Immigration to allow non-PRs to extend visas from outside HK

By The SUN 

Many non-permanent residents find it difficult to return because of HK's strict pandemic rules

From tomorrow, non-permanent residents on employment visas, students, dependants and mainland professionals who are outside Hong Kong, can apply to have their visas extended online or through a representative, the Immigration Department announced today.

At present, all those applying for an extension of stay are required to be physically present in Hong Kong both at the time of application and the collection of their e-visa for an extension of stay. 

The only exception are first-time domestic helpers who have been stuck in their home countries because of Hong Kong's strict travel and quarantine requirements.

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According to a statement from Immigration, the severe and prolonged Covid outbreak in the city has made it difficult for some non-permanent residents to return in time to apply for an extension of stay.

Thus, the following residents whose limit of stay is about to expire in four weeks but are still unable to return may be allowed to apply for an extension under the new measure:

1. General Employment Policy (including both employment and investment as entrepreneurs);

2. Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals;

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3. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme;

4. Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates;

5. Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents;

6. Technology Talent Admission Scheme;

7. Capital Investment Entrant Scheme;

8. Residence as dependants; and

9. Students enrolled in full-time study programs.

The new measure is tentatively set to last until the end of the current year.

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Eligible applicants may submit their applications online (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/evisaonline.html) or through their sponsors/authorised representatives in Hong Kong.

Immigration says approval will depend on whether the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria.

Successful applicants may download the "e-Visa" for an extension of stay upon payment of the fee. Applicants will be able to complete the whole process and activate the "e-Visa" for an extension of stay from outside Hong Kong.

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The move came after six local lawmakers and a group made up of elite mainlanders who have moved to Hong Kong wrote an open letter, saying many professionals and students, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers across the border face difficulty activating their visas here.

The difficulty they face in traveling between Hong Kong and the mainland because of strict pandemic rules could result in many of them giving up their visa, the letter said.

For details on the new scheme, visit the homepage of the ImmD: www.immd.gov.hk pr call 2824 6111. Enquiries may also be sent by fax at 2877 7711 or by email at enquiry@immd.gov.hk.

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Covid-19 cases dip to 2,644 but death tally remains high

By The SUN 

Dr Au again urged residents to self-test from tomorrow until Sunday

Health authorities reported a slight drop in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases Thursday but the daily death toll remained high.

Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection said an additional 2,644 coronavirus cases were recorded the previous day.

These include 1,368 confirmed via nucleic acid or PCR tests while 1,276 were reported by people who self-tested using rapid antigen tests.

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They took Hong Kong’s total infection tally from the fifth wave of the pandemic to more than 1.17 million.

The death toll went up to 8,344 after 97 more deaths were reported, 90 of them occurring on Wednesday while the seven others were not reported on time. The city’s mortality rate went up correspondingly to 0.71 percent.

Those who died yesterday were aged 27 to 104 while the lagged cases involved patients  who were between 72 and 100 years old.

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Dr Lau Ka-hin of the Hospital Authority said the youngest fatality was a 27-year-old man with asthma who was found collapsed at home yesterday. He was rushed to hospital but his heart had stopped beating.

On Mar 16 the patient was admitted to Eastern Hospital due to a severe asthma attack and was put in intensive care. He tested negative for Covid-19 on admission but two days later was found positive with a Ct value of 42, indicating a low viral load.

Lau said the patient was allowed to go home that day as the viral load indicated he was no longer infectious.

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Another 52-year-old female patient who suffered from breast cancer also passed out at home yesterday and was also taken to a hospital but did not regain consciousness.

She tested positive for Covid-19 earlier, and had gone to a designated clinic after experiencing a sore throat and runny nose.

Dr Lau says further investigation will be made on two recovered patients who died at home

Lau said both cases will be investigated further.

Au said the CHP has been in talks with the Education Bureau on how to prevent the spread of the virus in schools when classes resume after the Easter break.

He said an option being considered is to require students to do rapid tests at home before going to schools.

“Some students will definitely be carrying the virus. Schools probably won’t close like they did in the past just because there’s one single case,” he said.

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He added the CHP will carry out scientific investigations and risk assessments before deciding whether classes should be suspended on a case-to-case basis.

Au also took the chance to urge residents to comply with the government’s request for everyone to conduct rapid tests for three consecutive days starting tomorrow, so it can better gauge the Covid situation.

He also appealed to elderly people to get vaccinated before the next wave of infection occurs.

He said those who missed out on the free care packages from the government that contain rapid antigen test kits, masks and medicines may pick them up at distribution points across the territory.

The list is here:  a.info.gov.hk/general/202204/04/P2022040400630_390415_1_1649084787424.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2t1OhLE5kH0DY-GdWVFiVbmtjT7MhZpGDRs7B5RSeiKudUq5RlPiCzJaA

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Govt experts recommend 4th dose for people 60 years or above

By The SUN 

Experts say a 4th vaccine dose will give better protection to the elderly

Experts who advise the Hong Kong government on its pandemic response have recommended that everyone aged 60 and above should receive a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at least three months after their last jab, “for better protection.”

The recommendation was published today by the two scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, following their online meeting last night.

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They reached their consensus after noting that the majority of the fatalities in the fifth wave of the pandemic were aged 60 years old and up.

Among all adults, local data showed that three doses of Covid-19 vaccines, whether from Sinovac or BioNTech, have been highly effective in reducing hospitalizations and death.

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Elderly people who had Covid-19 can also receive a new dose three months after recovery.

But for all recovered patients without a history of vaccination, they can receive their first dose one month after recovery, instead of the previous three months.

The experts also said that immunocompromised children and adolescents who had the BioNTech vaccine before testing positive for Covid-19, could have their next dose no less than 28 days after recovery if they require this for personal reasons, like for study abroad.

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Further, those who are unsure if they had been infected with coronavirus should be given vaccination, as all vaccines have been deemed safe even for recovered patients. In line with this, no prior screening for Covid-19 victims for vaccination is necessary.

Another new measure approved by the experts panel is to allow Covid-19 vaccines to be given at the same time as a flu jab or other immunization vaccines for children or elderly residents in care homes if there is informed consent.

This is being done “for administrative convenience and achieving better coverage,” said the experts.

Previously, one needed to wait for at least three months after getting a flu jab to be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine.

Another new recommendation is for those who were vaccinated out

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side Hong Kong with a vaccine recognized in the city but is not dispensed locally, to complete their vaccination course with the same vaccine or any suitable local alternative at least four weeks from the previous dose.

For those who received vaccines not on the government-approved list, they are advised to start over with vaccines available in Hong Kong following the local recommended schedule.

The experts also noted the development of new Covid-19 vaccines, including those that offer protection against Omicron and its new sub-variants, and said they would keep an eye on them.

Details of the interim recommendations that have been passed on to the government for adoption are available at the CHP's website www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24008.html.

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Strict pandemic restrictions extended until Apr 20

By The SUN

 

Dining in after 6pm remains prohibited for two more weeks

The government announced late on Wednesday that it is extending the strictest social distancing measures ever put in place for another two weeks, or from Thursday until Apr 20.

This means, keeping rules such as allowing no more than two people to gather and eat together in public, banning dine-in services at restaurants after 6pm, prohibiting multi-household gatherings and preventing religious or any such mass gatherings.

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Bars, gyms, cinemas, beaches, amusement parks and other entertainment venues will remain closed.

However, performance venues can be opened for rehearsals, online streaming or recorded performances without live audience; and sports facilities and swimming pools can be used for the training of Hong Kong athletes.

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The government said in its statement that the gradual relaxation of the rules starting from Apr 21 will depend on whether the infection situation continues to ease.

In the pipeline are the reopening of restaurants for dine-in services at dinnertime, allowing up to four people to gather in public, and the reopening of certain premises by phases.

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Meantime, the extension of the restrictions means people will not be able to gather in larger numbers over the long Easter holiday, which will last from Apr 15 to Apr 18.

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Filipino caught on roof found guilty of loitering, overstaying

 By The SUN

The case was heard at West Kowloon Court

A Filipino who was caught on the roof by a resident of a building in Kam Tin, Yuen Long, was cleared of a charge of burglary at the District Court on Wednesday, but was found guilty of the alternate and lesser charge of loitering.

Wilbert M. Abad, 35, was also found guilty of breach of condition of stay, after police who investigated the case discovered that he had overstayed his visa for nearly eight years, from May 7, 2013 to Mar 31, 2021.

He tried but failed to convince the court that he had not violated his visa condition by virtue of his being a member of a group recognized under the United Nations charter.

Deputy District Judge C.H. Li, in a hearing held at the West Kowloon Law Courts, adjourned the case to Apr 19 for sentencing.

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Police had arrested Abad on Oct. 15, 2020 on suspicion of trespassing with “intent to steal” and  causing a woman resident to be “concerned for her safety”.

In summing up his verdict, Judge Li questioned why Abad would go to the trouble of going to the roof just to steal.

But he added that he was unable to conclude burglary because of the following reasons: 

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• He was  not carrying a weapon

• He did not try to open a door to enter flats with access from the roof.

• He did not cause damage or injury.

Abad’s lawyer agreed with the verdict, but sought leniency, saying the defendant even apologized when he was caught, and that he did not injure or threaten to assault anyone.

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Aside from having a clear record, his being on the roof “is out of character,” his lawyer added.

The lawyer said that Abad was not a bad person, and had even dreamed of becoming a police officer. He took up criminology in college in the Philippines to pursue that dream, but failed to finish it. Before he came to Hong Kong, he worked as a security guard.

His lawyer recounted that Abad arrived in Hong Kong in 2012 as a domestic helper but was later terminated. He tried to find another employer but failed, then overstayed his visa.

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In documents he submitted to court to defend himself from the charge of breach of condition of stay, Abad claimed he was exempt from prosecution because he was a member of  a group called  Alpha Omega World Development Marshall Program. He also submitted his identification card.

Abad cited Article 9 of the United Nations Charter as basis for the exemption. A check of the UN charter, however, showed that Article 9 described the composition of the UN General Assembly.

When the defense lawyer brought this up, citing Abad’s belief that he was exempted was a mitigation, Judge Li said, “I’m not prepared to believe this.” 

He paused the proceedings to give the lawyer five minutes to confer with Abad.

When the hearing resumed, the lawyer withdrew her arguments about Abad’s claim to exemption.

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CE says residents who test positive can isolate at home if…

By The SUN 

CE Lam has personally delivered Covid packs with rapid test kits to some residents

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has assured everyone who tests positive for Covid-19 during the three-day self-test exercise that begins Friday that they can isolate at home as long as their living environment is considered suitable.

The assurance came amid fears those who report their positive results on the rapid tests will be forcibly taken to isolation facilities.

According to Dr Edwin Tsui, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, it would be best for people isolating at home to stay in separate rooms and use a separate washroom to prevent cross-infection among family members.

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Tsui said it will not be appropriate to allow home isolation for infected people if their households included small children, people who are aged over 7 or have weak immune systems.

All residents are encouraged to test themselves daily from Friday to Sunday, to allow the government to better gauge the city’s Covid situation.

CE Lam sought to assure the public that even if a large number of Covid-19 cases are reported during the three days of self-testing, the government will have enough room for them at community isolation facilities.

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“You need not worry about our capacity. We have the capacity and that’s why we’re proceeding with this very meaningful and useful exercise,” she said.

The CE said there are 20,000 beds available at six isolation facilities on top of rooms at isolation hotels and entire flats at a new housing block that could be used by those who get positive results on their rapid tests.

CE inspects a unit in one of the isolation facilities

She also said that the online platform set up by the government for reporting positive results could process 60,000 cases per hour, and issue isolation orders accordingly.

Apart from these, she said the authorities are able to quickly deliver food and other daily necessities to patients who are allowed to self-isolate at home.

She also warned that some premises may in future require visitors to undergo rapid antigen tests before being allowed entry, adding that this is already being implemented with care home workers, construction workers and frontline medical staff.

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Students who are sitting the upcoming HKDSE exams will also be required to show a negative result for a rapid test for each exam that they take.

Meanwhile, the SAR leader noted that there has been an increase of about 600,000 people taking public transport between Mar 21 and Apr 1.

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Correspondingly, the reproduction rate of the virus has rebounded slightly recently after falling to only .6129 from a high of between 5 and 6 in mid-March.

She reminded citizens not to let their guard down despite the daily drop in the infection toll.

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Covid-19 cases drop to 2,777 but deaths pass 100 mark again

By The SUN 

There has been a nearly 500 drop in today's Covid tally 

Health authorities have confirmed 2,777 new Covid-19 cases Wednesday, a drop of nearly 500 from yesterday. It is the lowest daily figure since the Omicron surge started in February.

However, officials warned the number could rebound as a lot of people gathered for the Ching Ming festival yesterday.

Dr Edwin Tsui, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said that the experience in other places show that it is unlikely that the daily infection rate will drop quickly.

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With the upcoming Easter holiday he said the number might go up again if people gather during this period.

Of the new cases, 1,489 were confirmed via PCR tests while the remaining 1,288 cases were reported to a government platform by individuals who self-tested using rapid antigen kits.

The PCR positives included seven imported cases.

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Three arrived via flight EK384, which could result in a week-long ban on Emirates Airline plying the Thailand, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi route.

Two flew in from Belgium and Canada while two others arrived from United Arab Emirates and Japan.

Meanwhile, the daily death toll rose to above 100 again. Of the 111 newly reported cases, 84 passed away yesterday while the deaths of 27 others were not tallied earlier.

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More than 80% of the fatalities did not receive any vaccine or had only one dose of a Covid vaccine.

Hong Kong’s infection tally in the Omicron outbreak is now at 1.16 million while the number of deaths rose to 8,247, for a fatality rate of .71 percent, one of the highest in the world.

Dr Lau Ka-hin of the Hospital Authority said the latest fatalities were aged 36 to 12.

Three of them were aged below 60 years old and had long-term illnesses like cancer and kidney problems. The youngest patient had brain hemorrhage since 2017 which required him to be on a ventilator.

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There are now 10,068 patients being treated at public hospitals and the infection control centers.

Among these 74 are in intensive care, including 13 newly classified as critical cases; while eight are in serious condition.

Those discharged from hospitals over the past 24-hour reporting period numbered 655.

Separately, Lau said that the newly completed hospital in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, which has around 11,000 beds, will be fully managed by medical workers from the mainland.

He said admission to the hospital will follow medical guidelines from the mainland, and these will be announced later.

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