The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, today (March 17) visited a number of locations to learn about the logistics arrangements after the arrival of anti-epidemic medical supplies from the Mainland, with a view to ensuring the delivery of supplies for various anti-epidemic work and to members of the public with urgent need as soon as possible.
Mr Yau inspected a workshop commissioned by the Government for packing anti-epidemic kits. After packing, the anti-epidemic kit distribution centre located at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) headquarters will arrange for the delivery of the kits to tens of thousands of confirmed patients and their close contacts undergoing home isolation or quarantine. The kits contain medical supplies procured with the co-ordination by the Central Government, such as rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines, paracetamol, thermometers, pulse oximeters and masks.
He then proceeded to the anti-epidemic kit distribution centre located at the ICAC headquarters. Accompanied by the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Simon Peh, he inspected the operation of the centre, and the distribution and logistics arrangements for anti-epidemic kits upon their arrival at the centre. He thanked the ICAC for deploying substantial manpower to support the anti-epidemic work so that the kits can reach the people concerned as soon as possible.
Accompanied by the Director of Drainage Services, Ms Alice Pang, he also inspected a stationary sewage sampling site in Kennedy Town today to learn about the anti-epidemic work of frontline workers and the protective equipment needed.
Mr Yau earlier also visited the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and Shaw Studios. These two locations are recently used by the Government as temporary storage areas and logistics centres. He expressed gratitude to the two local enterprises which manage the HKCEC and Shaw Studios for lending the venues for free. It has greatly strengthened the storage capacity and logistics arrangements for anti-epidemic medical supplies delivered to Hong Kong. The two venues have come into operation since early March.
The task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has been proactively co-ordinating with various government departments and units participating in the anti-epidemic work. The task force is working closely with its Mainland counterparts to ensure that resources can be expeditiously supplied to Hong Kong to cope with the epidemic.
With the full support from the Central Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has procured large quantities of medical supplies which are arriving in Hong Kong in batches to cater for various anti-epidemic work of frontline personnel. The supplies have also been distributed to underprivileged groups, confirmed patients and people in need through multiple channels including relevant government departments, the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link (the Link) and other local organisations.
So far over 100 million RAT kits procured with the co-ordination by the Central Government have been received. Various kinds of disinfectant products and personal protective equipment have also arrived in Hong Kong, including over 180 million N95 masks, KN95 masks and surgical masks, as well as over 16 million articles of other protective equipment such as protective coveralls, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, shoe covers and surgical/examination gloves have also been delivered to Hong Kong.
Apart from being continuously distributed to the frontline anti-epidemic personnel of the Department of Health (DH) and other government departments, these medical supplies have also been continuously sent to local organisations through the Home Affairs Department (HAD) for distribution to confirmed patients, individuals undergoing home quarantine under the "StayHomeSafe" Scheme, volunteers, persons with higher infection risks (such as residents subject to "restriction-testing declarations" or living in areas testing positive under sewage tracing), and people working in high-risk industries (such as cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, property management staff, cleansing staff and staff of residential care homes for the elderly). Some of the suitable medical supplies have also been provided to residential care homes for the elderly through the Social Welfare Department. The HKSAR Government will continue to co-ordinate with local organisations for the distribution of RATs through their wide community network to members of the public in various districts. RATs will also be delivered to confirmed patients undergoing home isolation or quarantine and their close contacts via anti-epidemic kits.
The HKSAR Government expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its donation of 600 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines which are arriving in Hong Kong in batches. Most of them have all been distributed to residents subject to "restriction-testing declarations" through the Food and Health Bureau and to confirmed patients at isolation facilities and those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics through the Hospital Authority (HA). Among those received, 170 000 boxes have been allocated to the HAD for distribution to the community through the Link and other organisations, for the use of people in need.
The Central Government is also co-ordinating with Mainland manufacturers to speed up the supply to the Hong Kong retail market to ensure that the anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines could be replenished in a timely manner. With the assistance rendered by the Central Government, the HKSAR Government will continue to procure a large quantity of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines to increase the supply in Hong Kong with a view to safeguarding the health of members of the public. Also, medicines containing paracetamol for use as analgesics and antipyretics, procured by the task force, are arriving in Hong Kong progressively. Most of them will be allocated to HA for patient use. Some will be distributed to confirmed patients undergoing home quarantine via anti-epidemic kits.
More than 1.5 million pulse oximeters have been received by the task force so far. Apart from those distributed to confirmed patients and their close contacts via anti-epidemic kits as mentioned above, most of the pulse oximeters have been distributed to the HA for patient use.
The task force will continue to review the situation and adjust the procurement of medical supplies according to the needs of various government departments and the public to spare no effort in fighting the epidemic with all departments and community organisations.
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