Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee welcomes the four epidemiological experts from the mainland to visit Hong Kong, Feb 18, 2022. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Mainland and Hong Kong experts held “constructive” exchanges of views on ways to tackle the fifth wave of the epidemic in the special administrative region, said the city’s health chief.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, along with other health officials, held discussions on Friday with a delegation of mainland epidemiological experts that is assisting Hong Kong in combating the virus.

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The task force of epidemiologists led by Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee (3rd left) holds a meeting at the Central Government Offices, Hong Kong, Feb 18, 2022. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The mainland epidemiologists are experts from Guangdong province, Guangzhou and Zhongshan. They arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for a five-day visit.

During the second day of the visit, the mainland delegation attended a meeting of a task force of epidemiologists led by Chan and received information on the epidemiological investigations and analyses in Hong Kong.

Chuang Shuk-kwan (front, first left), head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, chats with Director of Institute of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Kang Min (front, 2nd left) as the mainland experts visit the CHP, Hong Kong, Feb 18, 2022. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Other members of the task force included Permanent Secretary for Food and Health Thomas Chan Chung-ching, Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin and Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority Tony Ko Pat-sing.

Mainland experience in tackling the epidemic was also discussed during the meeting.

The expert delegation also visited the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and learned about the information system in relation to Hong Kong’s epidemiological investigations.

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Mainland experts and Hong Kong health officials hold discussions at the Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong, Feb 18, 2022. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

China expressed gratitude to the mainland delegation, saying that Friday's meeting was thorough and constructive.

“In the coming few days, we will continue to explore strategies and measures to put the epidemic situation under control based on the initial recommendations suggested by the experts,” Chan said.

She stressed that the Hong Kong government will continue its aim to achieve “dynamic zero infection” to safeguard residents’ well-being.