A government staff member collects samples through combined nasal and throat swabs for a resident subject to compulsory testing in the "restricted area" at Tower 4, Bauhinia Garden, 11 Tong Chun Street, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong, Jan 14, 2022. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong government staff members cordoned off a building in Tseung Kwan O in the New Territories for targeted testing on Friday night after one resident tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

The government set up a “restricted area” at Tower 4, Bauhinia Garden, 11 Tong Chun Street at 7 pm and required residents to get tested before 1 am Saturday.

Aanyone who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offense and may be fined a fixed penalty of HK$5,000

The government cited a higher COVID-19 transmission risk in the area as the preliminary positive case involved mutant strains.

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In a statement on Saturday morning, a government spokesman said around 1,110 residents have been tested and all results were negative. The testing operation was finished at 9:15 am.

During the operation, the government also assigned staff to visit 400 households, among which 20 did not answer the door. 

"Those may include some households undergoing quarantine or isolation. Some units are possibly vacant as well," the spokesman said, adding that follow-up actions will be taken.

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The spokesman stressed that anyone who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offense and may be fined a fixed penalty of HK$5,000.