HKMAO chief reiterates central govt's support for HK's efforts against pandemic

Special: Battle Against Novel Coronavirus

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, on Thursday expressed the central government's full support of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's efforts to effectively coordinate all forces and take resolute actions to control the pandemic.

Speaking at a video conference he chaired in Beijing to review and coordinate Hong Kong's anti-pandemic efforts, Xia acknowledged the severity and complexity of the pandemic situation in Hong Kong. He called on attendees of the conference to be fully prepared for challenges ahead.

The overarching goal is to protect the health and lives of people in Hong Kong, and to maintain stability in society, he said. Xia reiterated that the Hong Kong SAR government shoulders the main responsibility in the anti-pandemic battle, and he expressed the expectations of the city's principal officials to lead the efforts and play exemplary roles.

Thursday's video conference was the seventh such high-level meeting held since Feb 17.

Xia said that various task forces mobilized by the central government, mainland and Hong Kong authorities had made remarkable progress over the past two weeks, including the completion of a makeshift hospital in Tsing Yi, and the relaunch of the long-dormant cross-border freight rail line, which will ensure the supply of food and daily necessities from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong.

A team of mainland medical experts led by Liang Wannian, head of the National Health Commission's COVID-19 leading task force, have offered important suggestions about how to curb the current outbreak since their arrival on Feb 28. Acute manpower shortages in critical lines of work in the city, such as carers at nursing homes, are being mitigated as imported labor in these fields from the mainland starts to arrive.

The progress fully demonstrates the central government's determination and the nation's institutional advantages in its support for Hong Kong in its fight against the pandemic, Xia said.

He also appealed to the patriotic forces in the city to jointly contribute to maintaining stability in society and helping Hong Kong win the fight against the pandemic, and to say no to disruptive acts such as spreading rumors or causing panic among the public.