The Government today (February 3) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" (declaration) effective from 8.30pm, by which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in To Kwa Wan (i.e. Block D, Honour Building, 78-80W To Kwa Wan Road, To Kwa Wan. See Annex.) 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. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about 6.30am tomorrow (February 4), in order to achieve the goal of zero cases in the district with concerted efforts.

     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a restriction-testing declaration."

     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 0.30am tomorrow. Persons subject to compulsory testing will be arranged to undergo nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility and elderly persons, or make arrangement for them to self-collect and submit the deep throat saliva specimen.

     "We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the 'restricted area' as soon as possible at night after most people are released from work. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 6.30am tomorrow with a view to allowing residents to start getting to work around 6.30am. The Government will make public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the case when employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not to deduct the salary or benefit from the employees."

     Persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from February 1 to 3, 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. However, they 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. Also, according to the compulsory testing notice issued today, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from January 21 to February 3, 2021, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, they must undergo compulsory testing by February 5.

     In order to maintain public and emergency services within the "restricted area", the Government and relevant working staff (such as healthcare officers and other officers, testing service providers engaged by the Government, cleaning service providers, etc.) are allowed to enter and leave the "restricted area" on condition that personal information and contacts are given, as well as certain infection control instructions are followed (including undergoing testing before leaving the "restricted area" without the need to wait for the test results).

     The Government has prepared simple food and basic cleaning supplies for the residents restricted by the declaration. The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2835 1473), which will start operation from 8.30pm today for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.

     The Government understands the residents in the district are worried and anxious because of the increase in confirmed cases in recent days. 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 appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the result patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the concerned persons have complied with the compulsory testing notices and restriction-testing declaration. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory 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 compulsory testing order or the restriction-testing declaration is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (February 3) announced the arrangements of face-to-face classes for all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools after the schools' Chinese New Year holidays.
 
     The Government announced earlier the continuous suspension of face-to-face classes and school activities for all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong until the beginning of schools’ Chinese New Year holidays. At the same time, primary and secondary schools were allowed to arrange a small number of students to return to campuses according to school-based needs, with the number of students capped at one-sixth of the total number of students. 
 
     A spokesman for the EDB said, "We understand that schools and parents very much hope that students can have more time for face-to-face classes so that their learning opportunities will not be deprived of and their social, physical and mental developments will not be hindered due to the prolonged fight against the epidemic. Hence, the EDB, after taking into account the latest development of the epidemic, advice of health experts and the preparedness of schools, decided that all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools (including special schools and schools offering non-local curriculum) as well as schools offering non-formal curriculum (commonly known as 'tutorial schools') will be allowed to arrange more students to return to campuses on a half-day basis in accordance with school-based arrangements after the schools' Chinese New Year’s holidays, with the number of students capped at one-third of the total number of students. 
 
     He added, "According to the views of health experts, apart from the prevailing anti-epidemic measures implemented by schools, virus testing is also a key to epidemic prevention and control. Comprehensive and regular testing by school staff can strengthen the prevention of virus infection, provide protection to all teachers and students, and reduce the risk of virus transmission, which is conducive to creating a safer environment for students to learn. The EDB has earlier arranged the COVID-19 Targeted Group Testing Scheme for all school staff and staff of boarding sections of special schools. Some schools have participated actively in the scheme. Based on this experience, we are of the view that if schools can arrange all teachers and staff to undergo regular virus testing once every two weeks, they will have the condition to fully resume half-day face-to-face classes. They need to conduct and complete the tests within 14 days before the resumption of face-to-face classes and submit applications to the EDB. The above arrangements are also applicable to 'tutorial schools'. The EDB will issue a letter to inform schools of the detailed arrangements within days." 
 
     The EDB reminds schools of the related arrangements and measures that schools should implement before the full resumption of face-to-face classes and school activities to sustain students' learning at home through flexible use of various teaching modes. During such period, schools should remain open to take care of those students who have to go back to schools because of the lack of carers at home. They should arrange staff to be on duty to handle school affairs, answer parents' enquiries and take care of those students who have returned to schools. Schools should also ensure that the campus environment is clean and hygienic.
 
     Parents should take precautionary measures for COVID-19 and pay close attention to the health conditions of their children. They should avoid bringing their children to crowded places with poor ventilation. Students should maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly and take adequate rest in order to strengthen their immunity. If students are feeling unwell (even if the symptoms are very mild), they must not return to schools and should seek medical advice promptly to receive appropriate diagnoses and treatments.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Pok Oi Hospital (POH) made the following announcement today (February 3) regarding a patient who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19:
 
     A 72-year-old male patient was admitted to the POH Accident and Emergency Department yesterday (February 2) due to chest discomfort and dizziness. He did not have any respiratory symptoms. According to the established procedures, an admission screening test for COVID-19 was arranged for the patient. He was then transferred to the Medical and Geriatrics Ward for treatment. His specimen tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. The patient was immediately transferred to an isolation ward of Tuen Mun Hospital for further treatment with stable condition.
 
     The hospital's infection control unit conducted contact tracing accordingly. Six male patients who had stayed in the same cubicle with the patient, and the three nurses who provided care for the patient when he vomited, were classified as close contacts and are required to be quarantined for 14 days. Also, a doctor who had examined the patient has to undergo 28-day medical surveillance.
 
     The hospital had conducted thorough cleaning and disinfection for the areas concerned. POH will continue to closely monitor the health of its staff and patients and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     In response to the judgment handed down by Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on two cases involving the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap. 172), a Government spokesman today (February 3) made the following response:
      
     The Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap. 172) (PPEO) serves the primary purpose of ensuring public safety and order on various aspects, including fire safety, building safety, electrical and mechanical equipment, ventilation, crowd management, hygiene, etc, at places of entertainment where members of the public congregate. For the organisation of any public entertainment events/activities (including those specified under PPEO) at any places (except those specified under the Places of Public Entertainment (Exemption) Order (Cap. 172D)), and provided that the relevant operator has the right to control public access to the premises (regardless of whether the general public is admitted with payment), the organiser must apply for a places of public entertainment licence (PPEL) in accordance with PPEO.
      
     In general, places installed with mechanical devices known as "claw machines" involve amusements with prizes which draw crowds; the operators concerned also have the right to control the public admission to such places. Generally speaking, these places are caught by the licensing requirement under PPEO and therefore the relevant operators have all along been applying for PPELs from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The relevant policy and licensing requirement have been effective and will continue to apply to all places of public entertainment. The FEHD will continue its enforcement actions against unlicensed places of public entertainment to ensure public safety and order in these places.
      
     As regards the judgment that the operation of two claw machine venues does not require a PPEL as recently handed down by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts, the Department of Justice is reviewing the grounds for verdict and the prosecutor's report and will consider the appropriate follow-up actions (including filing an appeal).

The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:

     The Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) today (February 3) held an online award presentation ceremony for winning schools under the 18th Hong Kong Green School Award (HKGSA) programme to recognise their efforts in promoting environmental education and practising the habit of "use less, waste less". This year, 72 schools received the Green School Award, while 39 schools won the NO Disposables Campus Award (see Annex for the list of awardees).

     Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that the Chief Executive had announced in the 2020 Policy Address that Hong Kong would strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. The Government strives towards the goal of carbon neutrality and actively pursues measures to reduce carbon emissions. He called on the public to join hands in combating climate change and developing low-carbon lifestyles, including energy saving and waste reduction and recycling. For example, schools are encouraged to continue promoting the "use less, waste less" culture to achieve the "save more, recycle more" goal, and spread green messages to families and the community.

     The ECC Chairman, Mr Simon Wong Kit-lung, commended the winning schools for their dedication in advocating environmental education while facing COVID-19 for over a year. Apart from incorporating environmental elements into their curriculums, the schools had also organised various learning activities through an online platform to enhance students' environmental knowledge, address environmental problems, practise environmental protection through actions, and instil amongst students a sense of responsibility for the environment while studying at home.

     For the primary and secondary school categories of the HKGSA, the schools underwent assessments according to four criteria, namely Environmental Policy and Campus Environment, Environmental Management Measures, Environmental Education Plan and Implementation, and Environmental Education Effectiveness. After verification of the scores, schools meeting the benchmark levels of the relevant assessment criteria were presented with the Green School Gold, Silver or Bronze Award. From 216 entries this year, 15 primary and 13 secondary schools received the Gold Award, three primary and three secondary schools received the Silver Award, and 17 primary and nine secondary schools received the Bronze Award. Schools receiving the title of Hong Kong Green School were invited to compete in the schools' sector of the 2020 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence.

     In the pre-school category, assessments were made according to four criteria, namely Environmental Infrastructure, Environmental Management, Environmental Education, and Parents' Participation in Environmental Activities. This year, 12 pre-schools out of 45 entries received an award for their outstanding performance and won cash prizes of $5,000 for organising environmental education activities.

     Launched in 2000, the HKGSA has attracted the participation of more than 900 schools. The scheme, sponsored by the Environment and Conservation Fund, aims to encourage schools to formulate an environmental policy and implement an environmental management plan. The scheme also aims to enhance environmental awareness, help develop an environment-friendly attitude and promote green practices among school managers, teachers, non-teaching staff, students and their families. The last HKGSA was successfully concluded in the 2019/20 school year. Starting from the 2020/21 school year, the HKGSA has been subsumed under another ECC signature award scheme, namely the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) – Schools Sector. All pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools are eligible to participate in the HKAEE.

     For details about the HKGSA, please visit the ECC's Schools Go Green website at school.ecc.org.hk.

     The 18th HKGSA online award presentation ceremony was held at the Auditorium of the Business Environment Council today. In addition to Mr Wong Kam-sing and Mr Simon Wong Kit-lung, other officiating guests were the Convenor of the ECC Education Working Group, Ms Sylvia Chan, and the Chairman of the HKGSA Final Adjudicating Panel for Pre-school Category, Mr Shiu Wai-lok. School representatives and guests were invited to join the live streaming across YouTube, Facebook and the dedicated website of the Award Presentation of the 18th HKGSA to share the joy and environmental achievements with the winning schools.