Five to get task forces up and running

Five conveners of Hong Kong-mainland task forces to combat the fifth wave have been named by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

They are Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah, and Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan.

They will be responsible respectively for task forces specializing in infectious diseases, testing, quarantine facilities, medical resources and fresh food supply.

Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu will be responsible for coordinating the task forces.

Lam, who appointed the five at a meeting on Sunday, said: "The tremendous surge in the number of confirmed cases in recent days has lengthened the lead time for admitting people who test positive to isolation facilities."

Lam said her administration will start working through the five task forces with the mainland as soon as possible to enhance Hong Kong's testing capabilities and isolation facilities.

She said mainland authorities have all along provided "strongest support for Hong Kong."

But the city takes the "primary responsibility" in the anti-epidemic work and will make good use of the mainland's guidance and support in manpower and resources, she added.

Meanwhile, Antony Wu Ting-yuk, chairman of Sunrise Diagnostic Centre under the BGI group and who is a Standing Committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said yesterday that the temporary Huo-yan (Fire Eye) laboratory at Ma On Shan is starting operations early today.

He said around 200 testing staff from Shenzhen and 100 from Hong Kong will work at the lab.

The lab can test up to 300,000 samples daily, Wu added, and he believes it will be able to cope with the huge demand due to building lockdowns and compulsory testing.

He said two more Huo-yan laboratories will be set up in Hong Kong.

But testing service providers are facing a manpower shortage and the SAR needs another 1,000 staff from the mainland to run the labs to achieve three million tests a day.

Testing companies are also looking for nursing students to collect samples at testing stations, Wu said.

The major reason for the long waiting time for testing is the lack of sites, he said, and authorities should set up more mobile stations near the community test centers.

Yau, meanwhile, said broadcaster RTHK should become an "anti-epidemic radio" service. And Independent Commission Against Corruption chief Simon Peh Yun-lu said 100 ICAC officers will join anti-pandemic work.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com