With the prolonged local COVID-19 epidemic situation, the number of confirmed cases has remained at a relatively high level. Some of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic and this indicates the existence of many silent transmission chains in the community. Through mobile specimen collection stations set up earlier in various districts, the Government has been providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for members of the public. The Government is now identifying more suitable locations, in particular near the buildings covered under the compulsory testing notice through exercising the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) on December 30, for setting up mobile specimen collection stations or other appropriate means (such as through community testing centres nearby) to provide a free and convenient testing service for residents and relevant persons covered under the compulsory testing notice.
 
     For existing mobile specimen collection stations, after reviewing the usage and public demand for the testing service, the Government has decided to extend the service period of the mobile specimen collection station set up at the basketball court next to Ming Lai House of Choi Wan (II) Estate to continue to provide testing service for residents and workers of Choi Wan (II) Estate until January 2, 2021 (Saturday), tentatively.
 
     The Government has also earlier decided to extend the service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po, Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin Square, Tung Chung North Park and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground to January 8, 2021 (Friday).
 
     The Government will decide whether it is necessary to further extend the operation period of the stations after reviewing their usage and the public's demand for the testing service. 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 at the Annex.
    
     A Government spokesman said, "The testing agencies will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations for testing free of charge. Persons who are subject to compulsory testing and undergo testing at the mobile specimen collection stations will be deemed to have undergone a test at a Community Testing Centre. The mobile specimen collection stations will accord priority to provide testing services for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing."
 
     People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS notifications through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.
 
     The spokesman urged all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases) to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.
 
     The Government will continue to inform the public through press releases and the thematic website (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) about the latest situations of mobile specimen collection stations (including specimen collection means near the buildings covered under the compulsory testing notice issued on December 30).

     The Home Affairs Bureau today (December 31) announced appointments to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee (ICHAC) and its two newly established sub-committees, namely the Sub-committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage Funding Scheme and the Sub-committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage Items. The tenure is from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. The membership lists of the committee and sub-committees are as follows:
 
ICHAC
——-
 
Chairman:
Professor Ricardo Mak King-sang*

Members:
Ms Au Yeung Wai-yin*
Dr Dominic Chan Choi-hi
Ms Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan *
Mr Cheung Kin-yip *
Ms Vanessa Cheung Tih-lin *
Professor Ching May-bo
Professor Stephanie Chung Po-yin *
Mr Ip Cheung-ching
Ms Fanny Iu Kai-fan
Mr Ronald Kan Yu-him
Ms Candice Leung Wai-yee
Ms Stella See Sau-ying
Ms Chloe Suen Yin-wah
Mr Brian Sze Pak-hung *
Mr James Tong Wai-pong *
Mr Aaron Tsang Kin-shing*
Mr Brian Tsang Yui-kan *
Professor Timothy Wong Man-kong
Miss Vivian Wong Man-lei*
Professor Yau Chi-on
Mr Adrian Yip Chun-to *
Representative of the Home Affairs Bureau
Representative of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
(* new appointees)
 
Sub-committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage Funding Scheme
——————————————————————-
 
Chairman:
Mr Ip Cheung-ching
 
Members:
Ms Au Yeung Wai-yin
Mr Cheung Kin-yip
Mr Ronald Kan Yu-him
Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho
Professor Poon Shuk-wah
Ms Stella See Sau-ying
Ms Chloe Suen Yin-wah
 
Sub-committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage Items
——————————————————–
 
Chairperson :
Professor Ching May-bo
 
Ex-officio Member:
Professor Ricardo Mak King-sang
 
Members:
Professor Selina Chan Ching
Professor Stephanie Chung Po-yin
Professor Liu Tik-sang
Professor Yau Chi-on
 
     The terms of reference of ICHAC and the two sub-committees are at Annex.
 
     The Home Affairs Bureau thanks the retiring Chairman of ICHAC, Professor Cheng Pei-kai, and the 11 retiring members (Dr Stephen Cheung Kwok-hung, Professor Chiu Yu-lok, Professor Choi Chi-cheung, Professor Chu Hung-lam, Mr Berry Chu Kim-hung, Professor Lai Chi-tim, Ms Lee Mei-yin, Mr Li Sai-lung , Professor Liu Tik-sang, Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho and Professor Henri Yeung Wing-on) for their invaluable support and contributions to the work of ICHAC over the years.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 31) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming (see Note).

     Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).

Grade 1 beaches are:           

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Note: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that all gazetted beaches were closed from December 10 until further notice.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, December 31, 2020 is 100.8 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Fifty-two convictions were recorded in November 2020 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.

     Eight of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, four were under the Noise Control Ordinance, 19 were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, 19 were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and two were under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.

     Separately, two companies and one person were fined $20,000, which was the heaviest fine in November, for importing controlled waste without a permit and depositing waste unlawfully.