'Ambush-style' Covid Tests Return In San Po Kong

Parts of San Po Kong were sealed off on Tuesday evening as the government imposed its first ambush-style coronavirus lockdown in the Year of the Ox.

Effective from 8.30pm, residents of Cambridge Building on 6-24A Kam Wing Street, and Tong Seng Mansion on 1-33 Kam Wing Street and 5-7 Yin Hing Street were required to stay in their flats and undergo compulsory Covid-19 tests until test results are out.

“As there is a confirmed case recorded in Cambridge Building recently, and that sub-divided units are common in the above two buildings which are relatively old. As assessed, the risk of infection in the relevant area may be higher,” a government spokesman said in a statement.

It said residents have to undergo the tests before 2am on Wednesday and the operation is expected to end at 7am.

The government imposed a series of ambush-style lockdowns in various districts in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year holiday to require residents to get tested for Covid-19 and achieve its "zero infection" target.

That drew a mixed response from residents, with some saying the operations helped to prevent the virus from being transmitted but others suggesting they were not cost-effective because of the small number of cases found.