Enhanced COVID-19 Control Measures at HKU SPACE

Dear colleagues and students,

With effect from 17 January 2022 (Monday), HKU SPACE will follow The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in introducing enhanced COVID-19 control measures in accordance with public health policies.  From this date, anyone wishing to enter HKU or HKU SPACE campuses will need either to be fully vaccinated or take weekly COVID self-tests.  Details of the enhanced measures are provided below.  

1. Who are required to observe the enhanced COVID-19 control measures?
   The enhanced measures apply to all persons entering HKU or HKU SPACE campuses (the said campuses).In order to gain access to the said campuses, they should be able to show evidence that they are either fully vaccinated or have been tested negative on a weekly basis.
    
2. What does it mean by “fully vaccinated”?
   In determining whether one is “fully vaccinated”, reference should be made to the Government’s list of recognised COVID-19 vaccines and doses (https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/list_of_recognised_covid19_vaccines.pdf). As this list is updated, new links will be posted on HKU SPACE website.  If there are significant changes, for instance relating to booster jabs, the School will post further information.  Another important point to note is that one will only be considered as “fully vaccinated” 14 days after receiving the required doses of a recognised vaccine (also see (3) below for certain exemptions and relaxations in accordance with current Government guidelines).
    
3. Will there be exemptions and/or relaxations?
   Yes, we will follow Government guidelines on exemptions for children under the age of 12, and relaxations in terms of the number of doses required for persons aged between 12 to 17, and those who have recovered from a previous COVID-19 infection. (https://www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/faq).
    
4. Will there be exemptions for people who cannot take the COVID-19 vaccine?
   No, there will not. People who cannot take the COVID-19 vaccine on medical grounds will still need to take a weekly self-test as for those who are not fully vaccinated.  A medical certificate sample can be found in the following Government website: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/599FG_letterfrdoctor.pdf.
    
5. What kinds of self-test are acceptable?
   All major COVID tests recognised by the Government, such as deep throat saliva, combined throat and nasal swab, and nasopharyngeal swab are acceptable.  Useful information on various virus testing routes as well as distribution points of test packs etc. are available via the hyperlink https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html.
    
6. What does it mean by ‘HKU campus’?
   HKU campus includes all HKU premises such as the Main Campus, the Medical Campus, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Kennedy Town Centre, all sports facilities and so on.  As HKU SPACE is required to follow HKU policy, measures also extend to all HKU SPACE premises throughout Hong Kong.  Enhanced COVID-19 control measures may also be introduced at the venues of our partner institutions.  The management of some of these venues may introduce modified COVID-19 control measures, which they will communicate directly to key stakeholders.
    
7. How will the system work for HKU SPACE staff, teachers and students who possess a HKU SPACE user ID?
   Please note that there are different protocols for access to HKU SPACE premises and the HKU campus.

For access to HKU SPACE premises under the direct management of the School (i.e. other than those premises under the direct management of HKU, such as TT Tsui Building and the Graduate House)

The following community of the School (broadly referred to as “staff, teachers and students” in this message) who possess a HKU SPACE user ID will be invited to register their COVID-19 status through the HKU SPACE Green Pass System (GPSys) to upload their vaccination records and/or valid weekly COVID test reports (self-arranged and self-paid) to their smartphones:

- all HKU SPACE staff (academic and non-academic)
- part-time teachers
- full-time and part-time students who are enrolled on award-bearing courses (except Applied Learning courses)

Upon successful completion of the registration process (the detailed procedures can be found in a demo clip to be uploaded on the School website), the registered persons will receive a “Green Pass” generated by the GPSys which will enable them to gain access, for the purpose of the enhanced COVID-19 control measures, to all HKU SPACE premises other than those under the direct management of the HKU.  Thus, for people who are fully vaccinated, it will be a simple one-off exercise and will only require further action when the notion of “fully vaccinated” changes.  For people who are not fully vaccinated, weekly updating of the self-test records via the GPSys will be required.

For access to premises under the direct management of HKU

For those who require access to the HKU premises including the Main Campus and other facilities such as the UHS and Library, persons registered under the GPSys will be able to access the campus using their HKU ID cards (staff card and/or facilities access card) as information on individual COVID-19 status captured in the GPSys will automatically be transferred to the HKU system in order to obviate the need for a further upload to the HKU system by the users in this category.

For non-registered persons or those who do not possess a valid HKU ID card, they are required to show the electronic vaccination and testing records in Government mobile apps or the original copies, photocopies, and screenshots of vaccination records and self-test results upon request at the entrances.

8. How will the system work for people for whom the GPSys is not applicable (i.e. people who do not possess a HKU SPACE user ID, including occasional visitors)
   They can use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application in order to gain access to HKU SPACE premises, including learning centres and offices (other than those on the HKU campus).For access to premises under the direct management of HKU, they are required to show the electronic vaccination and testing records in Government mobile apps or the original copies, photocopies, and screenshots of vaccination records and self-test results upon request at the entrance.
    
9. What will registered staff, teachers and students need to do when they enter HKU or HKU SPACE premises?
   1. For Access to HKU SPACE Learning Centres / Offices (other than those on the HKU campus)
      Registered staff, teachers and students will be required to present their Green Pass to the security guards / Learning Centre staff at the major entrances.Random checks will be made to ensure that staff, teachers and students comply with the enhanced COVID-19 control measures.
   2. For Access to the HKU Campus
      HKU will install readers at its entrances.  Registered staff, teachers and students will need to tap their HKU ID cards (staff card and/or facilities access card) on one of the readers to show they comply with the enhanced COVID-19 control measures.  Security guards will be posted at major entrances to reach out to anyone in need of assistance.  HKU will also link their enhanced COVID-19 control measures with vehicle licence plate registration.
       
10. What will non-registered persons, and people not in possession of a HKU ID card (including visitors) need to do when they enter HKU or HKU SPACE premises?
    1. For entering HKU SPACE Learning Centres and Offices (other than those on the HKU campus)
       See (8) above.  Persons under this category should make use of the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application to gain access.
    2. For Access to the HKU Campus
       See (8) above. HKU will install a second set of readers (housed in eVT blue) at the entrances to HKU. Persons under this category will need to scan the eVT QR code on one of the readers to show they comply with the enhanced COVID-19 control measures.
        
11. Will it be possible to simply show the vaccination record or self-test results to a security guard?
    Yes, this will be fine.  Both HKU and HKU SPACE will accept original copies, photocopies, and screenshots of vaccination records and self-test results; but staff, teachers and students are strongly advised to register their vaccination records or self-test results under the GPSys in order to save queueing up time at the entrances.
     
12. What is the Implementation Timeline for the GPSys?
    - 3 January 2022 (Monday): registration in GPSys opens through HKU SPACE Intranet, Teacher Portal and Learner Portal.  Staff, teachers and students are strongly advised to complete the registration by 12 January 2022 (Wednesday) to allow more time to deal with possible teething problems during the initial stage of implementation.
    - 17 January 2022 (Monday): full implementation of the measures
13. Further details
    A set of more detailed FAQs is being developed to address concerns from persons requiring access to HKU and HKU SPACE premises.  The initial FAQs can be found at this link https://www.hkuspace.hku.hk/collection/covid-19-faq, and updates will be made from time to time to take account of possible changes in Governmental guidelines and University arrangements.  For any other enquiries, please refer to the School website, Teacher Portal and Learner Portal, or contact our staff at Colleges, HKU SPACE Community College and enrolment counters at the School’s learning centres for advice.

HKU SPACE
21 December 2021

 

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