10 HK residents stricken with virus while stranded in Hubei

Ten Hongkongers from three families are ill with the coronavirus disease in Hubei province, including seven in "Ground Zero" Wuhan and three in Enshi city, Hong Kong authorities revealed yesterday.

Two thousand other Hongkongers remain stranded in more than 30 cities in Hubei province after failing to return before Wuhan was locked down.

Among the 10 confirmed patients, a family of three traveled to Wuhan for Lunar New Year, but were stranded when the city was locked down on January 23.

The parents were diagnosed with the deadly virus.

Initially, only the mother was admitted to a hospital.

Their son, surnamed Lee, then called Hong Kong's Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan for help, and had his father admitted to Wuhan Asia General Hospital after coordination with the local government.

As the son was later diagnosed with the disease as well, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau wrote an urgent letter on Tuesday asking the hospital to also admit the son.

The result is still awaited.

A bureau spokesman said the government was recently notified by mainland authorities about the 10 patients, after which it asked the trade office in Wuhan to help Hong Kong citizens.

"Six of them have been admitted to local hospitals while the remaining four have made their own way to seek medical treatment from hospitals," he said. "At present, all of them are being treated in local hospitals and are generally in stable condition," the spokesman said.

Earlier, the bureau said the government would consider arranging the return of Hongkongers in Hubei in "a prudent and thorough manner with evaluation on the public risks and practicability."

The bureau has not confirmed yesterday whether it will arrange to move them.

More than 20 countries - including Britain, the United States, Singapore, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Russia and the Philippines - have taken measures to airlift their citizens from mainland China in batches.

The US State Department has allowed voluntary departure of non-emergency government workers and their family members from Hong Kong since Tuesday.

Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun said he knows that the government is studying ways to bring the stranded Hongkongers back but it is facing many logistical difficulties and health concerns.

"There are many things that the government must consider, such as how to assemble them from different villages and towns, whether there will be health risks on transportation, and their willingness to leave," he said.

"Some stranded in blocked villages with no infection cases might not want to risk their health to fly back to HK with others in Wuhan," To said.

He suggested the government make a priority list depending on people's willingness, medical condition and needs before arranging for them to return on separate flights.

It should also reveal if there are infection cases or requests for assistance from Hongkongers in other countries.