The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 13) inspected the "restriction-testing declaration" (RTD) operation at Tsui Ning Garden, Tuen Mun to give encouragement to the participating colleagues from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) as well as the departments under its purview. She was encouraged by their team spirit and participation in the anti-epidemic work on the front line.

     The Government commenced an RTD operation in Block 3, Tsui Ning Garden, Tuen Mun this afternoon. Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, the Director of Accounting Services, Ms Susanna Cheung, and the Acting Director of Home Affairs, Miss Vega Wong, inspected the operation. Mrs Lam was pleased to note that since the onset of the fifth wave of the epidemic, more bureaux and departments had shouldered responsibilities in the fight against the epidemic and mobilised civil servants of various ranks to serve the public on the front line. One of the anti-epidemic tasks was the conduct of RTD operations at targeted buildings having regard to their risks. The responsible departments, after receiving training and gaining practical experience, would be required to lead the arrangements for the operations, assigning colleagues to be the commander and mobilising staff members to participate therein. 

     The FSTB assigned the Official Receiver's Office and The Treasury yesterday and today respectively to lead the co-ordination and implementation of the "restriction-testing declaration" operations in different buildings at Tsui Ning Garden. A total of 140-150 members from various grades were deployed for each operation. Administrative Officers, solicitors, Insolvency Officers, Accounting Officers, Executive Officers and Clerical Officers were involved in the operation yesterday, whereas Treasury Accountants, Accounting Officers, Valuation Surveyors, Management Services Officers, Executive Officers, Analysts/Programmers, Computer Operators, Supplies Officers and clerical staff took part in the operation today.

     The conduct of RTD operations is one of the important anti-epidemic measures of the Government. Since the onset of the fifth wave of the epidemic, over 200 RTD operations have been conducted, seeing a considerably high proportion of cases with positive test results. The RTD operations enable the Government to focus resources on high-risk districts, identify infected persons for admission to community isolation facilities and reduce cross-infection risks in households or buildings. Mrs Lam commended colleagues for their dedication to conducting RTD operations with comprehensive services provided for residents. Such services ranged from arranging for residents to undergo testing in an orderly manner, distributing such supplies as food packages and rapid test kits to them, to arranging those infected for admission to community isolation facilities and taking relevant law enforcement actions after the operations.

     "Civil servants are one of the important pillars in maintaining the operation of our city. In the face of the severe epidemic situation, civil servants of all ranks shall fight the virus as their top priority. Departments shall work as a team to shoulder various anti-epidemic responsibilities to give full play to the esprit de corps of the entire Government to fight the virus," said Mrs Lam. "I also thank the residents, and all the people of Hong Kong indeed, for fully supporting the Government's anti-epidemic measures. I firmly believe that with the concerted efforts of the whole society, Hong Kong can win the anti-epidemic fight early."

Ends/Sunday, March 13, 2022
Issued at HKT 22:46

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