18 February 2021
To: Operators/Managers of places of public entertainment
Latest Directions for Places of Public Entertainment under
Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions)
(Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F)
The Government has gazetted on 17 February 2021 directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) (the Regulation) to relax social distancing measures in a gradual and orderly manner. The directions and specifications began to take effect from 0.00 am on 18 February 2021 and will last for a period of 14 days till 3 March 2021 (the specified period). Places of public entertainment may open subject to the requirements and restrictions set out in the Annex.
Apart from continual compliance with the relevant requirements and restrictions (e.g. limit on the number of users and venue restrictions, wearing of a face mask, body temperature screening, provision of hand sanitisers, maintaining social distancing, etc.), you are requested to pay special attention to the two newly added infection control measures listed below.
(1) All staff involved in the operation of the premises have to undergo virus testing every 14 days
Operators of places of public entertainment must arrange all staff involved in the operation of the premises to undergo a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 every 14 days starting from 11 February 2021 (i.e. the next test by 24 February 2021) and keep record of every SMS notification containing the result of the test in the original smartphone for 31 days for checking by law enforcement agents. The staff could visit the 19 community testing centres for free testing for the first three months. They could also obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any designated post office, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or designated general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to the designated specimen collection points. They could also attend the mobile specimen collection stations for the testing. Please browse the website at https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/chi/early-testing.html for details. Alternatively, you may arrange the staff to receive testing, at their own cost, by a private laboratory recognised by the Department of Health that can provide testing results through SMS notification (a list of private testing institutions is available at https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/Listof_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf). Please note that with respect to compliance with the aforementioned new measures, the Government does not accept test results provided by testing routes other than the above, such as the test results of rapid antibody tests or other testing kits purchased from the market.
(2) Ensure users scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code or register their personal information
Operators of places of public entertainment should ensure that before a user is allowed to enter the premises, the person has to scan the LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR code with his/her mobile app or register his/her name, contact number and the date and time of visit, and that such records in written or electronic forms are to be kept for 31 days. To ensure compliance with this requirement, managers of places of public entertainment must check that such information is properly provided.
Places of public entertainment that fail to comply with the measures, on being identified by an enforcement agent, must take corresponding measures to reduce the risk of transmission, i.e. closing the premises for a period of three, seven or 14 days (see item (17) in the Annex).
According to the requirements under the Regulation, managers of places of public entertainment must take all reasonable measures to comply with the directions set out under the Regulation. We will step up inspections to ensure that the relevant specifications and directions are complied with and take stringent enforcement actions against offenders after an initial phase of education and publicity. If the manager of a place of public entertainment contravenes the Regulation, he or she is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.