The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government launched the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) on September 1. The HKSAR Government today (September 3) welcomed the arrival of the third batch of the Mainland nucleic acid test support team, and once again expressed gratitude to the Central Government for establishing and deploying rapidly a support team to enhance the testing capability of Hong Kong in a short period of time, enabling the HKSAR Government to launch the large-scale UCTP to provide voluntary virus testing for all citizens.
 
     The third batch of 200-member support team came from Guangxi and Fujian. Together with the 10 members of the advance party and the leader of the support team (Guangdong), Mr Yu Dewen, who arrived in early-August, followed by the other 50 members, and more than 160 members led by the chief leader of the support team and Deputy Director of the Medical Administration Bureau of the National Health Commission (NHC), Mr Li Dachuan, nearly 420 members of the support team are currently in Hong Kong. The NHC will co-ordinate the deployment of more members to support Hong Kong subject to the actual need.
 
     "Although the confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been gradually reduced recently, the epidemic has yet to be stabilised and there are still silent transmission chains in the community. The HKSAR Government is very grateful to the support team for their valuable advice on the UCTP, which can help us to identify asymptomatic patients and further curb the epidemic," a Government spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman also urges all citizens to participate in the UCTP and work together to cut the virus transmission chain.
 
     Attending today's ceremony included the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr He Jing; Mr Li; and representatives of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
 
     The UCTP has been open to the public to sign up and make appointments for testing since late August. Details are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk.

Ends/Thursday, September 3, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:11

NNNN