HK asks for priority exit from Diamond Princess

The Secretary for Security, John Lee Ka-chiu, said the government is pressing their Japanese counterparts to give priority and allow the evacuation of some 300 Hong Kong residents from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, RTHK reports.
Lee said while Japanese authorities are now allowing those who have tested negative for the coronavirus to disembark, that has to be done in phases and within days.
But Lee wants all Hong Kong residents cleared of the virus to come home soon, adding that any delay is not ideal.
He said Japan should first deal with the Hong Kong group because the number of passengers involved is a big number.
"We have been pressing the Japanese authorities to give priorities to the treatment of Hong Kong residents...our aim is to allow all Hong Kong residents to be allowed to be disembarked today [Wednesday], so that they will all be sent back to Hong Kong as soon as possible," he said.
He added that immigration officers have contacted all of the 350-odd Hong Kong residents on board, and over 200 of them have said they wish to take the two chartered flights that the government has arranged.
Lee  said so far 53 Hong Kong passengers have tested positive for the virus and around 30 have been cleared of the fatal virus.
He said in any case, the government is preparing for a third chartered flight  – while 70 officials have been sent  to Yokohama to assist the Hong Kong people.