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Chief Executive thanks Central Government for ceaseless support for Hong Kong to fight epidemic (with photos/video)
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     ​The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 19) expressed her gratitude to the Central Government for its ceaseless support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to fight the epidemic at the commencement ceremony of the construction of community isolation and treatment facilities at Penny's Bay. She was also most encouraged by the unity and enthusiasm among different sectors of the community in the current fight against the virus.

     Addressing the commencement ceremony of the construction of community isolation and treatment facilities this afternoon, Mrs Lam said that the Central Government, in response to the request of the HKSAR Government, had commissioned a Mainland construction team to build some 10 000 community isolation and treatment units at Penny's Bay and Kai Tak within a very short period of time. This would significantly enhance the HKSAR's anti-epidemic capacity.

     Mrs Lam said that the HKSAR Government would also spare no efforts in increasing community isolation and treatment facilities by all means, including the requisition of newly completed public housing estates, rental of commercial hotels and conversion of indoor sport centres. Some 20 000 extra units were estimated to be made available for people who tested positive for COVID-19 but had no or mild symptoms for isolation. With the efforts by the anti-epidemic task force of the Security Bureau, three Community Isolation Facility Hotels, namely Dorsett Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel, and iclub Fortress Hill Hotel, had started taking in confirmed patients.

     In addition, the HKSAR Government has decided to turn the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal into a community isolation and treatment facility providing about 1 000 beds. Upon the on-site inspection by the relevant departments yesterday (February 18), works will commence at full speed.

     Following the arrival of four Mainland epidemiological experts, a number of testing technicians and two mobile testing vehicles two days ago, four experts in critical care medicine and 110 nucleic acid testing personnel were sent by the Central Government today to Hong Kong to participate in the anti-epidemic work. The four experts in critical care medicine will share with the health officials of Hong Kong and experts of the Hospital Authority their experience in treating COVID-19 patients tomorrow (February 20) in order to gain a good understanding of how patients, especially those with severe symptoms, are diagnosed, treated and taken care of in Hong Kong. The Mainland specimen collection team will participate in a liaison meeting on work techniques, after which they will immediately commence specimen collection and testing work.

     Mrs Lam was pleased to learn that businesses, be they local enterprises or Mainland enterprises stationing in Hong Kong, had also rendered their full support to the anti-epidemic work in response to appeals, including allocating hotels for turning into isolation facilities, setting up vaccination stations at some malls or offices, providing land or venues for the construction of isolation and treatment facilities, ensuring the supply of anti-epidemic provisions and daily necessities to Hong Kong, and donating rapid test kits and anti-epidemic supplies to the grassroots.

     Mrs Lam said, "While expressing my gratitude to the enterprises, I hope that property developers and landlords can also offer rent concession to their commercial tenants, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to foster solidarity. Coupled with the fifth and sixth rounds of the Anti-epidemic Fund rolled out by the HKSAR Government, the support will tide the affected enterprises over the difficult times.

     "Hong Kong is facing an unprecedented and new wave of the epidemic. We are under a critical situation amid this smokeless battle. We are sincerely grateful to the Central Government for its assistance which is stronger and speedier than ever. I shall lead the HKSAR Government to assume the main responsibility to fight the epidemic in order for the people of Hong Kong to resume their normal lives early."
 
Ends/Saturday, February 19, 2022
Issued at HKT 23:59
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Today's Press Releases  

Photo

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at the commencement ceremony of the construction of community isolation and treatment facilities at Penny’s Bay today (February 19). Picture shows Mrs Lam delivering her speech at the ceremony.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam (second right), officiated at the commencement ceremony of the construction of community isolation and treatment facilities at Penny’s Bay today (February 19). Looking on is the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Yin Zonghua (first right).
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at the commencement ceremony of the construction of community isolation and treatment facilities at Penny’s Bay today (February 19). Picture shows Mrs Lam (third right), accompanied by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong (first right), and the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (second right), receiving a briefing from the Director of Architectural Services, Ms Winnie Ho (first left), on the construction process.
Photo shows Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Yin Zonghua (fourth right); the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (fifth right); the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (sixth right); the Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan (sixth left); and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko (second right), welcoming the arrival of four experts in critical care medicine from the Mainland and 110 nucleic acid testing personnel led by the Health Commission of Guangdong Province at Shenzhen Bay Control Point this afternoon (February 19).
The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan; and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko, welcomed the arrival of four experts in critical care medicine from the Mainland and 110 nucleic acid testing personnel led by the Health Commission of Guangdong Province at Shenzhen Bay Control Point this afternoon (February 19). Photo shows Mr Tsang (left) talking to Deputy Director General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province Mr Zhang Yurun (right).
The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (second left), inspected the Regal Oriental Hotel this afternoon (February 19) to ensure its readiness as a community isolation facility tomorrow (February 20).

Audio / Video

Chief Executive thanks Central Government for ceaseless support for Hong Kong to fight epidemic