Government enforces "restriction-testing declaration" and compulsory testing notice in respect of specified "restricted area" in Tsim Sha Tsui (with photo)

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The Government yesterday (August 4) 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 8pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tsim Sha Tsui (i.e. The Luxe Manor, 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui) were 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 "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, the Government had issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the building for more than two hours from August 2 to 4, 2021, to undergo compulsory testing on or before August 6 even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 6.30am today (August 5) and is now carrying out enforcement actions in the "restricted area" to verify that all people in the "restricted area" have undergone compulsory testing. The Government will further announce the revocation time of the declaration.

Starting from around 6.30am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Tsim Sha Tsui who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.

The Government yesterday arranged persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples in the "restricted area" and undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 12am today. As at 12am today, around 130 persons had undergone testing. No confirmed cases were found.

Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit around 75 rented hotel rooms, among which around 20 rooms had no one answering the door. The Government will follow up on this.

The Government also understands that some persons subject to compulsory testing already underwent testing at the mobile specimen collection stations set up in the district or by other means. Therefore, persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from August 2 to 4, 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.

The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine 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 compulsory testing 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/Thursday, August 5, 2021
Issued at HKT 6:58

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The Government yesterday (August 4) made a "restriction-testing declaration" and issued a compulsory testing notice in respect of the specified "restricted area" in Tsim Sha Tsui (i.e. The Luxe Manor, 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui), under which people within the specified "restricted area" in Tsim Sha Tsui were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Photo shows a staff member collecting samples through combined nasal and throat swabs for a person subject to compulsory testing in the "restricted area".