HKSAR Government expresses gratitude to Central Government and Mainland nucleic acid test support team
15.9.2020

The 14-day Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) concluded successfully yesterday (September 14) with a total of about 1 783 000 persons participated in the COVID-19 testing. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (September 15) held a farewell ceremony for the Mainland nucleic acid test support team to express heartfelt gratitude to relevant central ministries, the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Fujian Provincial Government and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People's Government, as well as all members of the support team for their full support to Hong Kong. The timely and smooth operation of the UCTP hinged on the full support of the Central Government by establishing quickly a 570-member nucleic acid test support team to greatly enhance the testing capability of Hong Kong. Through the farewell ceremony, the HKSAR Government spokesman would like to express heartfelt thanks to every member of the Mainland nucleic acid test support team for their dedication and commitment, working zealously days and nights, enabling the HKSAR Government to launch the large-scale UCTP smoothly to provide voluntary virus testing for all citizens. The HKSAR Government also expressed sincere gratitude to some 6 000 healthcare personnel and students who were responsible for collecting specimens, as well as some 4 000 serving and retired civil servants undertaking administrative support duty, as well as the personnel who took up security and logistical work, for their professionalism and dedication, providing high quality and efficient services to members of the public. The spokesman reiterated that with full support of all working staff, the UCTP helped identify asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in the community at early stage for treatment and thereby stop further infections with the disease. Speaking at the farewell ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said, "The UCTP helps cut the transmission chain of the virus in the community and provides us with a more reassuring basis to gradual relaxation of the social distancing measures, thereby allowing early resumption of social and economic activities." "It is a challenging yet honourable mission to complete nearly 1.8 million nucleic acid test in a short period of time. It fully reflects the effort made by every staff member who worked in the Huo-Yan Laboratory, as well as the care and concern of the Central Government and people in the Mainland for the people of Hong Kong. On behalf of the HKSAR, I would like to express heartfelt thanks to the Central Government and everyone of the support team." "According to the World Health Organization and health experts, COVID-19 would not be eradicated without effective treatment and vaccination. The virus will co-exist with us for quite a long period of time and even become seasonally endemic. The Government is thus required to incorporate work in relation to disease prevention and control as well as infection management. The Government would continue to extend and conduct repeated testing for target groups or vulnerable groups," the spokesman said. Attending today's farewell ceremony included the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui; the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan; the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in the HKSAR, Ms Qiu Hong; the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Exchange and Cooperation of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, Mr Liu Wenda; the chief leader of the support team and Deputy Director of the Medical Administration Bureau of the National Health Commission (NHC), Mr Li Dachuan; the leader of the support team (Guangdong), Mr Yu Dewen; the leader of the support team (Guangxi), Mr Pang Jun; the leader of the support team (Fujian), Mr Zhang Yongyu; and representatives of the LOCPG, HKMAO, NHC and support team. Ends/Tuesday, September 15, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:18 NNNN