Government enforces "restriction-testing declaration" and compulsory testing notices in respect of specified "restricted area" in Tuen Mun

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     The Government on February 6 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 7.30pm on that day, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tuen Mun (i.e. Leung Kit House, excluding LKWFS Chu Sui Lan Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten on G/F, Leung King Estate, 31 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government yesterday (February 9) extended the period of operation to today (February 10). Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises and undergo a total of three tests on February 6, February 8 and February 9 under the designated arrangement under the declaration, until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, for those who have visited the "restricted area" in the past two weeks for more than two hours, they should undergo testing on or before February 9, 2022, in accordance with the compulsory testing notices issued earlier. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 12.15pm 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 further announce the revocation time of the declaration.

     Starting from around 12.15pm today, persons in the "restricted area" in Tuen Mun 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 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 COVID-19 virus tests on February 6, February 8 and February 9 as designated. As at 12am today, a total of about 4 650 person-time at Leung Kit House had undergone the three tests. A total of 73 cases tested preliminarily positive and three cases tested indeterminate were found. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is arranging follow-up actions.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit around 610 households, among which around 40 households did not answer the door. Those may include some households undergoing quarantine or isolation. 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 test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notices and may be liable to a fine of $10,000. 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/Thursday, February 10, 2022
Issued at HKT 13:56

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