The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (August 21) welcomed the arrival of a Mainland nucleic acid test support team and expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its response to the request of the HKSAR Government and the speedy formation of the support team to support the anti-epidemic work of the HKSAR.
 
     The 50-member support team that arrived today, together with the first batch of members who arrived in early August, is led by team leader Mr Yu Dewen, is co-ordinated by the Central Government and was established by the National Health Commission. Ten members arrived in Hong Kong in early August and immediately assisted in the preparatory work for the temporary laboratory to substantially ramp up Hong Kong's virus testing capability. The arrival of other members of the support team will boost efforts of the HKSAR to carry out community testing.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "In the face of the epidemic, the HKSAR Government has been putting in place various mitigation measures to tackle the epidemic. With the full support of the Central Government, we are confident that we can combat the virus with a view to enabling people to resume their normal daily lives as soon as possible. However, we also need the full co-operation of the public in strictly adhering to social distancing and maintaining personal hygiene to fight the epidemic together with one mind and one heart, without letting down one's guard, so that we can overcome this challenge and triumph over adversity."
 
     Also attending today's ceremony were the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan; the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko; and Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Ms Qiu Hong.

Ends/Friday, August 21, 2020
Issued at HKT 20:18

NNNN