Dear Miss S Rozario,

I write further to our email to you dated 7 September 2021.
 
Please be informed that a longer processing time on your request is
required as we are liaising with relevant government departments to obtain
the information you requested. According to paragraph 1.18 of the Code on
Access to Information, our department will inform you of the latest
progress of the case on or before 18 October 2021.

In the meantime, you may contact the undersigned at 2125 2642 if you need
further assistance.

Thank you for your attention.
(Miss Tracy SO)
for Director of Health

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Dear Miss S Rozario,

Further to our previous reply dated 17.9.2021, please find our reply on
your requested information under Code on Access to Information.  

According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), the
incubation period of the virus could be as long as 14 days.  That said,
with reference to advice from experts that the incubation period of virus
carried by very few infected persons could be longer than the 14–day
quarantine period, and noting the prevalence of virus variants in
different regions as well as their higher transmissibility, as a
precautionary measure, the Government has adopted a risk-based approach
and categorised overseas places into high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk
groups taking into account a basket of factors, so as to implement
boarding, quarantine and testing requirements based on the relevant risk
levels, including compulsory quarantine for up to 21 days after arrival at
Hong Kong.

For travellers arriving at Hong Kong from high-risk and medium-risk
places, they have to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in
designated quarantine hotels.  At the same time, for early detection of
cases to prevent possible transmission during or after quarantine,
travellers are also required to be tested on arrival, as well as on the
3rd, 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, and 19th days of their arrival at Hong Kong, as
well as on the 26th day of arrival if the traveller had stayed in
high-risk places before arrival.

For the nucleic acid tests, either flocked or spun polyester swab is used
to collect combined nasal and throat swab (CNTS), and nothing is added to
the swab.  The Department of Health’s Infection Control Branch’s
“Infection Control Advice on Specimen Collection to Test for COVID-19” can
be accessed at
[1]<https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/advice_...>.

The tests are required and performed under either the Prevention and
Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) or the Pursuant to the
Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons)
Regulation (Cap. 599J).  A person who fails to comply with the
requirements commits an offence and are liable on conviction to a fine and
to imprisonment for six months.

The Government will continue to closely monitor the epidemic situation of
different places, and will consider a basket of factors under the
risk-based principle, including public health considerations (such as
epidemic situation in particular places, testing rate, vaccination rate,
volume of travellers and actual imported cases, etc.), as well as other
local socio-economic factors to adjust the boarding, quarantine and
testing requirements for persons arriving at Hong Kong from relevant
places based on risk levels as the situation warrants.

Please contact the undersigned at 2125 2642 if you need further
assistance.

Thank you for your attention.

(Miss Tracy SO)
for Director of Health

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