My Blog

Say no to rumours   Vigorously combat and prevent virus

9 February 2020

The SAR Government has responded to the spread of the novel coronavirus with more stringent and resolute measures. Together with the Secretary for Justice, seven Bureau Secretaries and other colleagues from various government departments, I met the media two days ago (7 February) to explain the Government’s entire range of prevention and control strategies. The specific measures include early identification of infected persons, early quarantine, early isolated treatment as well as notably reducing the flow of people and social contact. We also introduced the detailed arrangements of the compulsory quarantine measures.

On the same day (7 February), two pieces of subsidiary legislation, namely the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Disclosure of Information) Regulation, were made under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance by the Chief Executive in Council.

The Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation stipulates that all persons (including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and other travellers) having stayed on the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. The new measure came into effect yesterday (8 February) at 0:00 am. Anyone who violates the compulsory quarantine requirement commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of imprisonment of six months and a fine of $25,000.

I would like to stress that the Regulation aims to further reduce cross-boundary flow of people between Hong Kong and the Mainland, thus minimising the risk of wider spread of the disease. Persons who are placed under compulsory quarantine are asymptomatic and are not close contacts of confirmed cases. Having a lower risk of infection, they should not cause undue alarm. Although the family members of those under compulsory quarantine are not required by the Government to undergo 14 days of mandatory home quarantine, they have to take their temperature readings on a daily basis and contact the Department of Health (DH) once they develop any symptom. The DH will arrange for officers to make daily telephone calls to home confinees and conduct surprise checks on spot. Moreover, the DH will make use of the live location sharing function of messaging softwares to ascertain that confinees stay at their reported places of quarantine. I appeal to home confinees to display social awareness and civic responsibility in observing the Regulation, and call for their cooperation, self-discipline, consideration and solidarity in fighting the disease.

Understandably, appropriate arrangements should be in place to ensure the normal supply of daily necessities in Hong Kong and avoid any impact on the everyday life of citizens. To this end, an exemption arrangement is provided in the Regulation.  As the Chief Secretary for Administration, I have the statutory power to exempt certain categories of persons, including cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, from the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement¹. Although these exempted persons are not subject to compulsory quarantine, they are required by the DH to be under medical surveillance during their stay in Hong Kong to protect themselves and the community. They should wear a mask and check their body temperature daily for reporting to the DH.  Moreover, they should undergo temperature checks and health declaration procedures conducted by the DH upon arrival at and departure from various control points.

In short, we will take a “stringent rather than loose” approach and adopt a “strict” principle in implementing the exemption arrangement.   The new compulsory quarantine measures may cause inconvenience to people travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland, but they are indispensable to the effective control of the epidemic.  Hence the cooperation and understanding of the public is much appreciated. On the first day after implementation, the new measures have proven effective with a significant drop in the number of people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland. 

The Prevention and Control of Disease (Disclosure of Information) Regulation vests a health officer with the power to require a person to provide any information relevant to the handling of a public health emergency, such as his travel history. The relevant power is extended to medical practitioners who may also encounter persons involved in such a public health emergency. Anyone who provides false or misleading information to the health officers or medical practitioners concerned commits a criminal offence and is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for six months and a fine of $10,000.

In response to recent rumours of a shortage of rice and other daily necessities in Hong Kong, I would like to make it clear that our disease prevention and control measures will not affect freight services between the Mainland and Hong Kong since cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers are exempted from the compulsory quarantine requirement. The Government has contacted major food suppliers and they have openly clarified that the supply of food products remains normal with no signs of shortage. The public can rest assured that there are sufficient stocks of staple food including rice and noodles.

In the course of fighting the disease, members of the public may have received varied information from multiple channels. I noticed that there were malicious rumours aimed to stir up trouble in society and create panic among the people. Exaggerating and erroneous, such rumours need to be eradicated just as the virus does. I appeal to citizens not to fall into the traps of rumour mongers by hastily believing in them. They should pay close attention to the updated information disseminated by the Government lest they might be misled by rumours.

Over the years, Hong Kong has established a highly efficient healthcare system efficacious in promoting public health. Our healthcare system is internationally renowned for its standard and quality. Credit goes to the efforts and contribution of our healthcare personnel. We must unite as one to ride out the difficulties during this hardship. The Government values each and every member of the healthcare system and will fully support them by meeting their needs, such as making an all-out effort to source protective equipment globally for priority use by healthcare staff.

Prior to the virus outbreak, Hong Kong was already hard hit by an interplay of complicated factors in the external environment and the local social turmoil and vandalism last year. The epidemic has dealt a further blow to the already poor economy and indeed the society as a whole.

The business environment can hardly improve in the near term. With certain industries experiencing declining businesses, Hong Kong may suffer from waves of closures and lay-offs which will push up the unemployment rate in the days to come. The SAR Government will closely monitor the effects of the epidemic on various industries, and communicate with relevant trades with a view to rendering appropriate support.

Understanding that the disease has huge impact on enterprises and the general public, the Government will set up an anti-epidemic fund of over $10 billion and formulate proposals as soon as possible to offer necessary assistance to the community. It is also examining the rounds of relief measures rolled out earlier in response to the economic downturn and the social incidents. If necessary, the validity period of these measures will be extended and enhanced measures may be implemented. In the meantime, the Government appeals to shop landlords to help their tenants and weather the difficult times together with them.

To combat the disease, we need courage, tenacity, confidence and, above all, a positive, proactive and rational attitude. I earnestly hope that all sectors of the community will pull together now to contribute their positive energy to the fight against the disease. In this way, we can certainly overcome the current hardships and win the battle.