Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (February 6) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories separately from 7am to 12.30pm today (February 6). The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been informed by two of the charities that the regional flag-selling activities scheduled to be held by them have been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.
 
     Information on the regional flag-selling activity today is as follows:
 

 
     The contact information for the organisations that have cancelled their regional flag-selling activities is as follows:
 

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
 
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.

     â€‹The Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and gazetted compulsory testing notices and specifications, which require any person who had been present at 14 specified premises during the specified periods (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test, and continue to empower a registered medical practitioner to require any person whom he clinically suspects has contracted COVID-19 to undergo a test during a period of 14 days from February 6 to February 19, 2021.
 
Compulsory testing notices
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     Currently, in all districts in Hong Kong, if one or more new confirmed cases with unknown sources 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.

     Furthermore, the Government has delineated earlier four specified areas, namely the "Jordan specified area" bounded by Nathan Road to its east, Austin Road to its south, Ferry Street, Man Cheong Street, Man Wui Street and Canton Road to its west, and Kansu Street to its north, the "Yau Ma Tei/Mong Kok specified area" bounded by Nathan Road to its east, Public Square Street to its south, Ferry Street to its west and Dundas Street to its north, the "Hung Hom specified area" bounded by Station Lane to its northeast, Dock Street and Po Loi Street to its southeast, Winslow Street and Hung Hom South Road to its southwest, and Chatham Road North to its northwest and the "Sham Shui Po specified area" bounded by Yen Chow Street to its northwest, Tai Po Road to its northeast, Maple Street to its southeast and Lai Chi Kok Road to its southwest. If there is one or more new confirmed cases found in the residential buildings (including buildings for both commercial and residential uses) in the areas, 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.
     
     Five buildings fulfilling the above criteria were included in the compulsory testing notice on February 5. In addition, since confirmed cases were found in nine buildings during the earlier enforcement of "restriction-testing declaration", 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 23 to February 5, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by February 7, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between February 3 and February 5, 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 23 to February 5, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by February 7, 2021.
  
     The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at Ma Tau Wai Estate in Kowloon City today (February 6). The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Kwun Chung Sports Centre and Man Wui Street (near Ferry Street), Ferry Point in Jordan, and MacPherson Playground in Mong Kok will be extended to February 7, 2021 (Sunday). Furthermore, the service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Wong Tai Sin Square, Tsuen Wing Street Playground in Tsuen Wan and Tung Chung North Park will be extended to February 11, 2021 (Thursday). 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/.

Relevant specifications for compulsory testing for persons clinically suspected to have contracted COVID-19
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     According to expert advice, compulsory testing for symptomatic patients can effectively slow down the transmission of the virus by early identification, early isolation and early treatment. As the recent epidemic situation remains serious, the Government considers it necessary to continue to solicit help from medical practitioners in identifying possibly infected persons as soon as possible.

     During the period of 14 days from February 6 to February 19, 2021, registered medical practitioners may, by a written direction, require a person whom the medical practitioner attends to in the course of professional practice and clinically suspects to have contracted COVID-19 to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test. Persons who receive the written direction (persons who are subject to testing under written directions) should undergo a test within two days after the issue date of the written direction (the testing deadline).
 
     Persons who are subject to testing under written directions may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

(1) To use the specimen bottle provided by the registered medical practitioner who issued the written direction to collect a deep throat saliva specimen and submit the specimen bottle to designated specimen collection points by the testing deadline (see the specimen collection points and time at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html). Having reported the case to the DH, the registered medical practitioner who issued the written direction will be notified of the test result; or

(2) To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories recognised by the DH (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf) by the testing deadline and submit the test result to the medical practitioner who issued the written direction or his clinic staff by electronic mail, fax, or by hardcopy within four days after the testing deadline.

     For example, if the written direction is issued on Monday, the person subject to testing under the written direction should undergo a test via one of the above options on or before Wednesday, the testing deadline. If the test result of the specimen is preliminary positive, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the DH for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.  
      
     "Persons who are subject to testing under written directions are suspected to be infected and should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the community testing centres for testing. To reduce transmission risk, relevant persons who underwent testing are advised to stay at home and avoid going out when waiting for test results."
 
     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."

     Regarding media reports on the submission of Phase 3 clinical data of the vaccine by Sinovac Biotech (Hong Kong) Limited (Sinovac) to the Department of Health (DH), the Government today (February 5) gave the following response：
      
     The Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines (Advisory Panel) set up under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap. 599K) is empowered to examine, based on scientific evidence, whether COVID-19 vaccines satisfy the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality, and then provide a recommendation to the Secretary for Food and Health.  Scientific evidence must include the examination of Phase 3 clinical data.  Phase 3 clinical data can provide objective information to assist with the assessment of the effectiveness of the vaccine after application on a relatively larger pool of users, as well as the relevant risks and benefits.  On the other hand, the publication of research reports and data in medical journals is generally another point of reference, indicating that the relevant research has undergone peer review and has a higher level of objectivity and acceptance.
      
     With respect to the Sinovac vaccine, the DH has been actively following up with Sinovac, with a view to obtaining as soon as possible the relevant information of its vaccine to commence the approval procedures.  However, there is no setting of any deadline as today as reported in individual media reports. In accordance with the guidance of the Advisory Panel, the DH has previously requested Sinovac to have the relevant clinical data published in medical journals. However, Sinovac indicated that it has considerable difficulties compiling the relevant information for publication in a short period of time, having regard to the urgency for vaccination, the DH has in turn requested Sinovac to provide its Phase 3 clinical data submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) for assessment purpose.
      
     Up till now, Sinovac has provided to the DH its Phase 1 and 2 clinical data submitted to the WHO and drug regulatory authorities of other jurisdictions, among other information.  Sinovac has also provided to the DH a set of its Phase 3 clinical data of trials conducted in Brazil that it had submitted to drug regulatory authorities of other jurisdictions.  Furthermore, Sinovac indicated that it can provide the Phase 3 clinical information of its trials conducted in Brazil and Turkey, etc that it submitted to the WHO to the DH as early as this week.  After compilation of all the information, the DH will submit the documents to the Advisory Panel next week for review and arrange a meeting for the Advisory Panel to assess and put up a recommendation as soon as possible, so as to examine that the relevant vaccine satisfies the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality.
      
     The Government spokesman said, "The Government will ensure that the authorised COVID-19 vaccines satisfy the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality before providing vaccination for members of the public.  Our work will continue to adhere to the principles of openness and transparency so that members of the public can obtain the latest information on vaccines."

     In response to media enquiries on the proposed admission of non-locally trained Hong Kong doctors to practise in the public healthcare institutions of Hong Kong, the Food and Health Bureau gave the following response today (February 5):
      
     On the proposal to attract more qualified non-locally trained Hong Kong doctors to practise in public healthcare institutions of Hong Kong, the Government emphasised that it is an irrefutable fact that there is currently a shortage of doctors in Hong Kong.  For per capita doctor ratio, Hong Kong has a ratio of two doctors per 1 000 population which lags behind other advanced economies, including Singapore (2.5), Japan (2.5), the United States (2.6), the United Kingdom (3.0) and Australia (3.8).  Furthermore, there is undoubtedly insufficient doctors in the public healthcare sector.  Currently, the waiting time of specialty services in the Hospital Authority is extremely long.  The waiting time for routine cases in some areas (e.g. Medicine, Ophthalmology and Orthopaedics & Traumatology) is over 100 weeks.  The situation is unacceptable.
      
     To this end, the Government considers it necessary to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance (Cap. 161) to create a new pathway to allow more qualified non-locally trained doctors to come back to Hong Kong and practise in our public healthcare sector so as to expand our pool of doctors.  On the details of the proposal, the following points should be emphasised:
 
1. Licensing Examination is not the only way to ensure the quality of doctors
 
At present, many countries in the world (such as Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Australia) have different mechanisms to attract non-locally trained doctors.  Subject to fulfillment of certain criteria, non-locally trained doctors will be granted full registration in the respective country.  Passing the examinations is not the only condition for obtaining full registration.  We wish to reiterate that the Government is not abolishing the current licensing examination system, but on the premise of ensuring the quality of doctors, creating a new pathway for qualified non-locally trained doctors to practise in the public healthcare sector of Hong Kong.
 
2. The proposal does not bypass the Medical Council of Hong Kong (the Medical Council)
 
The Government respects the Medical Council’s statutory function to regulate doctors.  As the Medical Council is a major stakeholder in the medical profession, we propose appointing the Chairman of the Medical Council to join the committee responsible for formulating the list of recognised medical schools.  We would like to emphasise that non-locally trained doctors who will practise in Hong Kong through the new pathway will still need to register under the Medical Council and will be subject to its disciplinary oversight like other local doctors.
 
3. Non-locally trained doctors still need to be assessed
 
Under the new pathway, non-locally trained doctors are required to undergo on-the-job assessment conducted by their employer (i.e. relevant public healthcare institutions) to ensure their standard.  If the doctor concerned fails to pass the on-the-job assessment, he might not have his contract renewed and hence would not be able to work in the relevant public healthcare institution for five consecutive years in order to obtain formal registration in Hong Kong.  We are open to how to enhance the on-the-job assessment and will further discuss with the relevant public healthcare institutions.
 
4. A higher requirement on non-locally trained doctors
 
Non-locally trained doctors who will practise in Hong Kong through the new pathway must graduate from the recognised medical schools, complete the internship and have been registered as medical practitioners in their respective places.  They are further required to work in relevant public healthcare institutions in Hong Kong for five to twelve years before obtaining full registration here.  In comparison, locally trained doctors can obtain full registration after completing the internship and practise in private sector.  We are actually imposing a higher requirement on non-locally trained doctors.
 
     The Government will be meeting representatives of the medical profession in batches starting next week, and will hold public consultation sessions to gauge public views. After consultations, we will submit the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill to the Legislative Council in the second quarter of this year.