Fighting the virus is Hong Kong's most pressing mission. With the support from various fronts mobilised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, packaging work of anti-epidemic service bags commenced smoothly yesterday (March 30), and 1.6 million service bags have been prepared. The team of civil servants and over 17 000 volunteers today (March 31) continued to work in 133 packaging centres of anti-epidemic service bags. They spared no effort in completing the packaging of the remaining 1.9 million service bags in three days as scheduled.
      
     The Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan, said, "The progress of anti-epidemic service bags packaging is very satisfactory. The task was implemented smoothly yesterday. Packaging centres have outperformed by completing 45.5 per cent of the service bags. We are confident that all 3.5 million service bags will be ready early, even by today, to convey the Mainland and HKSAR Government's support to Hong Kong people.
      
     "We are thankful to the civil servants and volunteers from all sectors including Legislative Council members, the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link, the Anti-Coronavirus Link of 18 districts, over 350 local organisations and non-government organisations, clansman organisations, charity groups, volunteer and uniformed groups, religious groups and ethnic minorities service organisations. Their commitment fully demonstrates the spirit of concerted co-operation between the Government and the community in fighting the epidemic. We believe that as long as we are united in one heart to fight the epidemic, Hong Kong will definitely win this battle."
      
     The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, visited the Lohas Park Community Hall in Sai Kung while the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, made consecutive visits to the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre in Central and Western District, the Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road) and the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin today. They participated in the packaging work and boosted morale of the civil servants and volunteers.
      
     Mr Jack Chan visited the Fa Yuen Street Sports Centre in Yau Tsim Mong District, the Fung Ming Hall, Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple and the Fung Tak Estate Community Centre in Wong Tai Sin, the Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School in Tsuen Wan, the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin and the Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School Hung Hom Bay in Kowloon City to join the packaging work and show support to the civil servants and volunteers.
      
     Upon completion of packaging, the 3.5 million anti-epidemic service bags will be delivered to all households in 18 districts in Hong Kong at the same time from April 2. The distribution is expected to be completed within seven days mainly through the following channels:
 
i. Distributing to public housing tenants through the Housing Department and the Hong Kong Housing Society;
ii. Distributing to private housing residents through owners' corporations, other owners' organisations and property management companies;
iii. Distributing door to door to "three-nil" buildings residents and grass-roots families through volunteers and civil servants; and
iv. Distributing to residents in rural and remote areas through Heung Yee Kuk and rural committees. 
 
     In addition, as a measure to fill the service gap, several distribution points will be set up in 18 districts for those who cannot receive anti-epidemic service bags through the above channels to pick up the service bags.

Ends/Thursday, March 31, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:46

NNNN