Get ready to pitch in, civil servants told

All 177,000 civil servants should be on standby for anti-Covid duties regardless of their position and rank, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen told them in an internal letter.

Separately, public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong will from today turn its TV channel 32 into a Covid-focused channel reporting every hour.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah told lawmakers that a broadcast about infection tallies and quarantine and lockdown arrangements will be made in the first five minutes of every hour between 8am to 12pm.

RTHK will also continue to publish relevant news on social media platforms.

Nip told civil servants that Covid has spread exponentially across all districts and cited President Xi Jinping's instructions that the government must battle outbreaks and protect citizens' health.

"We're at a key moment to fight the epidemic and civil servants must stick to their responsibilities and face the battle with determination," he said.

Nip said large-scale tests, contact tracing and isolation work require massive manpower. He added: "For instance, we're working hard on assigning a large number of clerks and disciplinary force officers to turn public estates into isolation facilities, so they can commence service as soon as possible.

"As a team to serve Hong Kong citizens, civil servants must make this key mission their top priority. Whether you're working in an office or not and regardless of your original position, we must all hold onto our resolution to be on standby and proactively take up missions from departments."

A Civil Service Bureau spokesman said over 70,000 government workers have been mobilized in anti-Covid operations, including helping in lockdowns at Kwai Chung Estate, assistance in issuing of quarantine orders, distribution of wristbands and support in call centers for people observing home isolation.

The spokesman called for all employers at private institutions to adopt the work-from-home arrangement to lessen the flow of people outdoors and minimize social contact.

jane.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com