The Transport Department (TD) today (April 3) reminded members of the public that the fares of the bus routes operated by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, Citybus Limited (Franchise for Hong Kong Island and Cross-Harbour Bus Network), New World First Bus Services Limited and New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited will be adjusted with effect from tomorrow (April 4).
      
     The bus companies have displayed notices at bus stops and termini to inform passengers of the fare adjustments. Members of the public may also visit the bus companies' websites (www.kmb.hk, www.bravobus.com.hk and www.nlb.com.hk) for the new fares of individual routes.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (April 3) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.
 

     The Nuclear Emergency Committee Office of the Guangdong Province notified the Security Bureau today (April 2) of an operational event at Ling Ao Nuclear Power Station (LNPS), a Security Bureau spokesperson said today.
      
     On March 31, station staff found a dysfunctional relay in the backup diesel generator of Unit 1 of the LNPS during a regular test. They immediately replaced the relay according to the procedures and its function had resumed normal after replacement. Subsequently, the relevant statistics suggested that the dysfunction time of the relay had exceeded the operational and technical requirements.
      
     In accordance with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale and the relevant nuclear safety regulations, this event was classified as a Level 0 deviation on April 1 and did not affect the safe operation of the Unit, the health of the workers, the nearby public or the environment.
      
     The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Operations and Management Co Ltd has released the details of this event on its website (www.dnmc.com.cn) (Chinese only), which can be viewed in the "operational events" section under the "nuclear and radiation safety information" page of the website.   

     The Secretary for Food and Health has earlier stipulated a requirement on air change or air purifiers to be complied with in dine-in restaurants in the directions in relation to catering business under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). The Working Group, established for the smooth implementation of the requirement, announced today (April 2) that among information of some 500 models of air purifiers received before the deadline on March 28, air purifiers that meet the specified specifications have all been uploaded onto the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)'s webpage for reference by catering premises operators and ventilation works contractors. The composite list (listed in alphabetical order of individual brand names) may be downloaded vide the following webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/guide_general_reference/Information_air-changes_purification.html).
 
    Following the first batch announced yesterday (April 1), perusal of the information on air purifiers received before the deadline on March 28 has been completed. Among some 500 models of air purifiers received, information of a number of individual forms was incomplete, and there is altogether a total of 143 air purifiers meeting the specified specifications. The secretariat of the Working Group has approached those submitters through e-mails, requiring them to provide the missing information before 5pm on April 11. Also, after the deadline on March 28, the secretariat of the Working Group has received many late submissions and is handling them pragmatically. To facilitate the trades to make early preparation, the Working Group will simultaneously cease accepting late submissions from 5pm on April 11. After April 11, depending on the information received and follow-up work undertaken, the composite list may need to be updated. Persons concerned should pay attention to this.
 
     To comply with the requirements on air change or air purifiers in catering premises under the Regulation, catering premises operators are required to register at the FEHD's webpage on or before April 30 that the air change per hour at seating areas of their premises has reached six, or air purifiers that meet the specified specifications have been installed according to the on-the-ground situation, together with a certificate issued by a registered specialist contractor (ventilation works category). Catering premises completing the registration may, upon confirmation by the FEHD, download a notice at the FEHD's webpage for display at the entrance of the premises.
 
     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "To assist catering premises operators and ventilation works contractors in smoothly implementing the requirement, the Working Group has worked relentlessly, in order to announce the list of air purifiers that meet the specified specifications soonest possible. The Government is very grateful to all concerned involved in compiling the list of air purifiers, in working non-stop during this period and completing the compilation of the composite list within a short time. This has helped the smooth compliance of the requirement on air change or air purifiers in catering premises under the Regulation, so as to protect the health of staff, customers and the public and to fortify the public's confidence in patronising catering premises."

     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 three 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.

     Two premises fulfilling the above criteria are included in the compulsory testing notice today (April 2). In addition, since a confirmed case had visited MCP Central, Metro City Phase II, 8 Yan King Road, Tseung Kwan O for multiple times, the mall is also covered in the compulsory testing notice.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are as follows:

1. Any person who had been present at any specified premises listed in Part A of Annex 1 for more than two hours at any time during the period from March 20 to April 2, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by April 5, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between March 31 and April 2, 2021, they would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
 
2. Any person who had been present at any specified premises listed in Part B of Annex 1 for more than two hours at any time during the period from March 19 to April 2, 2021 (including but not limited to full-time, part-time and relief staff and visitors), have to undergo testing by April 5, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between March 31 and April 2, 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 mobile specimen collection stations at the following locations tomorrow (April 3) for residents, workers and visitors subject to compulsory testing:
• Garden, G/F, next to Ting Tak House, On Ting Estate, Tuen Mun
• Open area, G/F, MCP Central, Metro City Phase II, Tseung Kwan O

       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 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."