Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor holds a press conference on the city's pandemic fight at the Central Government Offices, Tamar, Hong Kong, March 25, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor urged residents to take the rapid antigen tests that the government plans to hand out so that more COVID-19 positive cases can be detected early.

Hong Kong residents can obtain the anti-pandemic kits without registering for them. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor added that authorities will give more anti-pandemic kits to households of seven or more people

Beginning early next month, the government will distribute anti-pandemic kits to 3 million Hong Kong households. The kits will comprise 20 KN95 masks, 20 rapid antigen test agents, two traditional Chinese medicine capsulates, anti-pandemic information kits, and greeting cards. Plans call for all anti-pandemic kits to be distributed within seven days.

“The 20 rapid antigen test agents can allow local households of three people to conduct a rapid antigen test daily within a week. When the general public take more frequent rapid antigen tests, more COVID-19 patients can be screened out as early as possible,” Lam told reporters at the Friday news conference.

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Hong Kong residents can obtain the anti-pandemic kits without registering for them. The chief executive added that authorities will give more anti-pandemic kits to households of seven or more people.

Anti-pandemic kits will be distributed to nearly 3 million Hong Kong households from next month. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Housing Authority will be responsible for distributing anti-pandemic kits to public housing tenants. Owners’ corporations and private real estate management companies will help sending anti-pandemic kits to private residential-flat owners. 

The civil service, volunteer groups and the Heung Yee Kuk will also become a part of the distribution network. The administration will also establish collection points in 18 districts so that local residents will be able to pick up anti-pandemic kits on their own.

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The administration has invited all Legislative Council members, as well 350 to 400 volunteer groups, societies, regional organizations, townsmen associations, youth organizations, uniformed groups and religious organizations, to join the distribution work. So far, more than 10,000 volunteers have signed up for the task.