Government Announces Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Arrangements Amid Rising Cases in Hong Kong

Latest COVID-19 vaccination arrangements announced

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (August 8) that the risk posed by COVID-19 still exists, and the COVID-19 activity in Hong Kong and neighbouring places has continued to increase. In view of the COVID-19 situation, the latest recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the opinions of local experts, the Government today announced updated COVID-19 vaccination arrangements under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. The Government reminded members of the public to continue maintaining personal, hand and environmental hygiene, and reiterated that vaccination can effectively prevent serious cases.

The CHP pointed out that COVID-19 presents with rising waves roughly every four to six months in Hong Kong, and the latest overall activity has continued to increase since June. According to the latest surveillance data as of August 3, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for COVID-19 received by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch rose to about 9.07 per cent, and the per capita viral load of SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance had been over 400,000 copy/L for two consecutive weeks. The CHP expected that the local activity of COVID-19 may further increase. High-risk priority groups should get vaccinated as soon as possible and receive booster doses at appropriate times.

Arrangements for initial vaccination and booster vaccination in 2024/25

As the vast majority of the publichad past COVID-19 infection, the arrangements for initial vaccination will be simplified, while the prevailing arrangements for booster vaccination will remain applicable. Eligible persons can continue to receive initial vaccination or booster vaccination for free. Relevant details are as follows:

1. Arrangements for initial vaccination starting from August 19

2. Arrangements for booster vaccination in 2024/25

Starting from 9am on August 19, the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme booking system (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp)will accept bookings according to the updated vaccination arrangements. Eligible persons can make reservations through the online booking system for vaccinations at the COVID-19 vaccination venues. Persons who have made bookings before August 19 to receive initial vaccination can still receive COVID-19 vaccination according to the appointment date without being affected by the updated arrangements. The Government will continue to assist elderly people aged 60 or above living in the community to make COVID-19 vaccination bookingsonline, and the relevant arrangements are set out in an earlier press release. ​Details of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme can be found on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html).

Supply of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines to be ceased

The existing inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong (i.e. Sinovac CoronaVac) will expire on October 3, 2024, and the vaccine supplier had confirmed that they will no longer produce the vaccines. Members of the public should take note and make a booking as soon as possible if they plan to receive vaccination with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. Those who have never received COVID-19 vaccination and prefer to receive inactivated COVID-19 vaccines should receive their first dose within August this year to allow enough time (an interval of at least 28 days) before the second dose. Members of the public who have received inactivated vaccines before may choose mRNA vaccine to complete their initial vaccination or as booster.

Procurement of JN.1 lineage COVID-19 vaccines

In light of the earlier recommendation by the WHO and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the CHP to use JN.1 lineage COVID-19 vaccines, the Government is exploring with the vaccine suppliers on the procurement of relevant vaccines, which are expected to be supplied for use in Hong Kong by the end of this year. The vaccination arrangements will be announced later.

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The CHP strongly urges members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and chronic disease patients, to receive vaccinations as early as possible for effective protection against COVID-19. Personal, hand and environmental hygiene should also be maintained at all times against respiratory tract infection including COVID-19. Symptomatic individuals, even if the symptoms are mild, should wear surgical masks and seek medical attention promptly to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to high-risk persons.

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Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled electronic goods worth about $500 million

Hong Kong Customs mounted a special operation codenamed "Sea Guardian" in August and September, with three suspected smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels detected. A large batch of suspected smuggled electronic goods with a total estimated market value of about $500 million was seized.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs, suspecting that criminals were using ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods, planned an enforcement operation and identified three suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong for Malaysia, as well as a container scheduled to be shipped to Tianjin, via ocean-going vessels for inspection.

Customs inspected the four containers that were declared as carrying aluminium materials, aluminium alloys and citric acid respectively on August 20, September 3 and September 9. Upon the examinations, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled electronic goods, including central processing units, display cards, circuit boards and random-access memory in the containers.

An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to strategically combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled electronic goods worth about $500 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled electronic goods worth about $500 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled electronic goods worth about $500 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases