Treasury Branch and departments stand together in fight against epidemic

The fifth wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic is severe. With safeguarding citizens’ health being close to the heart of colleagues from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (Treasury Branch) and departments under the Branch’s purview, colleagues have spared no effort in taking part in various anti-epidemic work with an aim to reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the community.

The Treasury Branch and its departments, namely the Inland Revenue Department, the Rating and Valuation Department, the Treasury, the Audit Commission, the Government Property Agency and the Government Logistics Department, mobilised more than 1 000 staff members from different grades in co-ordinating and conducting a number of operations including "Restriction-testing declaration" (RTD) operations and enforcement actions on compulsory testing notice to help identify positive cases and ensure people subject to compulsory testing comply with the compulsory testing notices.

Responsibilities of colleagues in RTD operations included venue set-up, home visits to remind residents to undergo virus testing, setting up hotline and answering enquires from persons subject to compulsory testing, distributing food packs, rapid test kits, and anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central People's Government, as well as sending residents tested positive for COVID-19 or their close contacts to hospitals and quarantine centres. In addition, the Government Logistics Department was responsible for the procurement and delivery of supplies for all RTD operations. With the co-operation of residents, the concerted efforts of colleagues from all participating departments and contractors, all operations were completed smoothly.

The Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), Miss Cathy Chu, said, “While colleagues from the Treasury Branch and its departments have a heavy workload to handle, they also serve the public with devotion and commitment in co-ordinating and conducting such operations. Meanwhile, other colleagues offer backend support to ensure the timely disbursement of funding for anti-epidemic work and Anti-epidemic Fund for supporting businesses affected by the epidemic. They also support other departments by procuring necessary supplies and services as well as identifying suitable venues for anti-epidemic use. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all colleagues for their contribution in every aspect of anti-epidemic work.”

As each RTD operation normally lasts for more than a day, many colleagues have to work overnight. However, colleagues are dauntless in going to the front line, with every one of them according top priority to the fight against the epidemic. The Treasury Branch and departments under its purview will continue to stand together and stand ready to take up any anti-epidemic work with devotion, racing against time and working together with the public to fight against the fifth wave of the epidemic.

Photos of "Restriction-testing declaration" operation in Tsui Mei House, Tsui Ping (North) Estate, Kwun Tong on March 22 - 23

Photos of "Restriction-testing declaration" operation in Block 4, Charming Garden, Mongkok on June 3-4