President Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at a meeting to advance the work on coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 and economic and social development, in Beijing, China, Feb 23, 2020. (JU PENG / XINHUA)
President Xi Jinping has expressed great concern about pandemic situation in Hong Kong and instructed the special administrative region’s government to make it top priority to control it.
According to media reports by Hong Kong’s Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, the Chinese leader asked Vice-Premier Han Zheng to convey his concern to HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and his care to Hong Kong people.
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Xi was quoted as saying that the Hong Kong government must take the main responsibility of the anti-pandemic work. It should also mobilize all available forces and resources and take all necessary measures to ensure safety of the residents and stability of the society.
Xi Jinping reportedly said the Hong Kong government must take the main responsibility of the anti-pandemic work
He also asked the related departments of the central government and local governments to fully support Hong Kong’s anti-pandemic efforts.
Han said the central government departments and the Guangdong province must promptly address the SAR government's requests in reining in the surging fifth wave.
The tasks include improving Hong Kong's testing capacity, supporting medical supplies such as the rapid antigen test kits, building community isolation and treatment facilities, ensuring the supply of daily necessities, and dispatching medical experts to Hong Kong.
According to the reports, the central government decided to establish a pandemic work coordination mechanism, which will be led by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the National Health Commission involving central government departments, Guangdong provincial government and the HKSAR government.
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The papers also quoted sources saying that Guangdong authorities recently held meetings to discuss how to support Hong Kong’s pandemic work and ensure sufficient supplies to it.