The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (April 23) visited the Junior Police Call Permanent Activity Centre (JPC Centre) at Pat Heung, Yuen Long, to inspect the newly developed temporary quarantine units that will soon commence operation and express his appreciation to the staff and volunteers managing the site.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, and the Director of Architectural Services, Mrs Sylvia Lam, Mr Cheung toured the new quarantine units and received a briefing from technical staff on-site on how they managed to build 120 new quarantine units in around two months and sped up its construction through the application of the modular integrated construction (MiC) method.

     He was pleased to note that the works which started in February this year were completed earlier this week. Together with about 80 quarantine units refurbished from existing quarters that have commenced operation in late March, the JPC Centre provides more than 200 quarantine units in total.

     Mr Cheung said, "Although the number of new confirmed cases in Hong Kong has subsided these days, the community must stay vigilant, given that virus infection does not know any boundary and that the pandemic remains severe and developments are hard to predict. The Government will keep up its anti-epidemic effort under the three key principles of responding promptly, staying alert to the situation and working in an open and transparent manner, including the provision of additional quarantine units, so as to cope with the possibility of a sudden turn in the epidemic situation."

     "The quarantine centres set up by the Government are designed to cater for close contacts of confirmed cases under compulsory quarantine. Since January, a total of about 4 500 persons have been accommodated at quarantine centres, among whom 84 showed symptoms during their stay and were confirmed cases. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the quarantine centres in preventing community outbreaks," he said.

     "The Government has been racing against time in developing additional quarantine units through refurbishment and construction. I would like to express my gratitude to all colleagues of the Architectural Services Department and other relevant government departments as well as staff of the contractor for their relentless efforts day and night in building new quarantine units within such a short period of time in a safe manner. Their spirit of standing united to fight the disease is exemplary," he added.

     He also expressed his appreciation to colleagues of the Department of Health, the Police Force, the Fire Services Department, the Civil Aid Service and relevant government departments as well as the volunteers for working together in managing the operation of the site.

     Mr Cheung said that, with a view to safeguarding against any sudden turn in the epidemic situation in Hong Kong, the Government had announced that the measures to regulate catering business premises, scheduled premises and prohibit group gatherings would be extended by two weeks starting from today. He urged members of the public to be accommodating and self-disciplined and continue to comply with the measures for maintaining social distance to fight the epidemic together.

     Currently, the Government has four quarantine centres in operation, which are situated in Chun Yeung Estate in Fo Tan, the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village in Chai Wan, the Heritage Lodge of the Jao Tsung-I Academy in Lai Chi Kok, and the JPC Centre at Pat Heung. Together, they provide a total of about 1 700 quarantine units. The Government will continue to develop about 1 000 additional units as quarantine facilities through the application of the MiC at the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre and on a piece of Government land at Penny's Bay. The units are expected to be completed and put into use from April to July in phases.

Ends/Thursday, April 23, 2020
Issued at HKT 17:16

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