The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 2) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Bayreuth District of the State of Bayern and Ludwigslust-Parchim District of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany, Gir Somnath District of Gujarat State in India, and Isle of Anglesey of Wales in the United Kingdom (UK), as well as outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Solapur District of Maharashtra State and Dhamtari District of Chattisgarh State in India, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with India for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no eggs were imported from India last year. Hong Kong imported about 3 900 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 1.41 million poultry eggs from Germany, and about 11 130 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 420 000 poultry eggs from the UK last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the German, Indian and British authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Government yesterday (February 1) 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 8pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Kowloon City (i.e. Loong King Mansion, 23-35 Ma Tau Wai Road) 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 before leaving the premises. Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at Loong King Mansion for more than two hours between January 19 and February 1, 2021, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing before February 3. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today (February 2) and carried out enforcement actions 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 declaration and the compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at about 11.45am today.

     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the Kowloon City District Office, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department, the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised around 361 staff in total 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 who were subject to compulsory testing, including food packs, canned food, soy milk and corn, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of those who were subject to compulsory testing. They were also given a box of masks for assisting them to 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 would like to offer thanks for the support and understanding from persons who were subject to compulsory testing. With everyone's co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents were informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at about 7am today, the Government took enforcement action in the "restricted area" immediately to verify whether all people in the "restricted area" had undergone testing in accordance with 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 about 11.45am. Three persons were found to have not undergone compulsory testing. A fixed penalty of $5,000 and a compulsory testing order were issued to them. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" according to Cap. 599J (see attachment).
     
     The Government hopes the some 30 households who had not answered the door will contact the Government for arranging testing as soon as possible after they have 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 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 in the district and ease residents' worries and fear, so that they will regain confidence in resuming social and business activities in the area, and resume a normal life.

     The Government would like to thank all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to the persons who were subject to compulsory testing again 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 who were 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.

  

     January 2021 was colder during the first half of the month but relatively milder in the latter part. Overall, the month was colder than usual with a mean temperature of 16.2 degrees, 0.3 degrees below the normal figure of 16.5 degrees (or 0.1 degrees below the 1981-2010 normal). With dry winter monsoon dominating over southern China for most of the time in the month, January 2021 was much sunnier and drier than usual. The monthly total sunshine duration amounted to 217.3 hours, 49 per cent above the normal of 145.8 hours (or 52 per cent above the 1981-2010 normal). Only traces of rainfall was recorded in the month, making it one of the eight Januaries with traces of rainfall since records began in 1884.
      
     The intense cold surge that affected the south China coastal areas in late December 2020 continued its dominance and brought cold and very dry weather to Hong Kong on the first two days of January 2021. Frost was reported in places over the northern part of the New Territories on January 2. With the moderation of the winter monsoon, local temperatures rose gradually with sunny periods in the next four days.
      
     With the strengthening of the winter monsoon, the weather of Hong Kong became appreciably colder on the night of January 7 and the temperature at the Hong Kong Observatory further dropped to 7.7 degrees on the morning of January 8, the lowest of the month. The temperature at Tai Mo Shan even fell to minus 2.5 degrees in that morning. The weather was mainly cloudy and very dry during the daytime on that day. Under the influence of the winter monsoon and its replenishment, cold and very dry weather persisted from January 9 to 14. While it was mainly cloudy from January 9 to 11, the weather became generally fine on January 12 and remained so in the following six days. During the cold episode, icing was reported on the high ground of Tai Mo Shan on January 8 and 9 and on January 12 and 13. With significant radiation cooling effect under the clear sky, the minimum temperature recorded at Ta Kwu Ling was minus 0.9 degrees on January 13, the lowest since records began at that station. In addition, there were frost reports in parts of the New Territories in that morning.
      
     Affected by the cloud bands over the northern part of the South China Sea, the weather became cloudier on the afternoon of January 19 and in the next two days. With the cloud bands thinning out, the weather in Hong Kong turned fine and rather warm during the day on January 22 and 23. With plenty of sunshine, the temperature at the Hong Kong Observatory rose to 24.5 degrees on the afternoon of January 22, the highest of the month. Under light wind conditions, visibility was relatively low in some areas from January 21 to 23.

     Following the arrival of a surge of northeast monsoon, local weather became cloudier and cooler on January 24. Under the influence of the dry northeast monsoon, it was generally fine and mild during the day from January 25 to 28. With the strengthening of the monsoon, the weather of Hong Kong became cooler and remained fine on the last three days of the month.
      
     There was no tropical cyclone over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in January 2021.
      
     Details of the issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in January are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for January are tabulated in Table 2.

     The Government yesterday (February 1) 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 7pm yesterday, by which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tsim Sha Tsui (i.e. Majestic House, 80 Nathan Road) 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 building for more than two hours from January 19 to February 1, 2021, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing before February 3. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today (February 2) and carried out enforcement actions 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 declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended around noon today.

     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the Yau Tsim Mong District Office, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department, the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised around 220 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 food packs (containing noodles, canned meat, canned fruit, canned soup, etc), instant noodles, pasta, bread, canned food, cup noodles, soup packs, cakes, soy milk and bottled water, etc, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of some persons subject to compulsory testing. One box of masks and hand sanitisers, etc, were 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 about 7am today, the Government took enforcement actions in the "restricted area" immediately to verify that all people in the "restricted area" have 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 around noon. One person was found not having undergone compulsory testing. A fixed penalty of $5,000 and a compulsory testing order was issued to him. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
     
     After initial investigation, it is believed that among the about 20 households that who have not answered the door, at least 10 of them are vacant units. The other residents are urged to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after they read the notices put up by the Government, so as to eliminate the possible risk of a further spread of the virus in the community.

     The Government understands that 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 in the district 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 also thanks the persons subject to compulsory testing again for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the result 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/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.

  

     The Government yesterday (February 1) 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 7pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Yuen Long (i.e. Ho Choi Building, 42 to 58A Yuen Long On Hing Street) 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 building for more than two hours from January 19 to February 1, 2021, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing before February 3. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today (February 2) and carried out enforcement actions 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 declaration and the compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at about 11.40am today.

     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the Yuen Long District Office, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department, the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised around 180 staff in total 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 food packs (containing canned food, including luncheon meat, tuna fish and corn), soy milk and bottled water, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of some persons subject to compulsory testing. One box of masks and hand sanitisers, etc, were 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 about 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 about 11.40am. 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 the some 10 households who had 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 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 in the district 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 also thanks the persons subject to compulsory testing again 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.