ýÿThe 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 7 pm, 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) extended the period of operation for Hing Tai House to 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 (including the one conducted yesterday under the declaration), until all such persons identified in Hing Tai House in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained, and upon the agreement of the Secretary for Food and Health having regard to all the circumstances and the public interest of Hong Kong.

     In addition, for 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 9 am today and carried out enforcement action in the "restricted area" afterwards to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 10 am today.

     In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Auxiliary Medical Service mobilised 484 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government delivered lunch and dinner boxes to persons subject to compulsory testing and provided simple food for them, including canned food, instant noodles and corn kernels, so as to facilitate the meal arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing.

     The Housing Department set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.

     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone's co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at 9 am today, the Government took enforcement action in the "restricted area" immediately to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative test result as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 10 am. Test records of around 400 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Seven persons were found to have not undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing order was issued to them. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).

     The Government reminded the households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.

     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. 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 and waiting for the results at home.

     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/Monday, February 7, 2022
Issued at HKT 13:05

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