The Labor Department (LD) on January 10 conducted joint operations in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Home Affairs Department, and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), including mobile broad
casts in frequently populated spots of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to urge them to comply with public safety measures to prevent the further spread of the virus in the city.
The campaign led by the Labour Department began its mobile broadcast on January 9 and 10 at popular FDH gathering places (including Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, and various places at Central, Sha Tin and Ma On Shan).
FDWs Urged to Observe Wearing of Masks, Physical Distancing in Public Areas to Prevent Spread of Virus
In line with this campaign, publicity vans were organized to broadcast reminders in Chinese, English and major FDH languages (including Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia and Thai) to call upon FDHs to comply with the regulations on the mask-wearing and prohibition of group gatherings of more than two persons in public places.
In line with this, leaflets in several languages were distributed by officers from relevant government departments to appeal to FDHs to maintain environmental hygiene and refrain from conducting unlicensed hawking activities, including cooked food or other hawking activities.
Moreover, in support of the LD, the Police increased manpower to step up patrols at those places and the FEHD took follow-up actions to keep those places clean.
Commenting on the campaign, a government official said: “According to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I), a person who participates in a prohibited group gathering of more than two persons in public places or fails to wear a mask in accordance with the requirement may be charged a fixed penalty of $5,000. The Government will continue to conduct publicity to FDHs and remind them to strictly observe the relevant regulations, and to avoid gatherings (including in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and stay at home for rest as far as possible to safeguard their personal health.”
To this extent, the Government assured the public that it will continue to step up publicity and enforcement, and as needed conduct joint operations to ensure compliance with the relevant requirements. Authorities also appealed to FDHs to exercise self-discipline and cooperate to fight the virus together and abide by the law.
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