People walk at Hong Kong’s Victoria Park on Nov 13, 2021. (BERTHA WANG / AFP)

HONG KONG- Hong Kong reported four new imported COVID-19 cases on Thursday as the government announced that residents who were fully vaccinated with the Sinovac jab can take booster shots.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the Centre for Health Protection said the four new cases involved four men from Singapore, Germany, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The city’s tally stood at 12,395."

"The newly reported cases are imported cases which involve mutant strains," the statement reads. 

 All four patients were asymptomatic. Two of them tested positive after arrival at the airport while the infection of the other two patients were confirmed during their quarantine. 

The Centre for Health Protection said the four new cases involved four men from Singapore, Germany, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The city’s tally stood at 12,395        

A total of 39 cases were reported from Nov 4 to 17 and all of them were imported, the CHP added.

In a separate statement, the government said members of the public who have received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine, with the second dose taken six months ago, can make reservations for their booster shot starting Nov 23.

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"Arrangements have been made for persons under certain groups to receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on a priority basis since Nov 11 and the operation has been smooth,” a government spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.

“After assessing the capacity and service demand of the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations, we have decided to expand the arrangements to cover more eligible persons to enhance protection," he added.

The spokesman also said that members of the public should take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between a COVID-19 vaccination and any other inoculation, including jabs for the seasonal flu.

For residents who took the BioNTech shot, they should be among high-risk populations or workers at increased risk of infection before they can receive their booster jab.   

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Those eligible can make reservations for vaccination at the CVCs or designated clinics of the Hospital Authority through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

Also on Thursday, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah received her third dose of the Sinovac vaccine at the Java Road Sports Centre CVC. 

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah receives her third dose of the Sinovac vaccine at the Community Vaccination Centre in Java Road Sports Centre, North Point on Nov 18, 2021. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

"In view of COVID-19 continuing to ravage the world, I urge members of the public to take the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible and eligible persons under certain groups to receive their third dose of a vaccine on time to protect themselves, their family members and the community,” Cheng said.

“It is the best measure for Hong Kong to recover from the pandemic, enabling the public to resume normal daily lives as soon as possible," she added.