HONG KONG - Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Friday she is grateful for the central government’s help in the city’s toughest COVID-19 fight.
She also said the city is ramping up its anti-pandemic efforts, including making plans for a citywide virus testing to fend off the current wave of the pandemic, which she said is not expected to abate for at least two to three months.
At a news conference, Lam reaffirmed her gratitude to President Xi Jinping, Vice-Premier Han Zheng, and Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, for their concerns and support of the city.
Carrie Lam said she believes the pandemic has not peaked, and that it will take at least two to three months to quell the current wave of the pandemic
Lam thanked the visit to the city of the mainland medical expert team, which will help alleviate the city’s medical burdens. She said she hopes more experts in the field of COVID-19 treatment will come to Hong Kong so that the city can learn from the mainland experts’ experience.
With the central government’s support, Hong Kong is beefing up all its anti-pandemic efforts, including the in-the-making mass testing, Lam said. Under the mass testing program, residents will be required to take two to three tests, she said, adding that there is no plan for a full lockdown of the city.
Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, will take charge of the arrangement, Lam said.
Residents line up to receive a COVID-19 test at Yau Oi Estate in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, Jan 13, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Lam added that identity cards will be a preferable means to confirm the number of receivers by then.
In the coming eight to 10 days, the SAR government will speed up the construction of quarantine facilities as much as possible to prepare for the possible increasing number of infection cases found through universal mandatory testing.
More quarantine facilities will be built in a timely manner with help from the mainland, she said.
