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Julian Ip.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (April 9) met with representatives from the medical sector to explain the improvements to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) electoral system, with a view to enabling them to better understand the matter and render their support.
          
     Professor Chan fully supports and welcomes the work in improving the electoral system of the HKSAR and materialising the political structure that ensures the implementation of "patriots administering Hong Kong". "Social stability and good governance are essential to the HKSAR Government in focusing on economic and livelihood issues and its work for the betterment of people, thereby making Hong Kong a better place to live and work in. Last week, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress approved the amended Annex I to the Basic Law on Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Annex II to the Basic Law on Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and its Voting Procedures with a view to improving the electoral system of the HKSAR. The amendments safeguard the constitutional order as set out by the Constitution and the Basic Law; and enhance governance of the HKSAR to assure the steadfast and successful implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle," said Professor Chan.
          
     Professor Chan and her team will spare no effort in briefing stakeholders on the importance, necessity and legality of improving the city's electoral system so as to gain their staunch support. She appeals to the general public for their unanimous support in taking forward and accomplishing the legislative work.