Lawmakers present thank-you cards on behalf of local residents to members of the mainland support team in Hong Kong on Oct 9, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG/CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - The mainland support team for Hong Kong’s COVID-19 universal testing program has laid a solid foundation for future pandemic control in the city, medical experts and lawmakers said on Thursday.

Leaders of the mainland support team, on behalf of more than 500 technicians, received thank-you cards from lawmakers and local residents on Thursday

The selfless efforts of the mainland medical team to help the city complete more than 1.5 million tests have touched the hearts of Hong Kong people.

In a meeting to convey gratitude from local residents toward the mainland team, 15 Legislative Council members and seven medical experts said the mass testing program, made available with the help of the mainland team, can provide data reference, and more importantly, basis for the SAR government to develop and implement epidemic prevention measures in the future.

More than 500 mainland technicians arrived in Hong Kong in batches beginning on Aug 2 to provide assistance in the city’s universal coronavirus testing program. The program, which began on Sept 1, has been extended twice. It will run through Monday.

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By 5 pm on Thursday, more than 1.5 million people had been tested. Twenty-one infections have been identified in the program so far, with two of them reported on Thursday.

Based on that figure, the government estimated that the community has a total of about 100 asymptomatic patients.

The community now has a clearer understanding of the mass testing and better awareness of cooperation in epidemic prevention, said Dr David Lam Tzit-yuen, who also helped at one of the centers.

Leaders of the mainland support team, on behalf of more than 500 technicians, received thank-you cards from lawmakers and local residents on Thursday.

Yu Dewen, head of the technician support team from Guangdong province, said medical technicians from the mainland have always been aware of the support from the majority of Hong Kong people.

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In the remaining four days of the program, mainland technicians will continue to spare no effort carrying out their work in order to provide test results to participants in a timely and accurate manner, he said.