The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting proposals from local performing artists and arts groups for the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme (CCAS) 2022. The selected artists and arts groups will organise outreach arts activities to be performed in different districts in Hong Kong next year to bring arts to the general public. 
 
     Applicants should be registered local non-profit-making performing arts groups or ensembles of artists that have been active in the past year and possess actual experience in public performance. Each applicant may submit one proposal for one of the following types of activities:

(1) Special topics of the CCAS 2022:
(a) Holistic wellness in the new normal under the pandemic; or
(b) Interpersonal relationships in the community; or
(2) Audience-building/arts education activities that are designed for the general public.
 
     The proposal should cover one performing art form or more, such as Chinese opera/operatic singing, dance, music, theatrical arts (including drama, mime, magic and puppetry) and multimedia. Proposed projects may include performance, lectures, demonstration, episodic performance or exhibitions or a combination of these activities.
 
     The application guide and form for the scheme are available at the webpage of the Audience Building Office at www.abo.gov.hk or can be obtained by mail and fax. The deadline for application is noon on April 26 (Monday).

     For enquiries on the scheme, please call 2591 1611, email amab1@lcsd.gov.hk, or visit the website of the Audience Building Office.

     The Government yesterday (March 14) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Central and Western District (i.e. Tower 1 to 5, Dynasty Court, 23 Old Peak Road, Central and Western District) were 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. In addition, the Government had issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the buildings for more than two hours from March 1 to March 14, 2021, to undergo compulsory testing on or before March 16 even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8.40am today (March 15) and is now carrying out enforcement actions in the "restricted area" to verify that all people in the "restricted area" have undergone compulsory testing. The Government will further announce the revocation time of the declaration.

     Starting from around 8.40am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Central and Western District who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.

     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 0.00am today. As at 0.00am today, around 960 residents had undergone testing. Two preliminary positive cases were found, and the Department of Health is following up on the cases. Moreover, the test result of a specimen is still under verification.

     Also, the Government assigned staff to visit around 410 households. Around 80 households did not answer the door. Those include some households with confirmed cases or those undergoing quarantine. Some units are possibly vacant as well. The Government does not have detailed information in this respect and will take measures to follow up.

     The Government also understands that some residents already underwent testing at the mobile specimen collection stations set up in the district or by other means. Therefore, persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from March 10 to 14, 2021, and are able to provide the SMS notification through mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, are not required to take the test again.

     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him/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 may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

  

     The Government yesterday (March 14) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Central and Western District (i.e. Blocks A and B, Kingsfield Tower, 64-68 Pok Fu Lam Road/73-83 Bonham Road; Fung Lam Building, 35-37 Pok Fu Lam Road; Tung Ming Court, 39 Pok Fu Lam Road; Lee Wai Building, 41-43 Pok Fu Lam Road; and 63 Pok Fu Lam Road in Central and Western District) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the area had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained. Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above buildings for more than two hours from March 1 to March 14, 2021, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before March 16. As at 2am today (March 15), around 680 residents had undergone testing and no confirmed cases were found. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today and carried out enforcement action in the "restricted area" afterwards to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 9am today.

     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) (including the Kwun Tong District Office, the Central and Western District Office, the Southern District Office and the Sham Shui Po District Office), the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department, the Department of Health (DH), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the Centre for Health Protection of the DH mobilised around 300 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government provided simple food for persons subject to compulsory testing, including crackers, canned food, cup noodles, cakes, corn kernels, soy milk and bottled water, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of some persons subject to compulsory testing. One box of masks was also provided to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.

     The HAD also set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.

     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone's co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today, the Government took enforcement action in the "restricted area" immediately to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative testing result or wore a wristband as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 9am. Nobody was found to have not undergone compulsory testing. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).

     The Government hopes that the some 170 households who have not answered the door will contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after they read the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.

     The Government understands that the residents in the district are anxious because of the increase in confirmed cases recently, and they are worried that the resurgence of the pandemic will affect their health and livelihood. The Government hopes this temporary inconvenience will completely cut the local transmission chains and ease residents' worries and fear, so that they will regain confidence in resuming social and business activities in the area, and return to a normal life.

     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.

     The Government as a whole is united in fighting against the virus despite all the difficulties, and provided testing for all the residents in the district within a short period of time in the hope of achieving zero cases in the district.

     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the "restriction-testing declaration" by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will 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 or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     â€‹The Transport Department (TD) said today (March 15) that in view of the latest situation of COVID-19, special arrangements will continue to be implemented at the seven government car parks under the management of the TD for the sale of monthly tickets for April to reduce the risk of virus spread in the community.
      
     The existing holders of a monthly ticket for private car/van, motorcycle or taxi for March can purchase a monthly ticket for the same vehicle type for April with priority. These eligible monthly ticket holders have to complete the procedures for purchasing the monthly ticket for April by 9pm on March 22 at the shroff offices of the car parks concerned. Any such person who fails to purchase the monthly ticket before the above deadline will be regarded as having given up his or her right to purchase the monthly ticket for April. The unsold monthly tickets for private car/van for April will be sold at the shroff offices of the car parks concerned on first-come, first-served basis from 7.30am on March 23, while the unsold monthly tickets for motorcycle and taxi for April will be sold at the shroff offices from 7.30am on March 24.
      
     The seven government car parks are Star Ferry Car Park, City Hall Car Park, Tin Hau Car Park, Shau Kei Wan Car Park, Aberdeen Car Park, Kwai Fong Car Park and Tsuen Wan Car Park.
      
     The car park operators will put up notices in the car parks in advance to inform motorists of the above special arrangements.
      
     Meanwhile, the TD is going to resume the original sale arrangements for monthly parking tickets upon the relaxation of the epidemic. In this connection, car park users are advised to pay attention to the announcements of the TD and the updated notices put up by the car park operators in the car parks.

     Hong Kong Customs today (March 15) announced that a total of 22 pieces of two models of suspected unsafe hair dye products have been seized earlier. Members of the public should pay extra care with regards to safety when using such products as prolonged contact with skin or use on damaged scalps may pose potential hazards of skin allergies and inflammation.

     Customs earlier received referrals from a related organisation that three models of suspected unsafe hair dye products were being supplied in the market. Customs officers immediately conducted inspections at different districts and successfully test-purchased two models for safety testing.

     According to the relevant safety and technical standards for cosmetics, the total bacterial counts of the two models of hair dye products exceeded respectively the maximum permitted limit by about 3.4 and 51 times, whereas their mould and yeast counts had exceeded the maximum permitted limit by about 369 and 429 times, in contravention of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO).

     Customs officers later conducted an operation and seized a total of 22 pieces of the two models of suspected unsafe hair dye products from a retailer shop in Causeway Bay and from three branches of another retailer in Quarry Bay, Yau Tong and Tseung Kwan O.    

     Apart from the retailers connected with the case, Customs officers also conducted spot checks and inspections in various districts. Those three models of products have not been found on sale so far.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and using hair dye products:
 

• Read in detail the instructions for safe use of the products;
• Do not use the products on a damaged scalp;
• Do not let the products contact the eyes;
• If skin allergy or discomfort occurs, rinse with water immediately; and
• Seek medical advice as soon as possible, especially if the symptoms persist or deteriorate.

     Customs has been combating consistently the sale of products that fall short of the CGSO. Law enforcement action will be taken immediately if any violation of the CGSO is detected. Customs also reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the CGSO in order to protect the safety of consumers.

     Under the CGSO, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirement for consumer goods. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.

     Members of the public with information relating to unsafe consumer goods may make a report via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).