Reverse the rising trend of the epidemic by increasing isolation facilities to complement universal testing
6 March 2022
Last Tuesday (March 1), I inspected a new community isolation facility (CIF) in Tsing Yi for its handover. Being the first facility constructed with the support of the Central Government, the Tsing Yi CIF was completed in as soon as seven days, making it an engineering miracle in Hong Kong. Providing around 3 900 beds for emergency isolation of infected persons with no or mild symptoms, the facility is managed by the disciplined services and the Civil Aid Service of the Security Bureau. Admission of infected persons commenced on the same day. Patients will stay about seven days, which is not a long time. They will be taken care of in general terms and provided with medical support. The purpose of the isolation is to ensure that they will not infect their families or other members of the community, so as to protect the lives and health of the public.
The next project to be completed will be another CIF at the former site of The Boxes, San Tin (private land lent by Sun Hung Kai Properties and Henderson Land Development), where workers are working non-stop to install modular units. I convened an inter-bureau/departmental meeting last Thursday (March 3) to prepare for the handover arrangements. All relevant departments are racing against time to get the facility up and running for early admission of confirmed patients.
Also in full swing are the other six projects supported by the Central Government, including Penny’s Bay, former runway area of Kai Tak, Tam Mei in Yuen Long (private land lent by Sun Hung Kai Properties), Hung Shui Kiu near Kai Pak Ling Road, Fanling next to Ma Shi Road (private land lent by New World Development), and the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The project teams are working hard on all fronts, including land formation and sewerage works, to ensure that the projects can be completed as soon as possible.
In addition to the eight projects mentioned above, a project in the Lok Ma Chau Loop undertaken by China Construction Science and Industry Corporation, which involves the building of a hospital for emergency use of about 1 000 beds as well as community isolation and treatment facilities providing about 10 000 beds, is also progressing at full steam. It is the most complex project of all, with the largest site area. To expedite the project, temporary bridges will be built to connect the Shenzhen boundary area with the Lok Ma Chau Loop to allow point-to-point conveyance of construction personnel and materials, lest the project might be slowed down by customs clearance procedures and epidemic control measures. The construction site in the Loop will be fenced off to ensure site safety as well as border security. Full support and assistance will be provided by the Development Bureau, the Security Bureau and relevant departments. In view of the urgency and necessity of the works, I have exercised my authority under the Emergency (Exemption from Statutory Requirements) (COVID-19) Regulation to exempt the construction project and related personnel and materials within the fenced-off works site from being bound by the relevant laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, so that support and resources from various sources can be made available and the contractor can finish this pressing task as early as possible.
Providing over 50 000 beds, these nine new facilities will greatly enhance the isolation capacity of Hong Kong. Although some of the new facilities will be completed in March and some in April or later, the increase in isolation facilities, coupled with effective large-scale testing, will enable us to reverse the rising trend of the epidemic, control the further spread of the virus and achieve “zero-infection”.
The Government is devising a plan for compulsory universal testing and is listening to views to finalise the plan according to the actual circumstances in Hong Kong. Once a decision is made, the Government will announce the details with elaborate explanation so that members of the public will be well informed and prepared.
During the period of universal testing, the Government will ensure a stable and adequate supply of food and necessities, about which members of the public need not worry. Rather, they should pay more attention to Government news and not believe in rumours or inaccurate social media messages. We have rallied the efforts of the Hong Kong community and various sectors have responded to our appeal for support. So long as we stand united, we will surely win the battle against the virus.
