Tag Archives: China

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

     Since few confirmed cases had visited H.A.N.D.S., On Ting Estate, 2, 4, 8 & 12 Oi Yung Street & 2A Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road, Tuen Mun, the mall is covered in the compulsory testing notice today (April 8).

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are as follows:

     Any person who had been present at H.A.N.D.S., On Ting Estate, 2, 4, 8 & 12 Oi Yung Street & 2A Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road, Tuen Mun for more than two hours at any time during the period from March 26 to April 8, 2021 (including but not limited to full-time, part-time and relief staff and visitors), have to undergo testing by April 10, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between April 6 and April 8, 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 reminds 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, have to undergo testing within two days of he/she becoming aware of 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 On Ting/Yau Oi Community Centre in Tuen Mun tomorrow (April 9) for all members of the public (including those subject to compulsory testing).

     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. 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 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 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 DH or other relevant departments for anti-epidemic purpose 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.” read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for North Lantau Hospital made the following update today (April 8):     … read more

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, hosted three briefing sessions again this afternoon (April 8) to brief representatives of District Fight Crime Committees, District Fire Safety Committees and Area Committees of Yuen Long District, Yau Tsim Mong District and Wong Tai Sin District on the importance and necessity of the amendments to improve the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
 
     Pointing out that the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR (the National Security Law) stopped chaos and restored order in Hong Kong, Mr Lee said the Central Authorities, following the enactment of the National Security Law, initiated the amendments to fully implement the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems” as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
 
     Citing chaos and illegal acts that happened in various council meetings in the past as examples, Mr Lee explained that improving the electoral system can plug the loopholes and eliminate the deficiencies in the existing system, thereby bringing Hong Kong back on the right track and enabling effective governance of the HKSAR Government.
 
     Mr Lee said that improving the HKSAR’s electoral system further enhances the broad representation and balanced participation of the political structure, reflecting the overall interests of society and boosting the quality of democracy.
 
     In exchanging views with Mr Lee in the meetings, the representatives of district organisations welcomed and supported the improvements to the HKSAR’s electoral system. Concluding the meetings, Mr Lee emphasised that the governing team of the HKSAR Government will continue to spare no efforts in taking forward relevant legislative amendment work for building a brighter future for Hong Kong.
 
     The Permanent Secretary for Security, Ms Carol Yip, and the Political Assistant to the Secretary for Security, Mr Cassius Lau, also attended the briefing sessions today.

        

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (April 8) met with Hong Kong members of national organisations at two briefing sessions to continue to explain the improvements to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s electoral system. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, also attended one of the briefing sessions, during which she addressed the questions raised by participants.

     Mr Cheung stressed that the amendment of Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress has significant and far-reaching meaning. Apart from the resolute, full and faithful implementation of “one country, two systems”, ensuring the implementation of the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, it also allows the political system of Hong Kong to gain a foothold at a new starting point, driving constitutional development to new heights and opening up new horizons for Hong Kong.

     Mr Cheung reiterated that the Election Committee (EC) is the core element of the improvements to the electoral system. The membership of the EC is being enlarged to 1 500 in five sectors. The EC will not only nominate and elect the Chief Executive, but also be endowed with the new function of nominating candidates for the Legislative Council election and electing some of the legislators, which is conducive to enhancing and ensuring the balanced and orderly political participation of the community. All in all, the enlarged EC will cover more representatives from different sectors and all walks of life, better representing the overall and fundamental interests of society.

     He encouraged participants to brief people in different sectors of the community on the improvements to the electoral system to deepen their understanding of the new electoral system as well as its necessity and urgency.

            

     â€‹The Commissioner for Labour, Mr Chris Sun, visited the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Academy of the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) today (April 8), to learn more about the OSH training facilities and courses provided by the academy to practitioners of different industries.
      
     Mr Sun was first briefed by the OSHC’s Chairman, Dr Alan Chan; the Vice-Chairman, Mr Chan Wing-on; and the Executive Director, Ms Bonnie Yau, about the council’s latest work and services. Mr Sun then visited the OSH Immersive Experience Hall, where he gained first-hand experience of working at height in a highly realistic truss-out bamboo scaffold erected at an external wall. He also experienced a mock accident that was conducted safely to understand the importance of adhering to safety measures.
      
     Mr Sun also visited a number of training venues and facilities, including those for confined spaces, forklift truck safety operations, tail-lift safety operations, and enhanced light-duty working platforms. The Labour Department (LD) and the OSHC jointly launched a sponsorship scheme to subsidise small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to purchase step platforms or hop-up platforms with enhanced designs. The scheme aims at raising the awareness of employees in using safe working platforms, instead of using ladders, for above-ground work. At present, each eligible SME can receive a subsidy of up to 80 per cent of the product price to purchase the required light-duty platforms.
      
     When attending a demonstration of avoiding dog bites at work, Mr Sun chatted with the course participants to see how the training they received enabled them to gain an understanding about the behaviour of dogs, the causes of dog bites as well as preventive measures. 
      
     Mr Sun said, “The OSHC, which has all along been committed to fostering a safe and healthy working environment in Hong Kong, is a close working partner of the LD. Looking ahead, I hope that both parties will continue to work together to further promote the OSH culture and enhance the OSH performance in Hong Kong through publicity, promotion, education and training.”
      
     Located in Tsing Yi, New Territories, the academy is a spacious six-storey building with an area of 5,000 square metres, providing various interactive teaching facilities, practical rooms and workshops, as well as simulated work environments for different industries.