Government enforces "restriction-testing declaration" and compulsory testing notice in respect of specified "restricted area" at Hing Tai House in Tai Hing Estate, Tuen Mun

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     The Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" on February 5 with effect from 7pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tuen Mun (i.e. Hing Cheung House, 6 Tai Hing Street, (excluding Yuen Long (2) District Maintenance Office, Housing Department, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation-Community Rehabilitation Network (Tai Hing Centre), The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tai Hing Hostel and Tuen Mun Youths Association on G/F), and Hing Tai House, 2 Tai Hing Street (excluding District Lands Office/Tuen Mun Squatter Control Team, Clearance (2) Office (Tuen Mun Sub-office), Lands Department, and Fu Hong Society Kit Hong Home), Tai Hing Estate, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government yesterday (February 6) decided to extend the period of operation for Hing Tai House in the "restricted area" and aims at finishing the exercise at about 7.30am today (February 7). Persons subject to compulsory testing at Hing Tai House are required to stay in their premises and undergo two tests under the designated arrangement until all such persons identified in Hing Tai House in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, those who have visited Hing Tai House in the past two weeks for more than two hours should undergo testing on or before February 7, 2022, in accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 9am today 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 make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially.

     Starting from around 9am today, persons in Hing Tai House in the "restricted area" in Tuen Mun 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 had 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 at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test on February 5 and February 6 under the designated arrangement. As at 1am today, a total of 5 546 person-time had undergone testing. Fifteen preliminary positive cases and one indeterminate case were found and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will take follow up action.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 1 380 households, among which 97 households did not answer the door. The Government will take measures to follow up.

     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result 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/Monday, February 7, 2022
Issued at HKT 9:39

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