The Government yesterday (February 8) 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 8.30pm yesterday, by which people within the specified "restricted area" in Sham Shui Po (i.e. Hang On Building, 88-90 Fuk Wing Street/46A-46C Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po) are 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 building for more than two hours from January 26 to February 8, 2021, to undergo compulsory testing before February 10 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 7am today (February 9) 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 7am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Sham Shui Po who have undergone testing in accordance to the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice, as well as are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands 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 90 residents had undergone testing. No confirmed cases were found.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 59 households, 15 households did not answer the door. Those may include one confirmed case or households 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 February 6 to 8, 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 negative 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 (February 8) 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, by which people within the specified "restricted area" in Jordan (i.e. Man Ying Building, 2-24 Man Ying Street, Ferry Point, Jordan) are 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 building for more than two hours from January 26 to February 8, 2021, to undergo compulsory testing before February 10 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 7am today (February 9) 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 7am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Jordan who have undergone testing in accordance to the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice, as well as are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands 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 2am today. As at 2am today, around 1 450 residents had undergone testing. No confirmed cases were found.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit around 960 households (including sub-divided units), around 270 households did not answer the door. Those include some households with confirmed cases or 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 February 6 to 8, 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 negative 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 has 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 nine 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 which implied possible infection risks, the buildings will be included in the compulsory testing notice.
           
     For testing targeting at workplaces, if two or more confirmed cases are found in a workplace, it will be included in the compulsory testing notice.
     
     Eight buildings fulfilling the above criteria were included in the compulsory testing notice today (February 8). In addition, the Government made on January 28, 2021 a "restriction-testing declaration" on Block C, Tung Fat Building, 37-43A Kam Ping Street, North Point. As it is possible that the incubation period of the virus could be long, the relevant persons have to undergo a second test.
           
     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 January 26 to February 8, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by February10, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between February 6 and February 8, 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 January 26 to February 8, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by February 10, 2021.
  
     The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at Tung Fat Building in North Point, Tsz Ching Estate in Tsz Wan Shan, Cheung Shan Estate in Tsuen Wan, Siu Hong Court in Tuen Mun and Shui Pin Wai Estate in Yuen Long tomorrow (February 9). The mobile specimen collection station at Man Wui Street (near Ferry Street), Ferry Point in Jordan will cease operation after today. 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 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.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau 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."

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, at a media session after the briefing on "Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035" this afternoon (February 8):

Reporter: What is the exact target for this blueprint? Is it you hope to cut the waste by 2035 by how many per cent, and secondly, what are the new measures in this blueprint in order to achieve that target? Thirdly, about the waste charging scheme, do you have any plans when it could be really passed by the LegCo and implemented?
 
Secretary for the Environment: The medium-term target is to reduce per capita waste disposal by 40-45 per cent, and to increase the recovery level to about 55 per cent. The long-term target is to get away from the over-reliance on landfills in the long run. There are different methods to let us get close to the target, as included in the new blueprint. There are six major areas, covering Waste Reduction, Waste Separation, Resources Circulation, Industry Support, Innovation and Co-operation, and Education and Publicity.  There are many new measures, for instance, we are going to consult the public about the PRS, the Producer Responsibility Scheme, on plastic beverage container, which would be launched very soon. There would be other consultations or measures to deal with the disposable single-use plastic tableware and other single-use plastics. And there are many measures included in the blueprint. Municipal solid waste (MSW) charging is a very key measure to drive behavourial change in Hong Kong and also give value to different recyclables to support the industry and also push more people to do clean recycling. Thank you.
 
Reporter: Any timetable when that can be happened because there has been procrastinated for sometime?
 
Secretary for the Environment: Especially in the blueprint, we set it as a medium term. As mentioned in the latest Policy Address, it is to ask the current LegCo to consider the MSW charging bill as soon as possible. And we hope that if it could be passed within this term, the current term, that would help Hong Kong get closer to the target.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, held an engagement session with Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) via video conferencing today (February 8) to exchange views with them on Hong Kong's better integration into the overall development of the nation before they attend the meetings of the NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to be held in Beijing next month. During the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, a total of 24 deputies expressed their views covering a wide range of topics, with many of them expressing the hope that travel between the two places can resume gradually sooner rather than later, helped by the vaccination programme and continued virus testing. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, also attended the session.

     Mrs Lam said that the NPC and its Standing Committee, as the highest organ of state power, helped solve the problems faced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) at the constitutional level three times over the past year, which is testimony to the overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR exercised by the Central Authorities and the constitutional relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR. She pointed out that this year is the opening year of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan and that Hong Kong will participate more actively in the nation's development, particularly in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Belt and Road Initiative and the new economic development pattern of domestic and international dual circulation. She expressed the hope that Hong Kong deputies to the NPC would continue to express their views on the related work and lend staunch support to the HKSAR.
 
     Mrs Lam will hold an engagement session with Hong Kong members of the CPPCC via video conferencing tomorrow (February 9).