01 Investigation
Written by: Li Yinglin, Chen Xinxi, Chen Runnan
2020-08-07 07:00
Last update date: 2020-08-07 07:00In response to the global outbreak of the new crown pneumonia, the Hong Kong government implemented immigration controls in February this year. However, the Chief Secretary for Administration has so far exempted 43 categories of people. They do not need to undergo a 14-day compulsory quarantine after entering the country, and the application is submitted to various departments for approval.
"Hong Kong 01" inquired about the approval figures from various departments and found that as of the end of July, a total of about 46,000 people had been approved for exemption from quarantine. However, due to the lack of statistics from the Transportation and Housing Bureau, the Fisheries Conservation Department and the Department of Health, the crew, high-speed rail contractors, and fishing boats The number of people approved for the four categories of crew members and government officials is a mystery.
The reporter also found that the approval of exemption qualifications for government personnel is very loose, and personnel do not need to apply in advance, but only need to prove their identity when they pass the customs. In addition, the Department of Health and most departments have not recorded the number of entries of various exempt persons.
Respiratory system specialist Liang Zichao pointed out that the crew and crew members had multiple diagnoses earlier. It was precisely because of the lack of numbers that "they didn't know that the number was huge at first," and emphasized that the government needs detailed records and regular announcements before it can be issued in time. Epidemic prevention warning.
In response to the global outbreak of the new crown pneumonia, the Hong Kong government has implemented immigration control in February, but exempts many types of people and does not need to undergo 14-day compulsory quarantine after entry. (Profile picture)
43 categories of people are exempted from compulsory quarantine, of which 4 categories have no statistics
The third wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong continued. Many scholars pointed out that the source was persons exempted from quarantine. Looking at the information, Chief Secretary for Administration Zhang Jianzong successively approved a total of 43 categories of people to be exempted from compulsory quarantine in February, March, May and June this year, including 33 categories of people arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland, Macau or Taiwan, and 10 categories of persons entering Hong Kong from foreign countries.
"Hong Kong 01" checked with the government departments responsible for the examination and approval of the number of applications received, the number of people approved and the number of entries, additional quarantine requirements upon entry, etc., and found that as of the end of July, a total of about 46,000 people were granted exemptions (see below) table). However, the actual number of persons in the four categories is a mystery due to the fact that the department does not provide figures (see the detailed table at the end of the article).
The number of pilots and flight attendants diagnosed with the transportation and housing bureau did not explain the number of similar exemptions
Among these four categories of people without statistics, the crew had confirmed multiple cases earlier. According to regulations, they are exempted from quarantine upon entry without prior application and approval. The responsible Transport and Housing Bureau replied only that "The Civil Aviation Department does not keep the number of exempted aircraft crew members." However, the regulations are the same and there have been multiple confirmed crew categories, but the bureau has provided an account.
As for the other category of "government agencies and contractors who need to handle cross-border operations," the Transportation and Housing Bureau explained that they are staff members of the West Kowloon Station of the High Speed Rail and the Hong Kong Link of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. They are engaged in security, cleaning and maintenance. Obtained exemption from quarantine, but did not explain the number of people.
Among the 43 exempted persons, the relevant departments do not keep statistics on the 4 types of persons. Among them, the crew members have had multiple confirmed cases earlier. (Profile picture / Photo by Liang Pengwei)
The "fishing boats and fishing boat crews (including mainland fishermen)" under the charge of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department do not need to apply in advance. The department replied that "if you have a valid entry permit issued by the Immigration Department, you can get Exempted from compulsory quarantine," but there is also no account number.
Exempting government personnel from quarantine approval procedures, and the number of people approved are a mystery
The fourth category of exempt persons without figures is "government personnel who are required to perform government-related operations." Since the Hong Kong government implemented compulsory quarantine in February this year, this category of persons has been exempted and is the only category that does not indicate the responsible department.
"Hong Kong 01" check with the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office for the number of people approved for this category and details of the approval. A government spokesperson stated that "the exempt status and itinerary of this category of people are regulated by their public official status and the nature of their official duties," but did not give details. It is understood that the relevant personnel do not need to apply in advance, they only need to prove their identity to the staff of the Department of Health when they pass the customs, and they will automatically be exempted.
"Government personnel who are required to perform government-related operations" have been exempted from compulsory quarantine by Chief Secretary for Administration Zhang Jianzong, but the government has yet to disclose the number of approved persons in this category and the details of the approval. (Information Picture/Photo by Li Zetong)
The reporter asked the Department of Health how to verify the identity of such persons. The department did not respond positively, saying only that "the government has always had a mechanism to verify the exempt status and itinerary of immigrants, whether they meet the qualifications of this category, including their public official status and related information. Nature of official business, etc.".
In other words, whether such persons are from the Hong Kong government, what department they are from, the department responsible for the approval, the approval criteria, how many people have been approved, and the actual number of entries of the relevant personnel are all a mystery.
46,000 cross-border drivers and crew members who are exempted from quarantine qualification account for about half
Among the 46,000 people who have been exempted from quarantine, the category of "Hong Kong enterprise personnel engaged in production operations in the Mainland" approved by the Trade and Industry Department accounted for the most. Applicants are required to fill in the Hong Kong enterprise business registration certificate and the location of the factory in the Mainland. Since the opening of applications on May 4, 19,000 people have been approved. Based on a maximum of two applications per Hong Kong company, at least 9,500 Hong Kong companies have been approved.
Secondly, the crew of cargo ships and passenger ships, and cross-border truck drivers each account for more than 10,000. People in both categories have been diagnosed after entering Hong Kong. According to the responsible Transport and Housing Bureau, both types of people do not need to apply beforehand and are exempted from quarantine upon entry. Therefore, the bureau has no approval figures and only summarizes that more than 10,000 people in each of these two types are exempted.
Since February, more than 10,000 crew members of cargo ships and passenger ships have been exempted from quarantine. (Profile picture/Photo by Liang Zijie)
In addition to the above three categories, the remaining categories with a larger number of people include Sha Tau Kok residents. The North District Office of Home Affairs said there are 2,900 people; from June 15 to the end of the semester on July 17, students who come to Hong Kong to attend classes every day Five cross-border students, the Education Bureau said there are about 1,500. According to the five departments, including the Architectural Services Department, there are 406 people working in the construction industry in the Mainland.
In addition, a total of 635 persons in the category "Public institutions and their partners, institutions, companies or organizations supplying personal protective equipment, their raw materials or production equipment for Hong Kong" have been approved by the Department of Health to be exempted from quarantine; another category under the responsibility of the Department" 109 people have been approved for companies or organizations that provide Hong Kong with new coronavirus testing services.
Crew members who come from other places in Hong Kong need to be negative and report agency personnel are not required
The reporter also found that among the 43 categories of exempted persons, different departments will impose additional quarantine requirements. For example, the Food and Health Bureau and the Education Bureau respectively stipulate that the Hong Kong University Shenzhen Hospital employs and authorizes personnel, and provides medical and medical services in the Mainland and Macau. Representatives of Hong Kong companies providing dental services, as well as cross-border students, must present a negative test result report from an authorized institution within 7 days upon entry.
Cross-border students must present a negative test result report from an accredited institution within 7 days upon entry. (Profile picture/Photo by Zhang Haowei)
In addition, in response to a number of confirmed cases by crew members, crew members arriving in Hong Kong by plane must also provide a negative test result report at the place of departure, and like crew members, deep throat saliva samples are required for virus testing after arrival in Hong Kong. However, people who also arrive in Hong Kong from other places and belong to other categories, such as protective equipment and home quarantine bracelets, do not need to comply with additional quarantine conditions.
Liang Zichao: Exemption from digital aid assessment risk should be recorded in detail and announced regularly
Respiratory specialist Liang Zichao cited a number of confirmed cases of crew members and crew members in Hong Kong as an example. He pointed out that the Hong Kong government did not announce the number of people who were exempted from quarantine at that time. "At first they did not know that the number was huge", so that the source was traced. And the prevention and control work is affected.
He emphasized that the epidemic situation in various parts of the world is constantly changing. If the government does not record in detail the number of persons exempted from compulsory quarantine and conduct real-time monitoring, it is difficult for experts to detect crises and loopholes in a timely manner. "We have to look at the data and evaluate each place first. Warning the community as soon as possible.”
Respiratory specialist Liang Zichao emphasized that the government should record in detail the number of persons exempted from compulsory quarantine and make regular announcements so that experts can detect crises and loopholes in a timely manner. (Profile picture/Photo by Tan Weiquan)
He believes that the government has electronic records for entry and exit approvals, so it should have the ability to publish statistics on a regular basis. This information is very important to fight the epidemic. "Even if the local transmission is controlled, if external prevention is not done well, the virus will naturally have a chance to recur. Infiltrating the community, this third wave is caused by this."
The exempt person was accused of the source of the outbreak and the government first refuted it and then admitted
The Hong Kong Government announced earlier that from February to July 22 this year, the Department of Health issued more than 290,000 medical surveillance notices to exempted persons entering the country, which caused a public outcry. The Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, later clarified that 290,000 were The number of people, not the number, but the Hong Kong government has not announced the actual number of people granted exemption from quarantine.
Since July, the third wave of epidemics occurred in Hong Kong, which pointed to loopholes in the quarantine exemption measures. The Hong Kong government issued a response on July 19, rebutting the statement is a misunderstanding, and emphasizing that exemption from quarantine is actually necessary.
Although the government has issued a rebuttal saying that there are loopholes in the quarantine exemption measures, which led to the third wave of the epidemic, it is misunderstood, but after many scholars and experts successively announced their research results, the Director of the Food and Health Bureau Chen Zhaoshi changed his words on the radio program. (Data Picture/Photo by Gao Zhongming)
However, many scholars and experts have successively announced research results, showing that the epidemic is likely to originate from persons exempted from compulsory quarantine. The Director of the Food and Sanitation Bureau, Chen Zhaoshi, changed his words in a radio program on July 28 and admitted that the source of the third wave of the epidemic may come from persons exempted from quarantine. He also pointed out that he had obtained “experts’ evidence” and would follow up seriously. Tighten some exemption conditions.
New crown pneumonia│The Department of Health first confirmed that a crew member was diagnosed after arriving in Hong Kong with a cargo ship and revealed that there are still loopholes in the quarantine
New crown pneumonia│45 seafarers diagnosed from July to the present. Transportation and Housing Bureau: Food and Health Bureau has assessed exemption risks
New crown pneumonia│The two crew members have not been sent to the hospital 7 days after the diagnosis: they may have left Hong Kong
COVID-19 Transport and Housing Bureau, Department of Health, Centre for Health Protection
