Government finishes exercise on "restriction-testing declaration" and compulsory testing notice in respect of specified "restricted area" in Tung Chung

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     The Government yesterday (April 29) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tung Chung (i.e. Tower 11, Carmel Cove, Caribbean Coast, 1 Kin Tung Road, Tung Chung) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. As at 3am today, around 950 persons subject to compulsory testing had collected combined nasal and throat swab samples at the temporary specimen collection stations set up in the "restricted area" to undergo a COVID-19 virus test. The exercise finished at around 7.30pm today. The test results of all persons subject to compulsory testing were negative. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).

     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) (including the Islands District Office), the Hong Kong Police Force, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised around 310 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration.

     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agency for their hard work to arrange for implementation of the declaration within a very short period of time. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing.

     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from April 16 to 29, 2021, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before May 1. The Government reminds relevant persons to receive COVID-19 nucleic acid testing according to the compulsory testing notice.

     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.

Ends/Friday, April 30, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:40

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