Data to support 21-day qurantine policy

Simon Wang根據公開資料要求衞生署披露資料

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department of Health,
Referring to a letter to the editor published by Ronald Taylor https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art... here are the questions for the department to answer under the Code on Access to Information

1. Among the over 11,000 cases of the Covid-19 virus in Hong Kong, please state how many of these cases were travellers who had completed their two-week quarantine with negative test results, but were subsequently found to be infected?

2. In how many of these cases was there no reasonable doubt that they could not have been infected while in quarantine or subsequently?

3. What are the justifications for requiring visitors and residents returning from most countries to be quanrantined for 21 days instead of 14 days?

The first two questions are raised in the letter which I consider legitimate and relevant. The third question seeks direct explanation and justification for the policy. In addition, please consider writing a letter to the editor in SCMP in response.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Simon Wang, Ph.D., FHEA
Lecturer in English
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Phone: (852) 34117044
http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php
Writing for the Public Project https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...

Simon Wang加入了一個備註。(

I sent a message to Ronald Taylor who raised the questions via SCMP editors to let him know about this request and the one for DH https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/data_to...

Updates on both requests are publicly available

Dear Dr Simon Wang,

Referring to your preceding email , please be advised that part of the
requested information /the requested information is under the purview of
the Food and Health Bureau ("FHB").   Subject to your consent of providing
the preceding email to FHB, we will refer your case to FHB accordingly.
 Grateful if you would reply to me by 17.3.2021.  

If you have any enquiry, please contact me at 3107 2570.  Thank you.

Regards,
Miss Denise WONG
for Department of Health

----- Forwarded by Sophy KK KWOK/DH/HKSARG on 09/03/2021 18:52 -----

From:        Simon Wang <[FOI #568 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        09/03/2021 18:47
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Data to support 21-day
qurantine policy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,
         Referring to a letter to the editor published by Ronald Taylor
[1]https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
here are the questions for the department to answer under the Code on
Access to Information

1. Among the over 11,000 cases of the Covid-19 virus in Hong Kong, please
state how many of these cases were travellers who had completed their
two-week quarantine with negative test results, but were subsequently
found to be infected?

2. In how many of these cases was there no reasonable doubt that they
could not have been infected while in quarantine or subsequently?  

3. What are the justifications for requiring visitors and residents
returning from most countries to be quanrantined for 21 days instead of 14
days?

The first two questions are raised in the letter which I consider
legitimate and relevant.  The third question seeks direct explanation and
justification for the policy. In addition, please consider writing a
letter to the editor in SCMP in response.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Simon Wang, Ph.D., FHEA
Lecturer in English
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Phone: (852) 34117044
[2]http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php  
Writing for the Public Project
 [3]https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #568 email]

Is [Department of Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[4]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
2. http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php
3. https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...
4. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
5. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

收起引用部分

To: Dr Simon Wang

Dear Dr Wang,
Code on Access to Information
Re: Application No. 1/2021
        I refer to your application dated 9.3.2021 seeking access to
information.
        Your case is receiving attention.  You will be advised further on
or before 19.3.2021.

        Should you have any questions in the meantime, please contact me
by email or by phone 2125 2380.

(Miss Malina LEE)
for Director of Health
==============================================================================

This e-mail message (together with any attachments) is for the designated
recipient only.  It may contain information that is privileged for the
designated recipient.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any use, retention, disclosure, copying, printing,
forwarding or dissemination of the message is strictly prohibited.  If you
have received the message in error, please erase all copies of the message
(including attachments) from you system and notify the sender immediately.

----- Forwarded by Sophy KK KWOK/DH/HKSARG on 09/03/2021 18:52 -----

From:        Simon Wang <[FOI #568 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        09/03/2021 18:47
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Data to support 21-day
qurantine policy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,
         Referring to a letter to the editor published by Ronald Taylor
[1]https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
here are the questions for the department to answer under the Code on
Access to Information

1. Among the over 11,000 cases of the Covid-19 virus in Hong Kong, please
state how many of these cases were travellers who had completed their
two-week quarantine with negative test results, but were subsequently
found to be infected?

2. In how many of these cases was there no reasonable doubt that they
could not have been infected while in quarantine or subsequently?  

3. What are the justifications for requiring visitors and residents
returning from most countries to be quanrantined for 21 days instead of 14
days?

The first two questions are raised in the letter which I consider
legitimate and relevant.  The third question seeks direct explanation and
justification for the policy. In addition, please consider writing a
letter to the editor in SCMP in response.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Simon Wang, Ph.D., FHEA
Lecturer in English
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Phone: (852) 34117044
[2]http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php  
Writing for the Public Project
 [3]https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #568 email]

Is [Department of Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[4]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
2. http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php
3. https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...
4. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
5. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

收起引用部分

To: Dr Simon Wang,

Dear Dr Wang,

        I refer to your mail of 9.3.2021, and write to furnish a reply to
your Questions 1 and 2, as follows:

For Q.1:
As of 23 Mar 2021, among the over 2100 imported cases, there were 83
imported cases who were reported more than 14 days after arrival to Hong
Kong.

For Q.2:
According to epidemiological investigation, the sources of infection of
these cases were mostly likely from the imported countries than from
quarantine or other sources.  We have already excluded those cases that
the likely sources of infection were not from the imported countries.

        Question 3 is still being considered by the subject office.  A
separate reply will be given to you a little later.

(Miss Malina LEE)
for Director of Health
==============================================================================

This e-mail message (together with any attachments) is for the designated
recipient only.  It may contain information that is privileged for the
designated recipient.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any use, retention, disclosure, copying, printing,
forwarding or dissemination of the message is strictly prohibited.  If you
have received the message in error, please erase all copies of the message
(including attachments) from you system and notify the sender immediately.

----- Forwarded by Sophy KK KWOK/DH/HKSARG on 09/03/2021 18:52 -----

From:        Simon Wang <[FOI #568 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        09/03/2021 18:47
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Data to support 21-day
qurantine policy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,
         Referring to a letter to the editor published by Ronald Taylor
[1]https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
here are the questions for the department to answer under the Code on
Access to Information

1. Among the over 11,000 cases of the Covid-19 virus in Hong Kong, please
state how many of these cases were travellers who had completed their
two-week quarantine with negative test results, but were subsequently
found to be infected?

2. In how many of these cases was there no reasonable doubt that they
could not have been infected while in quarantine or subsequently?  

3. What are the justifications for requiring visitors and residents
returning from most countries to be quanrantined for 21 days instead of 14
days?

The first two questions are raised in the letter which I consider
legitimate and relevant.  The third question seeks direct explanation and
justification for the policy. In addition, please consider writing a
letter to the editor in SCMP in response.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Simon Wang, Ph.D., FHEA
Lecturer in English
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Phone: (852) 34117044
[2]http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php  
Writing for the Public Project
 [3]https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #568 email]

Is [Department of Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[4]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
2. http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php
3. https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...
4. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
5. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

收起引用部分

Dear Dr Wang,

We refer to your e-mail to the Department of Health dated 9 March 2021,
which was referred to this Bureau for answering Question 3.  

You may wish to read the latest publicly available sources of information
as listed below:

(a) LegCo Panel Info Paper (LC Paper No. CB(2)616/20-21(01), dated 8
January 2021
[1]https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr20-21/english...

(b) Government Press Release, dated 15 March 2021
[2]https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/2021...  

Regards,
(Kelsey So)
for Secretary for Food and Health

----- Forwarded by Sophy KK KWOK/DH/HKSARG on 09/03/2021 18:52 -----

From:        Simon Wang <[FOI #568 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[Department of Health request email]>
Date:        09/03/2021 18:47
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Data to support 21-day
qurantine policy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Department of Health,
         Referring to a letter to the editor published by Ronald Taylor
[3]https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
here are the questions for the department to answer under the Code on
Access to Information

1. Among the over 11,000 cases of the Covid-19 virus in Hong Kong, please
state how many of these cases were travellers who had completed their
two-week quarantine with negative test results, but were subsequently
found to be infected?

2. In how many of these cases was there no reasonable doubt that they
could not have been infected while in quarantine or subsequently?  

3. What are the justifications for requiring visitors and residents
returning from most countries to be quanrantined for 21 days instead of 14
days?

The first two questions are raised in the letter which I consider
legitimate and relevant.  The third question seeks direct explanation and
justification for the policy. In addition, please consider writing a
letter to the editor in SCMP in response.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Simon Wang, Ph.D., FHEA
Lecturer in English
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Phone: (852) 34117044
[4]http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php  
Writing for the Public Project
 [5]https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #568 email]

Is [Department of Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[6]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr20-21/english...
2. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/2021...
3. https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/art...
4. http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php
5. https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/w...
6. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
7. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

收起引用部分