(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government will make sure that there is sufficient lead time for those who have not received COVID-19 vaccination to get the jab when it introduces measures relating to the vaccine pass, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today.

Meeting the media this afternoon, Mrs Lam outlined the Government’s preparatory work on expanding the vaccine pass arrangements from February 24.

The term replaces the former “vaccine bubble” to clearly illustrate what the Government aims to achieve.

“The vaccine pass is to help encourage more people to be vaccinated because the effect of vaccine pass is (that) if you have not been vaccinated, you will not be able to enter a lot of premises or engage in a lot of activities.”

Currently, the Prevention & Control of Disease (Requirements & Directions) (Business & Premises) Regulation (Cap 599F) covers about 15 categories of premises, such as restaurants, gyms and beauty parlours.

“We are planning to amend Cap 599F to expand the ambit so that more indoor premises will be included in the scheduled premises for us to impose this requirement.

“And beyond the statutory schedule, we can also do it for government premises. So entry into the Central Government Offices in Tamar and Leisure & Cultural Services Department libraries will, from a date onwards, be subject to a vaccine pass.”

As part of the preparations, a new version of the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app was issued today. Upon successful scanning of the LeaveHomeSafe venue QR codes, the app will automatically show users’  electronic vaccination records or COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificates QR codes stored in their mobile phones, to help venue operators do compliance checks.

Additionally, the Government will take measures to enhance the vaccination rate of residents at residential care homes for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Among others, for residents who have been assessed by doctors as suitable for vaccination and are able to give consent, the Government will arrange for them to get the jab as early as possible and inform their family.

Mrs Lam also addressed concerns that people may not have enough time to get vaccinated before such measures are introduced.

“In future, we will make sure that when we announce something new, there will be sufficient lead time for those who have not been vaccinated to get vaccinated.

“Just for argument’s sake, we will probably, in time to come, expand this vaccine pass requirement from one dose to two doses, and (then) to three doses. So every time, we will allow sufficient time for those who have not taken the second dose or the third dose to be able to (get vaccinated) - (so) at least they have a chance.

“If the duration is too short, they (will not) have (enough) time, then that is not fair. So every time, we will make sure that they have enough time to get vaccinated.”