My Blog

Further measures to fight virus in concert

26 January 2020

The Rat is the first of all animals in the Chinese zodiac. Though small in size, it is intelligent, agile and highly adaptive, which are qualities underpinning Hong Kong’s success. Despite being a small city, Hong Kong has become an international metropolis where East meets West, thanks to the unremitting efforts and great flexibility of all walks of life. The Rat symbolises the beginning of a new cycle as well as new opportunities and challenges for Hong Kong amid the current crises. With our concerted efforts to return peace to society early and rebuild social order and harmony, Hong Kong can certainly start a new journey in the new year.

Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. I sincerely wish our country great wealth and prosperity in the days to come. I also wish Hong Kong social harmony and stability, and all citizens good health and every success.

Hong Kong reported the first case of novel coronavirus infection last week, arousing widespread public concern. Epidemic prevention work has to be done without delay. To this end, the Government has been operating at a high level of vigilance and will adjust its response strategy and relevant measures in a timely manner. We will neither let down our guard nor relax our efforts, particularly during the Lunar New Year. The Government will strengthen its preparedness and response to the disease following three major principles of prompt responses, enhanced preparedness and high transparency.

Last Thursday (23 January), the Steering Committee formed under the Serious Response Level of the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance convened for the third time to further adjust preventive measures based on the latest developments and to ensure prompt responses by government departments during the Lunar New Year. The meeting, chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health and me, was attended by over 60 departmental representatives. I requested them to gear up in concert and stay committed to their work, as well as implement a series of enhanced measures including the nine major ones below:

  1. With effect from 24 January, the health declaration form system has been extended to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, requiring all inbound travellers by Express Rail Link (XRL) train to complete and submit a health declaration form;
  2. The MTR Corporation Limited has undertaken to enhance the cleansing of XRL train compartments operated by the Mainland after their arrival at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station;
  3. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has enhanced surveillance of suspected cases and updated the reporting criteria of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent;
  4. The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) on suspected and confirmed cases, which operates daily from 8 am to 9 pm including public holidays. Persons who are close contacts and other contacts of the cases concerned should call the hotline;
  5. The Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) will hold daily press conferences to update members of the public on the latest situation in Hong Kong;
  6. Among the two quarantine camps, the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village was officially activated on 23 January and has started to receive persons required to be quarantined. As for the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, preparation is now at the final stage;
  7. The Education Bureau will appeal to schools to consider postponing student exchange programmes with the Mainland;
  8. As for the supply of masks, the current stockpile of personal protection equipment in the DH and the HA is adequate for three months’ consumption. The FHB, together with the DH, is maintaining close liaison with mask suppliers with a view to increasing local supply; and
  9. Citizens who have visited Wuhan recently should continue to wear a mask for 14 days after returning to Hong Kong.

Yesterday (the Lunar New Year’s Day), the Chief Executive (CE) held a high-level meeting with me, relevant Directors of Bureaux, civil service colleagues and three clinical experts in epidemiology immediately after her return to Hong Kong to discuss the latest situation of novel coronavirus infections and responses. Speaking to the media after the meeting, the CE announced strategies and measures in six areas to step up disease prevention:

  1. Enhance the mechanism and organisation structure to tackle the disease. The response level under the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease has been raised from Serious to the highest level of Emergency. The CE will chair an inter-departmental Steering Committee and lead the related Command Centre with a view to receiving expert advice as soon as possible and formulating strategies and measures to handle public health issues promptly.

    There are four workgroups under the Steering Committee. The Workgroup on Responses and Actions led by me in my capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration coordinates the work of various government departments in fighting the disease. The Workgroup on Disease Prevention and Control, the Workgroup on Public Participation and the Workgroup on Communications are led by different Directors of Bureaux. Besides, the CE has appointed a four-member expert advisory group.
  2. Strengthen immigration control to check the spread of the disease. Measures include indefinitely suspending flight and high-speed train services to and from Wuhan of Hubei Province until the epidemic comes clearly under control; extending the arrangements of health declaration by inbound travellers from the Mainland to all inbound flights from the Mainland and all border control points including the China Ferry Terminal, the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal, six land-based control points and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port; and piloting the e-health declaration system.

    Body temperature checks at border control points will be enhanced and will apply to departing travellers as well. The Government will update its travel health advice and include the entire Hubei Province in the List of Areas that the Public Should Not Visit. Besides, Mainland cultural exchange and sports activities organised by the Government will be suspended.
  3. To minimise the risks of virus infection and spreading in the local community, large-scale events organised or arranged by the Government will be cancelled, including the Chinese New Year reception to be held in the Government House, lantern carnivals in various districts and the Hong Kong Marathon. Secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens, child care centres and special schools will not resume classes until 17 February.

    For the time being, social welfare facilities including residential care homes and day care centres will not be closed. Additional resources will be provided to strengthen the cleaning of these premises. Visitors are required to undergo body temperature checks and wear masks.
  4. Regarding the supply of masks, the Government has been in contact with suppliers and will provide them with all practicable assistance in sourcing suitable supplies from the Mainland and other regions. The CE has personally written to the State Council to seek their assistance on mask supply to Hong Kong.
  5. Anti-epidemic facilities and services of the DH and the HA will be improved.
  6. To ensure public safety and health, the Government will provide any resources required by government departments, the HA or even the related research work of tertiary institutions so long as they are necessary.

I would like to mention, in particular, that as it is now the Lunar New Year, many people would follow the traditional customs and visit relatives and friends or have family gatherings. What is more, a lot of travellers would come and go for this purpose during the public holidays. The risk of the virus spreading in the local community may increase as a result. I appeal to the community to stay vigilant. Members of the public should take protective measures, pay attention to personal hygiene, always keep their hands clean, and, when going to crowded places, wear a mask to protect themselves and others.

The people of Hong Kong went through a tough time during the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) between 2002 and 2003. Today, years after the epidemic, the scenes of the massive infection which afflicted not only individuals but also healthcare workers fighting to save lives still linger in the minds of all. Health is the most precious thing in life and of the greatest concern to the public. With lessons learnt, the Government and various sectors of the community should take strict rather than lax measures to tackle the disease, while insufficient public awareness may compromise the effectiveness of disease prevention. The Government will therefore make an all-out effort to fight the virus with the general public in a pragmatic and resolute manner. In the meantime, we will continue to closely monitor the situation of novel coronavirus infections and make timely adjustment to our response strategy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank healthcare workers for their dedicated work, selfless devotion and professionalism.

Although Hong Kong is going through difficult times, I firmly believe that with the solidarity and concerted efforts of Hong Kong people, the storms will be over and the sun will shine again. In the year to come, I hope that our society will gradually recover and fly as high as it used to be. As a committed Government, we will continue to promote economic and social development while improving people’s livelihood. We will press on with various policy measures to bring early benefits to the general public and fill their hearts with the warmth of having their home in Hong Kong.