Hong Kong’s disciplinary forces have taken up various duties in the fight against COVID-19 with their expertise and resilience to help the city contain the outbreak, says Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung.
In an interview with China Daily on Friday, he said members of the disciplinary forces have been involved in much anti-pandemic work, such as managing isolation facilities, sealing off buildings with mass infections, tracing transmission chains and dealing with acts that smear and obstruct anti-pandemic efforts.
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From January last year to late last month, about 30,000 police officers had participated in 240 operations in which buildings with mass infections were cordoned off.
The Fire Services Department has handled pandemic-related emergencies and helped to transport patients to isolation facilities. The Correctional Services Department itself has been hard hit with about one-third of its officers, as well as detainees, getting infected. Immigration and customs officers have been helping medical personnel from the Chinese mainland to enter Hong Kong, Tang said.
In February, the Security Bureau set up a designated anti-pandemic task force, recruiting thousands of retired officers and volunteers from various sectors.
The police have arrested more than 10 people for spreading rumors or seditious messages online to incite violence or hatred against the special administrative region government during the current fifth wave of the pandemic, according to Tang.
The central government has staunchly backed Hong Kong’s anti-pandemic fight by sending medical workers to the SAR and building community isolation facilities in the city. With the nation’s help, the COVID-19 isolation center on Tsing Yi Island, which has 3,900 beds for patients, was built within a week.
Yet, some people have defamed such generous support through social platforms and undermined the SAR government’s efforts to rein in the virus. Tang said such attempts will not succeed as Hong Kong residents are well aware of these tactics.
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Warning that such actions might have violated the law, Tang said the authorities will investigate and take action if there’s sufficient evidence.
Disciplinary forces are also responsible for managing community isolation facilities. Refuting unfounded allegations against the quarantine facilities, Tang said these facilities are managed in a “people-centered” manner to provide pleasant living conditions for COVID patients who are provided with entertainment equipment and publications, as well as toys for children.
