This undated file photo shows an employee of Sinovac Biotech handling boxes containing COVID-19 vaccines. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's advisory panel on COVID-19 vaccines decided Tuesday to recommend the vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech for emergency use.

The panel of experts believes that Sinovac's inactivated vaccine can bring more benefits than risks and will submit their advice to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government for reference, Wallace Lau, the convener of the panel, said at a press briefing.

The panel members reached consensus after reviewing the latest reports offered by Sinovac at a meeting on Tuesday, he said.

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The HKSAR government reached an agreement at the end of last year to procure 7.5 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine.