(Scroll down for English)

有關豁免第599章G條預防及控制疾病(禁止群組聚集)規定並允許越野跑比賽進行

致:

民政事務局局長徐英偉先生

食物及衛生局局長陳肇始教授

自2020年2月新冠病毒疫情流行開始，香港政府根據預防及控制疾病(禁止群組聚集)規定實施管理，及后本地的越野跑比賽一般都不獲批准舉行。

我們認為，在適當的健康及社交距離措施的前提下，允許越野跑比賽對參與公眾人士感染新冠病毒的風險極低，越野跑比賽對公眾身體及心理健康均有益處。

自2021年3月開始，一共有3個本地賽事獲得豁免，至今亦沒有造成病毒在社區散播或健康申報事件。

我們懇切請求民政事務局、食物環境衛生署以及政府各相關部門，在特定健康衛生及安全條件下，允許越野跑比賽進行。

2021年6月22日行政長官林鄭月娥也提到，可視乎疫情發展，活動性質及社會需求考慮放寬團體聚會的規定。

2020年4月香港大學流行病學及生物統計學主任Ben Cowling教授表示，越野跑比賽不涉及密切接觸及封閉空間，相對風險較低，並對公眾健康有益，值得鼓勵及推動。

行政長官亦表示在考慮限聚相關法規及措施時，當局會考慮風險因素是否可控，組織及參與者能否遵守社交距離要求。我們建議要求賽事組織者在起點、終點及中途補給站實施以下社交距離及衛生安全措施，以確保風險減到最低:

- 參賽者在出發區排隊至少相距1.5米

- 參賽者分批起跑不超過100人﹔每批開始至少相隔1分鐘

- 參賽者在起跑區和比賽結束後在終點區佩戴口罩

- 活動志願者全程佩戴口罩

- 比賽開始區對所有參賽者和志願者進行體溫檢查

- 起跑區和所有中途補給站將提供酒精洗手液

- 比賽中途補給站由志願者為每位參賽者獨立分配食物

- 中途檢查站提供的水由佩戴口罩的志願者分配，參與者只能將個人水瓶放在飲水容器下（以避免實體接觸）

- 主辦單位須確保所有參加者的聯絡資料及出席紀錄良好保存，並在有需要時提供予政府部門作聯絡追蹤之用

Allow trail running races as an exception to Cap. 599G Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation

To:

Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui

Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan

Since February 2020 trail running race events have generally not been given approval due to the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically under Cap. 599G Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation.

We believe that allowing trail running races with appropriate health measures is beneficial to the public interest and poses an extremely low risk of Covid-19 infection.

Since March 2021 three events have been approved as exemptions, with no adverse health events or Covid-19 infections reported.

We call upon the Home Affairs Bureau and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department as well as relevant government departments to allow trail running races to be granted permits with specific health and safety conditions.

On the 22nd of June 2021 Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listed factors for consideration of group gathering regulations including the nature of, and society’s need for, that activity.

In April 2020 Professor Ben Cowling, Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Hong Kong University stated that trail races should be encouraged and facilitated because they are low risk and good for people’s health. Trail races do not involve close contact or confined spaces and participants generally arrive at the finish line spread out over hours. The health benefits of trail running include both physical, such as reduction in risk factors for heart disease, and mental health benefits.

The Chief Executive also stated that when considering group gathering regulations authorities need to consider risk factors associated with an activity, whether they are manageable, and whether the organiser is able to comply with social distancing requirements. Race organisers are able to manage risk factors by socially distancing participants at start areas and imposing health measures at checkpoints. Proposed health and safety protocols for the approval of trail race permits are outlined as follows:

· Participants to line up at least 1.5 metres apart in starting areas.

· Participants to start races in batches of no more than 100; with each batch starting at least one minute apart.

· Participants to wear face masks at the start area and, on completion of the race, in the finish area.

· Event volunteers to wear face masks at all times.

· Body temperature screening is applied for all participants and volunteers at the start area of a race.

· Hand sanitizer stations will be available at the start area and all race checkpoints.

· Food items will be provided at race checkpoints in separate portions for each runner.

· Water at checkpoints to only be dispensed by volunteers wearing face masks, participants may only hold personal hydration bottles under water dispensing containers (i.e. no physical contact).

· Organisers shall ensure the contact information and attendance record of all participants will be kept at all times and will be made available for Government Departments for the purpose of contact tracing when necessary.