Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor meets the press at Central Government Offices on Dec 1, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor appealed to Hong Kong residents to stay at home as far as possible and avoid house parties as the following two weeks would be crucial in containing the current fourth wave of COVID-19 infections.

A hotline has been set up for residents to report to marine police any yacht parties that contravene current curbs on gatherings, Lam said before an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday. An increase in fines for violating virus curbs is likely to be discussed at the meeting.

"The reporting hotline newly set up is there because we see that, after party rooms and karaoke parlors have been made to close, there are a number of people who organize events at sea," Lam said. "We want to target such a breach.”

Carrie Lam urged people who are required to undergo mandatory testing to get it done soonest

Hong Kong Police Force has also posted on Facebook calling on residents to alert them to parties at sea.

"Whilst scheduled premises such as bars, bath houses and party rooms have been closed according to the law, police noticed that a number of vessels have been hired for social gathering,” police said. "Even privately owned yachts are sometimes used for such purpose. This greatly increased the risk of transmission of disease.”

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She also urged people who are required to undergo mandatory testing to get it done soonest. Workers at residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities, nursing homes and day service units have been required to undergo tests between Dec 1 and 14 at community testing centers or other eligible private laboratories.

Failure to comply will attract a fixed penalty of HK$2,000 (US$258). The person would also get a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply with the order is an offence liable to a fine of HK$25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

Hong Kong reported 76 new coronavirus infections on Monday, as well as about 50 preliminarily positive cases to be confirmed on Tuesday. At least three residents and four workers of three different care homes are said to be among those infected.

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Also, the Hong Kong government is negotiating with Guangdong authorities so that Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals may be used at The University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital on a trial basis. 

In her Policy Address, Lam proposed to allow medical institutions across nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to use Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals.  

Shortly after her announcement, eight central government departments released a supervision plan, putting the Guangdong government in charge.

With Bloomberg inputs