My Blog

Go for virus testing without delay
Fighting COVID-19 with I&T: turning crisis into opportunity

6 September 2020

Since the launch of the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) on September 1, a total of 1.07 million citizens have registered online for the testing as at 10 p.m. yesterday. Last week, I visited the UCTP command centre at the Central Government Offices and toured the community testing centres at City Hall, Queen Elizabeth Stadium and Sheung Wan Sports Centre. All testing centres have been operating smoothly with the testing slots of some centres fully booked. The public response was generally positive and enthusiastic. Many who completed the test found the online booking system user-friendly and that the entire testing procedure, including swabbing, was efficient and safe. Having reviewed the operational experience of the testing centres and the public's demand, the Government has decided to extend the UCTP for four days to September 11 (this Friday), and will extend it for a further three days where necessary.

In providing voluntary testing for all citizens, the Government is doing its utmost not only to ensure that specimens are collected in a safe, orderly and efficient manner but also to identify asymptomatic patients through specimen testing. It is hoped that the virus transmission chains can be cut completely at the earliest possible time, which may then help curb the epidemic and bring our city back to normal.

In fact, last Thursday saw the first confirmed case identified under the UCTP where a specimen sent to the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test was tested positive. With the increasing number of participants in the coming days, it is expected that more asymptomatic patients will be identified. That is exactly what the UCTP seeks to achieve. Asymptomatic patients who do not go for the testing may at any time spread the virus to their family members, friends and colleagues without even knowing it, hence leading to the resurgence of cluster infections and community outbreaks.

Eight reasons why we should participate in the UCTP

For the sake of ourselves, other people and the community as a whole, we should take the test without delay to ascertain if we are asymptomatic patients. Here are the reasons why:

It is a civic responsibility which we should fulfil to safeguard ourselves, our families, friends and colleagues as well as the interests of society at large;
it will achieve early identification, early isolation and early treatment thereby cutting the virus transmission chains and enabling early curbing of the epidemic in Hong Kong;
the testing is provided for free, the online booking system is user-friendly, and the entire testing procedure, including swabbing, is efficient and safe; personal privacy is fully protected;
it will put an end to the prevailing third wave of the epidemic as early as possible, thereby enabling the gradual relaxation of the Government's anti-epidemic and social distancing measures, which will entail the re-opening of premises, resumption of activities, rejuvenation of Hong Kong's economy and speedy recovery of various trades;
it will facilitate the early resumption of cross-boundary movement and commutation to address public needs in terms of business, work, home visits, travel or family reunions;
it will alleviate the burden on the local healthcare system and safeguard our healthcare staff;
it will help Hong Kong become more capable of conducting large-scale virus testing; and
it will prepare us for a possible fourth wave of outbreak in the coming autumn and winter, enabling the Government to get a better picture of the infection situation in the community and put in place apposite anti-epidemic measures.

Joining forces to make UCTP a success

Thanks to the concerted efforts of healthcare staff and government colleagues at various community testing centres as well as the untiring assistance of the Mainland nucleic acid test support team, the UCTP has been running smoothly. Its success, however, will hinge on the support and co-operation of the general public, which are also the key to effective epidemic prevention and control in Hong Kong. I would like to express my gratitude to the million-plus residents who have already registered online for the testing. Recognition also goes to a number of associations and district organisations which have helped members of the public with online registration and the many enterprises which have encouraged their employees to take the test.

Last Friday, I inspected the operation of the community testing centre at Sheung Wan Sports Centre staffed by members of the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS). To support the implementation of the UCTP, the AMS has arranged swab training for 200 volunteer members. Since September 1, it has been providing services at Sheung Wan Sports Centre and three other centres, where four doctors, 25 nurses and 30 members with related training work daily at 35 swabbing booths. Apart from actively engaging themselves in the testing centres, the AMS members have helped escort persons under quarantine to the quarantine centres and rendered medical service support to the DH therein. The AMS' support is indispensable indeed for the anti-epidemic work of the Government.

Stepping up publicity to dispel false news

Many foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) are having their day off today. I would particularly like to appeal for their active participation in the UCTP. Employers are also advised to encourage and assist their helpers in making appointments and allow flexibility in their working hours. The Government is ramping up promotion to FDHs through relevant consulates and employment agencies.

The Internet and social media are rife with exaggerated and false comments about the UCTP, and worse still, copies of false information are handed out to the public. Members of the public are reminded to carefully discern the authenticity of the information to avoid being hoodwinked lest they would miss the opportunity to participate in the UCTP for protecting themselves and their families alike. People with ulterior motives are employing smear tactics to discourage the public from taking part in the programme. Such acts should be condemned as they run counter to the community-wide spirit of fighting the virus together, and render the efforts futile for dedicated healthcare staff, members of the Mainland nucleic acid test support team, frontline anti-epidemic staff as well as the supportive enterprises and citizens.

Fighting COVID-19 with innovation and technology (I&T): turning crisis into opportunity

The adoption of information and communications technology has played a vital role under the "new normal" amid the epidemic. It has turned crisis into opportunity by helping various sectors find a way out and survive the hardship. In fact, I&T is instrumental in boosting Hong Kong's competitiveness and ensuring sustainable and diversified development of our economy and society.

In February this year, the Government launched the "Novel Coronavirus Infection Local Situation Interactive Map Dashboard" to provide the public with a quick overview of the latest development of the epidemic. In addition, Bluetooth Low Energy electronic wristbands paired with the "StayHomeSafe" mobile app and geo-fencing technology are used as part of the home quarantine measures. Over 200 000 electronic wristbands have so far been distributed to persons under quarantine.

Public organisations and the business sector have also responded swiftly to the challenges posed by the epidemic. They have made good use of video conferencing and online business platforms to ease the impact of the epidemic on our economy and the daily lives of the public. As we look to revive our economy, we should continue to leverage technology in helping the public adapt speedily to the "new normal" and restore their confidence in going out to spend money.

The Government will implement the Health Code System as soon as the epidemic stabilises in Hong Kong. On the basis of joint prevention and control among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, immigration restrictions and quarantine requirements will be relaxed as appropriate to allow exemption from compulsory quarantine for eligible and needy persons travelling among the three places, thereby enabling gradual and orderly resumption of cross-boundary people flow and economic activities in the three places.

A motion was moved at a district council meeting requesting the Government to put the UCTP and the "Hong Kong Health Code" on hold for good. I have repeatedly clarified that the Health Code System under planning by the Government is part of the arrangements with Guangdong and Macao for mutual exemption of compulsory quarantine for travellers. The system has not yet been implemented. Such move is obviously putting politics before people's health, opposing merely for the sake of opposition and showing outrageous disregard for people's well-being. I have to stress that such wilful discrediting or vilifying of the Government's anti-epidemic work will never succeed.

Besides, the Government is developing the Exposure Notification System and App to assist sectors and establishments (such as restaurants, residential care homes for the elderly, taxis) in need in adapting to the "new normal" operating environment. Members of the public may also participate voluntarily by storing entry and exit records on their mobile phones through scanning the QR Codes when entering participating establishments. When there are confirmed cases at individual establishments, the users concerned will receive exposure notifications through the app.

The Government will also launch the "iAM Smart" one-stop personalised digital government service platform in the fourth quarter of this year to press ahead with the digitalisation of more government services, and further support electronic payments and the development of other financial services.

We will continue to promote I&T adoption in various areas and release the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0 in the fourth quarter of this year. More initiatives will be put forward to enable the public to enjoy the convenience and pleasant experience that a smart city and I&T development can bring to their life.

According to the newly released Global Innovation Index 2020, Hong Kong is ranked 11th globally among 131 economies this year, up from 13th among 129 economies last year and has maintained its third-place ranking among the Asian economies.

The Government is committed to promoting I&T development. The relevant commitments in the past three years have exceeded $100 billion and efforts have been made to provide technological research infrastructure, subsidise research and development activities, as well as to pool and nurture technology talent. The Government will continue to enhance Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem, building on our strengths to boost our innovation capabilities on all fronts.