The Government today published in the gazette a compulsory testing notice to require people arriving in Hong Kong after a specified date to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test on the 19th or 20th day following their arrival.

The Food & Health Bureau noted that at present, people arriving in Hong Kong from foreign places are subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine at designated places.

For those arriving from places outside China, in addition to the test upon arrival, they must also undergo testing again on the 12th day of quarantine.

Some confirmed cases were identified by tests taken on day 12 of the quarantine period in the past, the bureau added.

For early identification of imported cases to achieve the objective of preventing the importation of cases, the Government has exercised the power under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation to require people entering Hong Kong from places outside China and have completed the 14-day quarantine to undergo another test on the 19th or 20th day following their arrival.

The bureau said the arrangement is to ensure that no case would slip through the net even under very exceptional cases where the incubation period of the virus is longer than the quarantine period.

According to the compulsory testing notice, any person aged six or above who comes to Hong Kong on or after December 2 and is placed under quarantine pursuant to a Quarantine Order under the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation, must undergo testing on the 19th or 20th day following their arrival.

People subject to compulsory testing must attend any of the community testing centres to undergo testing.

They must register by presenting the identity document stated on the Quarantine Order and, as far as practicable, the Quarantine Order. They must also keep the SMS notification containing the test result and provide the relevant SMS notification for checking by a law enforcement officer when necessary.

Those who fail to comply with the testing notice are liable to a fine of $5,000 and would be served with a compulsory testing order. If they fail to comply with the order, they will be liable to a $25,000 fine and six-months’ imprisonment.