Government enforces "restriction-testing declaration" and compulsory testing notice in respect of specified "restricted area" in North Point (with photos)

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     The Government yesterday (January 28) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" (declaration) effective from 7pm yesterday, by which people within the specified "restricted area" in North Point (i.e. Blocks A, B, C and D of Tung Fat Building, Kam Ping Street) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the arrangement by the Government. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, the Government has also issued compulsory testing notices earlier to any person who had been present at the building for more than two hours during the specified period to undergo compulsory testing 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 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 7am today, persons in the "restricted area" in North Point 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 set up 12 temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" yesterday 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 before 2am today. As at 2am today, about 475 residents had undergone testing. No positive cases were found.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit about 660 households. After deducting the households in units 6 and 7 on all floors of Block C which have been quarantined, about 190 households did not answer the door. Those include some households with confirmed cases or undergoing quarantine. Some units are possibly vacant as well. The Government does not have detailed information in this respect and 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 negative test result 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/Friday, January 29, 2021
Issued at HKT 11:41

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The Government yesterday (January 28) made a "restriction-testing declaration" in respect of the specified "restricted area" in North Point (i.e. Blocks A, B, C and D of Tung Fat Building, Kam Ping Street), by which people within the specified "restricted area" in North Point are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the arrangement by the Government. Photo shows staff members of the Home Affairs Department conducting a home visit at a building in the "restricted area" to assist residents in taking the test.