The Government announced that the compulsory testing exercise and enforcement operation for the restricted area in North Point finished this morning with no positive cases found.

It said from 7am, people in the restricted area who can present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands as proof of having undergone testing can leave the area.

The Government exercised the power under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation to make a restriction-testing declaration at 7pm on January 28, requiring people within the specified restricted area at Blocks A, B, C and D of Tung Fat Building at Kam Ping Street in North Point to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing.

They had to stay in their premises until all people in the area were tested and the test results were mostly ascertained.

Additionally, the Government issued compulsory testing notices earlier to those who had been at the building for more than two hours during a specified period to undergo mandatory testing even if they were not present in the restricted area at the time when the declaration took effect.

Twelve temporary specimen collection stations were set up in the restricted area to have people's combined nasal and throat swab samples collected for COVID-19 testing.

About 475 residents were tested as at 2am and no positive cases were found.

Enforcement actions were carried out immediately after the compulsory testing exercise to verify that all people in the restricted area have undergone testing.

Fifteen people who did not undergo mandatory testing were fined a fixed penalty of $5,000 and issued with a compulsory testing order.

Meanwhile, the Government assigned staff to visit about 660 households. After deducting those in units 6 and 7 on all floors of Block C which have been put under quarantine, about 190 households did not answer the door.

Some of these households have confirmed cases or are undergoing quarantine, and some units are possibly vacant. The Government will take measures to follow up.

It added that about 360 staff from the Home Affairs Department, Police, the Eastern District Office and the Auxiliary Medical Service were mobilised in this exercise to implement the declaration and enforcement actions.