The second batch of 50 members of a mainland nucleic acid test support team arrives in Hong Kong, Aug 21, 2020. (PHOTO/ HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Friday welcomed the arrival of a mainland nucleic acid test support team and expressed gratitude to the central government for responding to its request to support the city’s anti-epidemic work.

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The 50 members who arrived on Friday were among a 60-strong support team established by the National Health Commission and led by mainland health official Yu Dewen, who was also chief commander of a medical support team for Wuhan in February.

The first batch of 10 members who arrived in Hong Kong earlier this month had assisted in the preparatory work for a temporary laboratory to ramp up the city’s virus testing capability.

Those who arrived on Friday will assist the city in carrying out community testing.

Yu Dewen, leader of the mainland nucleic acid test support team, delivers a speech at a ceremony to welcome the arrival of the team in Hong Kong, Aug 21, 2020. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

At a ceremony to welcome the new members of the support team on Friday, Qiu Hong, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that the central government cares about the well-being of Hong Kong compatriots. 

She hopes the epidemic can be curbed as soon as possible so that Hong Kong residents can resume their normal lives.

Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai and Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee also attended the ceremony.

In a press release issued Friday evening, a spokesman for the HKSAR government said it has been putting in place various mitigation measures to tackle the epidemic.

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With the full support of the central government, the government is confident that it can combat the virus to enable residents to resume their normal lives as soon as possible, the spokesman said. 

He added that the full cooperation of the public in adhering to social distancing and maintaining personal hygiene are also needed to fight the epidemic.