Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui; and the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, at a media session this morning (January 23) on the compulsory testing in "restricted area":
 
Reporter: My first question is relating to arrangement. I talked to some people in the area earlier this morning. Some are complaining that they were outside and weren’t able to go home. Given that they have to undergo test anyway, why aren’t they allowed home? There are also people who own stores in the area saying that they could not deliver their order because they can’t go into the area, and some have left their frozen meat to go stale because they couldn’t go into the area. What should they do and will there be a compensation for these people? And the second question is relating to risk assessment. I walked around this morning and I noticed that some of the government workers standing guard are wearing the same level of masks that I’m wearing but they are speaking to residents in the area as well. So will they be a concern or a risk of the disease being spread? If they are not quarantined as well, will they bring the virus back to society?
 
Secretary for Home Affairs: For the residents who reside in this area, we will make necessary arrangements for them. When they enter this area, they are required to do the necessary testing before they can leave the area. For the colleagues already on ground, if the duty is to engage residents, you can see most of them are required higher degree of protection and we will provide all that to them. In past exercises, if needed, we will provide testing to all of them as well. I’ll see if my colleague has anything to supplement.
 
Secretary for Food and Health: As far as the risk assessment and the proper protective gears are concerned, I would like to invite the Director of Health to give us more information. The Department of Health has actually issued guidelines for the people who are working within the area and people who are taking swab and the workers within the area. They will follow the guidelines issued by the Department of Health.
 
Director of Health: In planning the operation, the Infection Control Branch of the Centre for Health Protection has worked with various departments. Upon understanding the roles of different officers performing different duties, different levels of PPE will be recommended. For those who have to enter a premise, they will be provided with full PPE including wearing surgical masks, goggles, gloves and overalls. So we will recommend different levels of protection for officers undergoing different levels of duties.
 
Reporter: What about the compensation? Will there be a compensation for shop owners?
 
Secretary for Home Affairs: Currently we focus on making sure all in the area are tested. We would like to minimise the inconvenience that will be caused to the residents and then the store owners. That’s why we would like to make sure that this operation can finish in 48 hours.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The meeting of the Legislative Council ("LegCo") Bills Committee Formed on October 16, 2020 to Study the Waste Disposal (Charging for Municipal Solid Waste) (Amendment) Bill 2018 originally scheduled for next Monday (January 25) by videoconferencing has been rescheduled to next Wednesday (January 27) at 2.30pm (or after the Council meeting held on the same day, whichever is later) in Conference Room 3 of the LegCo Complex.  The meeting will not be conducted by videoconferencing.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
 

     A 40-year-old male Police Constable who is posted to the Hong Kong Police College, preliminarily tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). As the police officer's family member was suspected to have contracted COVID-19, he was also arranged for COVID-19 test and was preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday (January 22). He has no travel history over the past 14 days. He had no contact with members of the public and he wore face masks during his tour of duty. His last working day was January 19.

     The Police are highly concerned and have the following messages:

     (1) Before further assessment by the Department of Health (DH), all Police officers and civilian staff who might have been in contact with the officer concerned have been arranged to undergo COVID-19 test;

     (2) All facilities in the office concerned have been sterilised;

     (3) All officers have been reminded to reduce social contact to minimise risks of infection, and to pay attention to physical health. If feeling unwell, they should consult a doctor and report the case immediately;

     (4) The Police will deploy resources flexibly to ensure provision of policing services of the areas concerned remains unaffected.

     Police are highly concerned about the case and will maintain close communication with the DH and provide assistance in tracing the pathology, by proactively providing information such as the duty record and roster of the officer concerned. Arrangements will be made for close contacts to be conveyed to quarantine centres to undergo quarantine.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (January 23) reminded the public that to facilitate "restriction-testing declaration" made and compulsory testing notice issued in respect of specified "restricted area" in Jordan by the Government, the following temporary traffic and transport arrangements are implemented in Jordan until further notice:

(A) Road closure
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     The following road sections will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic (see annex for road closure area):
 

• the section of Pak Hoi Street, Saigon Street and Ning Po Street between Battery Street and Woosung Street; and
• the section of Reclamation Street, Shanghai Street and Temple Street between Kansu Street and Nanking Street.

(B) Traffic diversions
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• Vehicles on Shanghai Street heading for Jordan Road must turn right to Kansu Street and Ferry Street southbound;
• Vehicles on Kansu Street will be temporarily prohibited from making left turn to Shanghai Street;
• Vehicles on Battery Street (both bounds) will be temporarily prohibited from turning to Saigon Street eastbound;
• Vehicles on Battery Street southbound will be temporarily prohibited from making left turn to Pak Hoi Street eastbound;
• Vehicles on Woosung Street southbound will be temporarily prohibited from making right turn to Saigon Street westbound and Ning Po Street westbound; and
• Vehicles on Saigon Street westbound heading for Shanghai Street must turn left to Woosung Street southbound.

(C) Bus and green minibus (GMB) diversions
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• A total of seven bus routes (namely KMB Nos. 36B, 46, 203E, 260X, 268B, 269B and Citybus No E21X) and three Kowloon GMB routes (namely Nos. 3, 74 and 74S) will be temporarily diverted. Some of the stops will also be suspended or relocated. Please refer to the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/traffic_notices/index_type_1.html) for details.

(D) Suspension of public light bus stands
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• The public light bus stands in Shanghai Street near Nanking Street will be suspended.

(E) Suspension of taxi pick-up / drop-off point
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• The taxi pick-up / drop-off point in Shanghai Street near Nanking Street will be suspended.

(F) Suspension of Car Parks and Parking Spaces
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• Other than the designated vehicles, all vehicles are not allowed to use the car parks and parking spaces on the closed roads.

     The actual implementation of road closures, traffic control and diversion measures will be exercised or altered by the Police depending on the prevailing traffic conditions. The Transport Department anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of the above road sections would be busy. Motorists are advised to be patient and follow the Police’s instruction.

     The public transport operators will display notices to advise passengers of the above temporary arrangements. Public transport commuters are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions and suspension / relocation of stops.

     Members of the public are advised to plan their journey early and allow sufficient traveling time to cater for unexpected delay, and watch out for the latest traffic news through the media or the TD's mobile application "HKeMobility" or website (www.td.gov.hk).