Joint-departmental enforcement operation against non-compliance with anti-epidemic regulations (with photos)
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In view of the raging epidemic, the Government announced to tighten social distancing measures from February 10, including reducing the number of persons allowed per group gathering in a public place from four to two. In the past week, the law enforcing departments had issued reminders and warnings in various ways to appeal for a concerted effort to fight against the virus.
To safeguard public health and further reduce the risks of virus transmission, rigorous enforcement actions were carried out yesterday (February 19) and today. Officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Police, the Labour Department (LD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) visited public places in various districts where people including foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) congregate during weekends and public holidays, including Tamar Park in Admiralty, Edinburgh Place, the pedestrian zone on Chater Road, Statue Square in Central, to conduct joint-departmental enforcement operation against non-compliance with the anti-epidemic regulations on mask wearing and prohibition of group gatherings of more than two persons in public places. Results of the joint-departmental enforcement operation are as follows:
FEHD
Apart from arranging for cleansing contractors to strengthen the street cleansing services at the relevant locations, the FEHD also stepped up patrols to combat unlicensed hawking activities. Promotional leaflets in multiple languages were also distributed by the FEHD to appeal to FDHs to maintain environmental hygiene and refrain from conducting unlicensed hawking activities. During the operations, FEHD issued a total of nine fixed penalty notices to persons who breached public cleanliness offences. In addition, four seizures of hawker abandoned articles, including cooked food and cooking paraphernalia, weighing about 75 kilogrammes, were effected in the vicinity of Sugar Street and Victoria Park in Wan Chai, and three prosecutions were also taken against the operators of restaurants for breaching the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X).
Police
During the two-day operation, as of 6pm today, Police issued 71 fixed penalty notices to those who were suspected of breaching the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) at public places. Meanwhile, fixed penalty notices were issued to 582 people who were found not wearing the face mask properly and suspected of breaching the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I).
LD
The LD found that nine FDHs were suspected of contravening the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G), and that one FDH was not wearing a face mask properly and suspected of contravening the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I). Fixed penalty notices were issued to them.
In addition, the LD distributed COVID-19 rapid test kits to FDHs during this weekend at various locations in Central and Victoria Park in Causeway Bay for voluntary testing, with a view to identifying infected persons early, so as to better protect FDHs’ health and that of their employers’ families and others. However, the Government reminds FDHs that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the compulsory testing requirement.
LCSD
More than 640 times verbal advice were given out during about 3 400 patrols of venues by the LCSD staff in two days. In the same period, fixed penalty notices were also issued to four persons suspected of breaching Cap.599I on mandatory mask-wearing requirement in specified public places.
A spokesman for the Government strongly appealed to members of the public to stay vigilant and comply with anti-epidemic regulations.
"The key to prevailing over the epidemic rests with every citizen’s effort and support. Members of the public, including the FDHs, should reduce unnecessary social contact to prevent escalation of the disease. Let’s fight the virus together," the spokesman added.
Ends/Sunday, February 20, 2022
Issued at HKT 22:38
Issued at HKT 22:38
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