Government finishes exercise on "restriction-testing declaration" in respect of specified "restricted area" in Shui Chuen O Estate, Shatin (with photo)
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Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring person who had been present at the above buildings for more than two hours from January 30 to February 12, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect to undergo compulsory testing on or before February 14, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise in respect of Mau Chuen House "restricted area" at around 10.30am today (February 13) and carried out enforcement action in Mau Chuen House afterwards to ascertain that all people in Mau Chuen House had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation in respect of Mau Chuen House ended at around noon today.
In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health mobilised around 138 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.
The Government provided simple food for persons subject to compulsory testing, including canned food and instant noodles, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing.
The Housing Department has 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 around 10.30am 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 noon. Test records of about 108 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. One person was found to have not undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing order was issued to him/her. 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 about 60 households at Mau Chuen House 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 $10,000. 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/Sunday, February 13, 2022
Issued at HKT 13:01
Issued at HKT 13:01
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