The Government on January 24 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 on January 24, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Kwai Chung (i.e. Ha Kwai House, Kwai Chung Estate.) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government decided to extend the period of operation and aims at finishing the exercise at about 7am on January 29. 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. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 7am today (January 29) 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 7am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Kwai Chung who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results 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 set up temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples daily at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test during the period from January 24 to January 28. As at January 28, about 9 660 person-time had undergone testing. A total of 16 cases was found.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 740 households. The Government will take follow up action against those persons who did not undergo the Compulsory Testing .

     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/Saturday, January 29, 2022
Issued at HKT 8:45

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